Our Blog is Moving

After 7 years, we are relocating our blog to a new home on our website. This move will offer our followers and readers a better online experience.

Our new address will be http://www.mendikmatters.org

If you have our blog bookmarked, please delete the old book mark and add a bookmark to the link above.

If you currently read this blog through our RSS service, you should see no change in publishing. You can also update your RSS subscription to: http://www.mendikmatters.org/feed

Loislaw in Transition

Wolters Kluwer, the company that produces the Loislaw service for computer assisted legal research, has advised us of their intention to discontinue their program of free Loislaw access for law students, effective in June of 2011.  Wolters Kluwer is developing an enhanced Loislaw product for law schools, and we in the Library will be reviewing this product when details are finalized.

In the meantime, NYLS students with registered Loislaw accounts will find that their accounts no longer provide research access in June.  Loislaw had been an electronic legal research alternative during the summer, when Lexis and Westlaw student passwords are restricted.   This will no longer be true.  For details regarding summer password extensions and other summer research options, please click here:

http://www.nyls.edu/library/for_students/extend_passwords

New York Law Journal (and other ALM Publications) Moved to Lexis

As of May 1, 2011, you can no longer find the New York Law Journal, the National Law Journal, the American Lawyer, or any other ALM (American Lawyer Media) publication on Westlaw.  Lexis has become the exclusive online provider for ALM publications (with the exception of ALM itself, which provides direct online access via subscription).

If you are looking only for the New York Law Journal, the best way to access it from the main directory page is States Legal – U.S. >> New York >> Search News >> New York Law Journal.  If you’re looking for content in other ALM publications, go to Secondary Legal on the main directory page and click the link for ALM.

Coverage for the New York Law Journal begins as of August 1, 1991. (We have full coverage in microfilm back to March 26, 1888.)  Lexis coverage for the National Law Journal begins as of January 3, 1983.  Coverage for other publications varies.

One caveat to keep in mind, courtesy of New York Times Co. v. Tasini, 533 U.S. 483 (2001):  Access to certain freelance articles and other features (e.g., photographs, classifieds, etc...) may not be available.

Your Classmates Say: Shhhhhhhh!!

That’s right; it’s not us, but your fellow students, who want the library to remain QUIET during finals.  Please do your part.  Even if you can study amidst noise and commotion, remember that not everyone else can.  At this time of year, even a little noise for a short time around those who are preparing for finals, doing take-home finals, or writing papers, is the height of rude behavior.

Please remember, all reading and stack areas in the Library are QUIET STUDY ZONES.  You should avoid conversation and unnecessary noise.  Be particularly mindful of the need for quiet as you enter and leave the Library.  Voices in the corridors and elevator vestibules carry into the reading areas and disturb those trying to study.

The Library can get crowded, and tensions can mount.  The only way to maintain an appropriate study atmosphere is through student cooperation.  Please keep this in mind always, and especially at this time of year.

Thanks to everyone for their anticipated cooperation.  And best of luck to you all on your exams.

 

Law Day 2011

Law Day, May 1, celebrates the fundamental principle of the rule of law and how it is connected to the many freedoms that Americans enjoy.  President Dwight D. Eisenhower established the first Law Day through Proclamation 3221 in 1958. In 1961, Congress passed a joint resolution (now codified at 36 U.S.C. § 113) designating May 1 as Law Day and requesting each sitting president to issue a proclamation every year. 

This year’s Law Day Theme, as established by the American Bar Association (ABA), is The Legacy of John Adams, From Boston to Guantanamo, which acknowledges John Adams as our first lawyer president and is designed to help us understand the role that lawyers have played throughout history in defending due process and the rights of the accused. The ABA provides an interactive map to show what Law Day Events are occurring throughout the U.S., Guam and Puerto Rico. The New York State Bar Association has a webpage dedicated to Law Day 2011 and has listed a number of events occurring throughout the state.

If you are interested in planning Law Day events for next year, take a look at this year’s guide for ideas on how to organize Law Day Events.

Food (and Drink) for Thought

For those of you who have been complying with the library’s Food and Drink Policy, thank you.  Some limits on the food and drink allowed in the library are necessary to keep our beautiful new building clean and comfortable for many years to come. Remember:  All beverages, excluding water, must be in spill-proof mugs.  This includes soda, coffee, and juice.  Only light snack and light meal items are allowed.  No food is allowed in the Electronic Research Classrooms and drinks must be in a spill-proof mug.  Unattended food and drink items will be discarded.   

Unfortunately, a number of people continue to ignore the policy. So, beginning during the week of April 25, you will see more librarians walking more frequently through the library; they will ask you to dispose of any offending items immediately or to leave the library to enjoy them elsewhere.  Your help is appreciated to avoid creating unnecessary confrontations and the resulting distractions to you and your fellow students who are trying to study.

Why do we have the policy we do?  Because it represents an appropriate compromise between allowing students to eat and drink while studying and ensuring respect for not only the physical space but also the interests of other members (present and future) of the law school community.  Beverages spill, rendering the immediate space unusable until it is cleaned.  Spills spread, stain, and leave behind a sticky residue attractive only to vermin.  Food that is smelly or messy or noisy disturbs and distracts everyone around you.  Messy items provide more food for local vermin.  You wouldn’t bring food or drink into the courtroom, or to a client’s office, or on an interview.

A spill-proof mug is all it takes to enter the library with any beverage you like. If you don’t have a spill-proof mug, pick one up at the circulation desk for $3.00. 

Everyone will appreciate your cooperation.

Exam Prep Help!

Three important Library resources to keep in mind as you prepare for upcoming exams.

First:  The Library’s Exam Preparation Resources web page offers a host of materials containing practical advice and strategies designed to help you navigate the exam process. 

Second:  The Library maintains an archive of previous years’ exams for most courses.  You can access these exams by course or professor name.  From the Library’s home page, click Find Sample Exams under How Do I . . . ? 

Third:  CALI offers a variety of lessons and podcasts with helpful tips and advice from faculty on preparing for and taking exams. To access these materials, log in to CALI; under CALI Topics, click Legal Concepts and Skills and scroll down to one or more of these lessons:

Exam Taking Skills, Outlines, and Advice for Law Students (Panel 1 PodCast)

Exam Taking Skills, Outlines, and Advice for Law Students (Panel 2 PodCast)

Exam Taking Skills, Outlines, and Advice for Law Students (Panel 3 PodCast)

Tips for Multiple Choice Exams in Law School (Podcast)

Top 10 Tips for Successfully Writing a Law School Essay

Writing Better Law School Exams: The Importance of Structure

 Best of luck to everyone!

Celebrate Earth Day!

Friday April 22, 2011 is Earth Day.    

This year’s theme is A Billion Acts of Green^®, a “people-powered campaign to generate a billion acts of environmental service and advocacy . . .” in advance of the global Earth Summit in Rio in 2012.  One easy Act of Green you could pledge, adding to the 100,504,172-and-counting Acts already submitted, would be to turn off the library study table lamps and carrel lights whenever you leave.  We will thank you and so will the Earth.

For complete information about Earth Day, visit Earth Day Network.

 

24-hour Library Study Hall

Effective Monday April 11, study areas and computer labs in the Mendik Library at 185 West Broadway will remain open to NYLS students 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  This Study Hall schedule will remain in effect through the end of the exams period, except for the holiday week of April 18 – 24.

During the Study Hall period all areas behind the Circulation Desk, including the Reserve Collection and the Reserve Reading Room, will close at 11 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, and 10 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  The Library opens for business at 8 a.m. on weekdays, and 9 a.m. on weekends.

During overnight Study Hall hours there are no librarians on duty; security guards patrol Library rooms and study areas.  All Circulation transactions, including borrowing and return of books, as well as charge-out and charge-in of Reserve materials must be complete by regular closing time.  Policies regarding food, drink and quiet study remain in effect.

Overnight Study Hall is for NYLS students only; you’ll need your NYLS OneCard ID to stay at closing time, and to enter the Library after closing. Please have your ID ready to show the guard.

Extended Study Hall hours are suspended for the holiday week, Monday April 18 through Sunday April 24.  24-hour Study Hall resumes at 8 a.m. on Monday morning, April 25.

24-hour Library Study Hall

Effective Monday April 11, study areas and computer labs in the Mendik Library at 185 West Broadway will remain open to NYLS students 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  This Study Hall schedule will remain in effect through the end of the exams period, except for the holiday week of April 18 – 24.

During the Study Hall period all areas behind the Circulation Desk, including the Reserve Collection and the Reserve Reading Room, will close at 11 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, and 10 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  The Library opens for business at 8 a.m. on weekdays, and 9 a.m. on weekends.

During overnight Study Hall hours there are no librarians on duty; security guards patrol Library rooms and study areas.  All Circulation transactions, including borrowing and return of books, as well as charge-out and charge-in of Reserve materials must be complete by regular closing time.  Policies regarding food, drink and quiet study remain in effect.

Overnight Study Hall is for NYLS students only; you’ll need your NYLS OneCard ID to stay at closing time, and to enter the Library after closing. Please have your ID ready to show the guard.

Extended Study Hall hours are suspended for the holiday week, Monday April 18 through Sunday April 24.  24-hour Study Hall resumes at 8 a.m. on Monday morning, April 25.