Use/learn them while they are free

Welcome back to returning students!  Good luck to first years!

New students as well as experienced ones should take advantage of Bloomberg Law, Lexis and Westlaw while they are free (in Law School).  Once you graduate these services cost mega $$$.

First years, make sure to register for all three services before your training session on 8/27 or 9/1.  Second and third years, take advantage of training offered throughout the year.

All students - if you have any questions about registering or using these services ask your favorite reference librarian.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

"Learned What?" Unusual Personal Names in the Law

Incoming first-years will have a lot of new material to learn, and part of that process will include encountering some unusual personal names of legal luminaries, such as Learned Hand, William Cranch, and Tapping Reeve. By the way, in addition to being an eminent state supreme court judge, Tapping Reeve was also a pioneer in the founding of American law schools.


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Study Room Reservations

Make your study room reservations online!  Just click, book and confirm!  Click here for more information about LibCal.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Get to Know the Law Library: More Tours This Week

For those 1Ls who haven't taken a Library Tour yet, there will be more brief tours by our Reference Librarians each day for the remainder of the week:

Wednesday, 8/19            9am; 9:15am; 9:30am; 9:45am

Thursday, 8/20               3:45pm

Friday, 8/21                    12:10pm

So there's still time to join us at Library Circulation Desk at one of these times and complete this item on your To-Do List.  Those interested in a more detailed self-guided tour can also download our Library Audio Tour from the Law Library website.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Welcome Hofstra Law Class of 2018!

Welcome to the Law Library.  Law libraries today are more than books.  We have many electronic resources that you may not know about now but will learn as you go through law school.  Don't worry or rush as we are here to help you as you need it.  Just  ask us.

Enjoy the library's facilities.  There are several areas that are arranged for comfort, but if you want a quiet corner we have these as well.

We look forward to getting to know you and to work with you over the next three year.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

HeinOnline New Interface

HeinOnline recently launched a new interface with a simplified and streamlined design.  The new interface uses responsive web design so Hein can easily be accessed on your phone, tablet or PC. The search bar will be available on all pages, there is an updated image toolbar, the category options will be collapsible and more.  To learn about the new changes click here, to search on the new HeinOnline, click here.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Farewell and Welcome

As we say farewell to Summer Hours in the Library we look forward to welcoming new students and welcoming back returning students.

As of Monday, we will resume regular Library hours.  Please note our regular Reference desk hours will  be someone different this semester.

Regular Library hours are:
Mon-Thurs - 8am - 9pm
Fri.  8am - 6pm
Sat, Sun - 10am - 6pm

Good luck all with the coming semester.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Analogies From The Wild In Judicial Opinions

Analogies to wild animals’ behavior surface from time to time in judicial opinions. See, for instance, a recent example that evokes a certain large flightless bird.


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Words of Wisdom for New Law Students

Did you know that even Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. didn't understand a word he heard on his first day of law school?  The Law School Academic Support blog recently posted a compilation of "Thoughts on Learning, Lawyering, and Life" from the successful and famous who learned that success at something challenging, like studying law, doesn't happen overnight or without the right attitude and approach. The Academic Support blog is one of over 40 legal blogs in the Law Professor Blogs network, all edited by law school faculty and lawyers dedicated to providing legal news and commentary in their subject fields, which range from Contracts and Immigration Law to Legal Technology. 

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Combating Book Theft in Medieval Times

You keep your eye on your iPhone nor do you leave your car running when you dash into a Starbuck's to order coffee.  In medieval times the value of a book was nearer that of your car than your smart phone.  There were three main ways to protect a book:  chain, chest or curse.

Chain, chest, curse:  Combating Book Theft in Medieval Times is an amusing overview of these three methods. 

We still lock valuables in a safe and chain our bikes, but curses are no longer deemed an effective safeguard. 
Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat