Elections Everywhere

With the U.S. media--and voters--so focused on our own Presidential race, it's easy to forget the elections going on all over the world. Whether for research, personal interest in another country, or background for travel, check out ElectionGuide.org. ElectionGuide is a creation of IFES, the nonprofit democracy development organization that assists with elections worldwide.

With ElectionGuide, you can search or browse election news and information by region or country, check the calendar of past and upcoming elections, view election results and voter turnout statistics, and read brief national summaries of elected heads of state, parties, candidates, and election structures, with more detailed profiles of upcoming elections. ElectionGuide is a one-stop election information center with a world view.



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Happy Leap Day !

O.K. so what's with the extra day this year. Was it some astronomer royal hundreds of years ago who decided we needed an extra day in such a beastly month as February? Actually, according to Wired Magazine, it goes back to the times of Julius Caesar. For a list of people born on leap day, and other interesting leap day trivia, see February 29 on Wikipedia . There is even a Leap Year Cocktail!!



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

State And Local Government Web Sites

Do you need information from, or regarding, state or local governments and agencies? The State and Local Government Internet directory provides convenient access to the Web sites of thousands of state agencies and city and county governments.

Users may employ the drop-down menus on the left to view directory pages to find state government offices (all the Web sites in a given state, ranging from a state's home page or a governor's site to the smallest counties or townships). Users may also search by topic (For instance, the Web sites of state government constitutional officers, state legislatures, state judiciaries and departments across all states), as well as for local government links by county government.



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Sir Thomas More

If you are interested in legal ethics in history, read about the life of Sir Thomas More, lawyer and author of Utopia. In the service of Henry VIII, More held the powerful position of Lord Chancellor. However, More's opinions and personal morals eventually led to his execution.

And if you are an art lover, take a look at this portrait of More on the web site of The Frick Collection. It is a nice source for information about the artist and the subject.



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Top 10 Research Skills: Strategic Searching

The basics have been reviewed and getting background information has been surveyed. How is all this put together? The workshop on Strategic Searching will focus on the process of legal research. Using the incident “Don’t Taser Me Bro!” as the basic fact scenario – instructor reserves privilege to alter as needed – we will make a step-by-step strategic search analysis and evaluate the incident as a possible sec. 1983 case.

Wednesday, March 5, 1:10-2pm in Room 243

Tuesday, March 11, 4:10-5pm in Room 238 (repeat session)

Like the other workshops, it is open to all Hofstra law students and there is no need to sign up in advance.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Deal or No Deal?

The Georgia Supreme Court is set to hear arguments Tuesday to decide whether people who were charged 99 cents to use their cell phones to participate in a sort of lottery NBC created to promote the show "Deal or No Deal" are entitled to recoup their losses under a Georgia gambling law. Law.com has an explanation here.

Luckily for students at Emory Law School, the Georgia Supreme Court is holding its arguments in their auditorium Tuesday, but presumably without Howie Mandel or any suitcases full of money.


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Top 10 Research Skills: Getting Background on Your Topic

Imagine you are in your first "real world" summer or full-time job and you are asked to write a memo for the partner, supervising attorney, or judge. The problem is, you don't know anything about the topic or legal issue, and you don't know where to begin.

What should you ask? Where do you start? What are the best resources for background information and how can you get it without wasting your employer's time and money?

"Getting Background on your Topic" is part of a special series of workshops presented by the law librarians and designed to cover the "Top 10 Research Skills" that employers really want new attorneys to know. This 50-minute workshop will be presented twice over the next two weeks at the following times:

Thursday, February 28, 3:10 - 4pm in Room 242
Tuesday, March 4, 4:10 - 5pm in Room 238 (repeat session)

Like the other workshops, it is open to all Hofstra law students and there is no need to sign up in advance.



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Sweatshops in America

New York Fashion Week is over and I am still purring over the latest looks. However, as I reflect on the fantastic fabrics and designs, I have to wonder where all of our clothes come from. Sadly, I know that sweatshops in America have a long history.

To raise awareness of sweatshop labor, the National Museum of American History has created an online exhibit entitled Between a Rock and a Hard Place: A History of American Sweatshops 1820-Present. The exhibit provides a good amount of information on the subject and offers insight into "the forces that promote sweatshop production".


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Top Ten Research Workshops Schedule

Check your email and read about the latest workshops in the Library's 21st Century Library workshop series. The full schedule is listed below.

Top 10 Research Skills: What Employers Really Want New Attorneys to Know

Week 1
1. “Know the Basics. Civics 101"
• Monday, February 25, 5:10-6pm in Room 242 and repeated on
• Wednesday, February 27, 1:10-2pm in Room 243.

2. “How to Use the Basics”
• Tuesday, February 26, 4:10-5pm in Room 238 and repeated in Week 2

3. "Getting Background on your Topic"
• Thursday, February 28, 3:10-4pm in Room 242 and repeated in Week 2


Week 2
2. “How to Use the Basics”
• Monday, March 3, 5:10-6pm in Room 242.

3. “Getting Background on your Topic”
• Tuesday, March 4, 4:10-5pm in Room 238.


4. “Strategic Searching”
• Wednesday, March 5, 1:10-2pm in Room 243 and repeated in Week 3

5. “Smart Searching”
• Thursday, March 6, 3:10-4pm in Room 243 and repeated in Week 3


Week 3
5. “Smart Searching”
• Monday, March 10, 5:10-6pm in Room 242

4. “Strategic Searching”
• Tuesday, March 11, 4:10-5pm in Room 238

**6. “Cost Efficient Research and other Law Practice Survival Tips”**
• Wednesday, March 12, 11:10-1pm in Room 205

Presented by Kathy Greco, Librarian/CLE Coordinator, Rivkin Radler LLP
and Jim Murphy, Reference and Continuing Education Librarian, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Blog: Free Government Information

From the site: The future of government information is in peril from many economic and political forces. Free Government Information was initiated in order to raise public awareness of the importance of government information and create a community with various stakeholders to facilitate an open and critical dialogue.

It is an interesting site discussing information issues and other current events.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat