Heartbleed Bug: Passwords to Change

This week an email security bulletin from Hofstra University Information Technology focused on the "Heartbleed" bug, a serious bug in the Open SSL software used to secure many popular sites including social media, online banking, email, and health care services with encrypted personal information.  Changing account passwords is a common suggestion for trying to avoid adverse effects of Heartbleed, but it can be time-consuming without having some priorities.  Mashable's article, "The Heartbleed Hit List: The Passwords You Need to Change Right Now," may be helpful in deciding which passwords to concentrate on immediately.  The list covers many prominent social networks, email providers, banks, stores, and commercial and government websites, with advice and comments based upon and made by the providers themselves.  It is also being updated with new information.  You also may want to check out LastPass's Heartbleed checker.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Finally, Spring

And what would Spring be, without Spring Break?  While you go gallivanting in warmer climes, I shall heed the recent research on sleep and catch up on mine.  Consequently, the Library will be open on the following schedule:

Fri 4/11 - 8-5p
Sat, Sun 4/12-13 - 10a-6p
Mon-Thurs 4/14-17 - 8a-5p
Fri 4/18 - CLOSED*
Sat 4/19 - 10a-6p*
Sun 4/20 - CLOSED*

* No swipe care access (as of Thurs. 4/17 at 5pm)

We will resume regular hours on Mon. 4/21.  Enjoy your break!!

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

The “Great Year” Theory of History

Every now and again, it’s worthwhile to step back and take a larger perspective, especially regarding our understanding of history. History has often been taught from the perspective of the actions of great individuals (e.g., kings and queens, generals, politicians).

Lately, however, there has been a movement toward examining history through the lens of “great years” (e.g., 1789, 1914). Read more here. 

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Research Resources: Constitute

If you are interested in constitutions from around the world, take a look at the Constitute web site.  The database is searchable and provides access to 189 constitutions from around the world.  According to the site, users can:

• Find relevant passages. Passages of each constitution have been tagged "with a topic — e.g., “right to privacy” or “equality regardless of gender” — so you can quickly find relevant excerpts on a particular subject, no matter how they are worded. You can browse the 300+ topics in the expandable drawer on the left of the page, or see suggested topics while typing in the search bar (which also lets you perform free-text queries).
• Filter searches. Want to view results for a specific region or time period? You can limit your search by country or by date using the buttons under the search bar.
• Save for further analysis. To download or print excerpts from multiple constitutions, click the “pin” button next to each expanded passage you want to save. You can then view and download your pinned excerpts in the drawer on the right."
• Browse and compare. Users can also browse and compare constitutions by country or topic.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

HeinOnline: World Trials Library

The World Trials Library collection includes more than 3,500 trials including complete sets of American State Trials, Howell's State Trials, and the Nuremburg Trials. It also includes famous trials from Philadelphia's Jenkins Law Library, Cornell University, and the University of Missouri-Columbia's trials collections. It contains trial transcripts, critical court documents, and trial-related resources such as monographs which analyze and debate the decisions of famous trials, as well as biographies of many of the greatest trial lawyers in history.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Online Resources: Social Media Law & Policy Report (BNA)

If you are interested in a publication that offers coverage of social media-related law and policy information as well as news, expert analysis, primary sources, and practice tools, take a look at BNA's Social Media Law & Policy Report. It provides access to full-text state and federal case law, statutes, regulations, state bar ethics opinions, federal agency enforcement actions/guidelines and more.  The Report provides coverage from May 1, 2012 to date.  
To access Social Media Law & Policy Report (BNA):

• Go to the Library's home page, click "Online Resources"
• Click the "Consumer Law" link
• Scroll down to "Social Media Law & Policy Report (BNA)"

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat