It's Thanksgiving Online!

Your Virtual Library Cat hasn’t forgotten what holiday is coming up. So it’s time for a little Thanksgiving fun and information. Compliments of the most authoritative source--the folks at Plimoth Plantation, the living history museum of the Plymouth colony—explore an authentic “First Thanksgiving” online. The museum web site’s interactive multi-media production, “You are the Historian: Investigating the First Thanksgiving” offers some fun learning for the whole family. Don’t miss the focus on food, including authentic seventeenth-century recipes.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

More Facts & Figures

While I am in a number-crunching mode, if you need to get some statistical data on other topics, there are many good sources - both for the entire country and localities. FedStats , a great place to start, gives you an overview of the Federal statistical websites available. For more detailed information, try census.gov , which will give you details about housing, trade, population and even a U.S. Population clock. For more local statistics, go to the American Community Survey, where you can find details about the counties throughout the country, including Nassau .

(These contain information regarding human population, economics and social characteristics. We felines prefer to keep our habits a bit more private.)

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Statistics On Crime, Courts and Sentencing, and More

Need some statistics regarding crime and victims, law enforcement, the federal justice system, or courts and sentencing? If so, then the Bureau of Justice statistics Web page should be one of your first online stops.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Lab Computers and Printing

As many of you are aware, there is a problem with printing in the labs in the Law School. This is part of a University-wide problem, and the university computer folk are working on fixing the problem. That's why the lower level lab was closed yesterday, as part of an attempted fix.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Judge Alito

Yes, I know we have already posted several times on Judge Alito, but I just discovered an interesting report that charts various legal events or matters pertaining to the activities of Judge Alito. Intersting data on the practice areas and industries that have litigated cases before him. West created this Litigation Profile report and posted it on Findlaw.com.


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

'tis the season

For online shopping! In a PC Magazine article reviewing six comparison shopping sites ("Price-Comparison Sites Strive to Save You Time and Money" 11/02/05), PriceGrabber came out on top. The sites reviewed included Become, MySimon, Shopping.com, Smarter.com , and Shopzilla. The Author also includes a look at Buy.com, Amazon.com, and eBay. This is a great guide to not only how to find the best price, but also how to use these comparison sites as a "shopping concierge". Saving both time & money is what shopping on the net is all about.
Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Military Tribunals--Online Resources

Walking softly on cat feet around the Library computers, I’ve noticed that the use of military tribunals is a hot topic these days, even at the Supreme Court. Would you like some reliable background information on this confusing subject at the intersection of military and constitutional law? Try the “Military Tribunals” page at JURIST, which offers news highlights, links to government and other web sites, and recent primary documents in a user-friendly format. The Council of Foreign Relations answers most frequently asked questions about military tribunals. The Pentagon Library offers a resource guide to the relevant law. For introductory background information and research guidance, a good place to start is "United States Military Commissions: A Quick Guide to Available Resources,"by law librarian Stephen Young. "Terrorism and the Law of War: Trying Terrorists as War Criminals Before Military Commissions," a Congressional Research Service (CRS) report for Congress, provides an objective and authoritative overview of the subject.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Copy Cards

Per University Card Services, this library can no longer sell copy cards to Hofstra students at the circulation desk. All Hofstra students should add money to their Hofstra ID and use the ID for copying. You can add value to your card by (a) using the Card Services machine in the library's lower level copier room or (b) going to My Portal, Selecting the Hofstra Online Tab, and adding value under Card ServicesMake Deposit.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Quiet Areas in the Library

As end of the semester madness begins to set in, more and more students are seeking quiet study areas. As this is a working library (with faculty and staff offices), we know that even the designated "quiet" areas are not (and cannot be) entirely quiet.

Therefore, we just want to remind all users that there are still three areas of the law library that are not ringed by offices, and therefore, should be quieter than most.

(1) Lower level, below the main reading room
(2) Lower level, 038 area (new study room area)
(3) Lower level, southmost room


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

New Study Room Policy

After assessing trends in the use of the library study rooms, the library has modified the existing policy to better match use. Effective Monday, November 14, 2005, the policies regarding use of the library's study rooms will be as follows.

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Study rooms are only available for use by currently enrolled Hofstra Law School students. Reservations for study rooms may be made in person at the Circulation Desk, where a sign-up book is available, or by phone at x3-5898.

Rooms may be reserved in advance for one three-hour time period per day, with no renewals.

Only one room reservation (per group or individual) is permitted each day. Each reservation will be for a maximum of three hours, with no renewals permitted.

In a group reservation, all members of the group must be currently enrolled Hofstra Law School students, and the names of group members should be listed when the reservation is made. At the reserved time, groups are to pick up the key to the group study room at the Circulation Desk. The study room key will be charged to one of the members of the group.

The key must be returned at the end of the loan period to the Circulation Desk.

If a study room key is not picked up within 15 minutes from the start of the reserved time, the room may be given to another group or student upon request.

Anyone leaving any items in a study room beyond the reserved time will have these items put aside in the room, and the group or student having reserved the room will be let into the room.

The Library takes no responsibility for any items left in a study room.

The following additional rules apply to the use of all study rooms:
1. Food is not permitted anywhere in the Law Library, including the study rooms.
2. Please cancel your reservation if you find you no longer need it.
3. When leaving the room, please turn off the light and close the door.
4. Study rooms are to be left neat and clean when the group is finished. Any library materials used in the study rooms must be reshelved.
5. Abuse of study room privileges may result in the loss of the use of the study rooms.
6. Reservations may be canceled if the needs of the law school require use of the room. (As an example, for exam takers.)

If you have any questions about this policy, please contact Dominick Grillo, Assistant Director for Technology and Collection Services (lawdjg@hofstra.edu).

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat