JURIST

The start of your law school career (or just a new semester) is a great time to become acquainted with JURIST, the legal news and research site that continually brings you the latest legal developments from the U.S. and around the world.  Self-described as "the world's only law school-based comprehensive legal news and research service," JURIST is maintained by Professor Bernard Hibbitts and his law student editorial staff at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.

For law students everywhere, JURIST means timely coverage focused on substantive impact, updates on major legal issues, and incisive commentary by experts. The Law Library's home page offers continuous breaking news feeds from JURIST, but smart students will also appreciate its numerous links to full-text court opinions, complaints, bills, and other primary source documents that are hard to find in coverage by standard news outlets.    

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

World Facts

Nationmaster.com is a great site for comparing countries for just about any statistic you can think of.  You can compare countries' facts and statistics ranging from Internet usage, salaries, crime and even happiness level.  The only category I could not find was number of virtual cats.  No web site is perfect.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Smart Phones and Privacy

See the following overview on Jurist for an interesting discussion of some of the latest developments regarding smart phones, tracking, and privacy issues.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Census Bureau Mobile App Now Available for iPhone and iPad

 "“America’s Economy,” the U.S. Census Bureau’s first mobile application, is now available for iPhone and iPad. The America’s Economy mobile app provides updated statistics on the U.S. economy, including monthly economic indicators and economic trends."

"The app consolidates indicators from the Census Bureau, the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which produce monthly and quarterly snapshots of key sectors within the U.S. economy. It provides smartphone and tablet users with real-time releases of 16 key government statistics that drive business hiring, sales and production decisions useful to small businesses, the construction industry, the banking industry, journalists, economists, planners, policymakers and anyone who wants to monitor U.S. economic data."

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Bluebook Is Now Mobile!

The Bluebook has an App!  The Rulebook App now includes the Bluebook, available for Apple devices.  There is a charge for the Bluebook addition to the Rulebook, but you will never struggle with a little spiral bound book again!



And as a bonus...tomorrow...August 22, 2012, "For one day only, August 22, 2012, the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, Bankruptcy Procedure, Civil Procedure, Criminal Procedure and Evidence may be downloaded at no charge on the rulebook app.  All you need to do is download the free app and then download the federal rules, which will be priced "free" on that day."
(read more here: http://bit.ly/Nfemtk)
So, even if you don't decide to purchase the Bluebook, go get your free rules!

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Ask us a question by IM or texting

In addition to our in-person and telephone reference desk service, the Law Library also offers instant message and text message reference help. You can use your favorite instant messaging service or send a text message to ask a reference librarian a question.

We offer real-time virtual reference assistance through Google/Gmail Chat, America Online Instant Messenger (AIM), Yahoo Messenger, and MSN messenger. We also offer reference assistance via text message.

Our online reference hours are the same as our reference desk hours, which are normally Monday to Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m., Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. and Sunday 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

This service is only for law students, alumni and faculty so you will have to ask us for our screenname for instant messaging or our phone number for texting. 

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Library and Web Resources Tours

Did you miss the Library Walking Tours during the rush of 1L Orientation this week?  You can still take a Library Audio Tour. The audio files for the Walking Tour are here on the Law Library's web site.  Each of the seven parts of the tour can be downloaded as mp3 files, or heard in iTunesU.  Want more of a "walking tour" experience?  Try our QR Code Library Audio Tour.  Just pick up a brochure on the table to the left of the Circulation Desk.  Then follow the brochure map to the QR code signs at seven locations throughout the Library.  Scan the posted QR codes with your smart phone, and listen to each part of the tour at the location or download one or more parts for later listening.

Just as important as knowing your way around the Library is becoming familiar early in Fall Semester with the Law Library web site and the array of resources available there.  How do you find what you need in LEXICAT, the Library catalog?  What are the most important databases for law students (other than Lexis and Westlaw)?  What research guides, tutorials, services, and links should 1L's know about?  If you missed the Web Resources orientation session last Wednesday, take a quick webcast tour of the Library web site from either of the links on this page, located under "News and Events" and "Instruction."

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Not yet a wireless world

If you have any technology equipment at home, you are dealing with wires.  Check out this post at one of my favorites - Prof Hacker - on some great simple ideas on "wire management".  (As a teaser, those bread bag clips are not garbage after all.)  And don't miss the video on how to tie up those annoying earphone cords so they are not so annoying.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Interview With Bryan Garner

Bryan Garner is well known in law-related circles for his guide to legal writing style and usage, as well for as his editorship of Black’s Law Dictionary. Did you know, though, that he is also a SNOOT? Read an entertaining interview with Garner here, and be sure to try your hand at the brief, but diabolically difficult, language usage quiz at the end.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Library Access and Food Policies

Access Policy

Students must present their Hofstra ID to the public safety officer to gain access to gain entrance to the Library.

Food Policy

     Snack food, sandwiches, and drinks in closed containers are permitted in all areas of the library with the following exceptions: 

•  Foods with strong odors (i.e., pizza, fish, etc.) 
•  Messy foods (i.e. greasy) 
•  Foods in noisy wrappers or containers

Any exceptions to the food policy may be consumed at one of the various tables outside of the front entrance of the library. 

Please be considerate of others.  Remove all leftover food, food containers, and packaging when you leave the library. 

If you are using library materials or equipment after eating, please wash your hands before    handling any books or equipment.

Please report all spills to Library staff at the Circulation Desk.

Thanks and welcome back!

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat