We understand that some students will be working remotely during the BLS Winter Recess (Dec. 22 – Jan. 2). We recorded our BLS Library presentation on how to prepare to access digital books, encyclopedias and databases from remote locations. The recording of this presentation is now available in Canvas (within BLSConnect). The Canvas “course” is: Librarians’ Research Presentations > see module: Material From Librarians’ Alcove Academy Presentations > click link: Librarians’ Presentation: “Preparing for Remote Research During Winter Recess.” A key point was: email: askthelibrary@brooklaw.edu or text: (718) 734-2432 soon for help identifying and collecting sources to use during Winter Recess.
Thank you to those who attended! We always appreciate your feedback on the library/our services, and we look forward to providing you with research suggestions.
Lenape Center is a nonprofit organization that states it is “[c]ontinuing Lenapehoking through community, culture and the arts” and “[w]orking towards the creation of a cultural center.” Lenape Center’s work includes curating exhibitions (including the virtual exhibit Lenapehoking), developing educational programs, and creating Lenapehoking: An Anthology. Brooklyn Law School Library, Brooklyn Public Library and New York Public Library provide multiple copies of this insightful and powerful book. On p. 14 of the Introduction, Joe Baker (Co-Founder/Executive Director of Lenape Center) states: “This anthology of essays and interviews features leading Indigenous scholars, culture bearers, and artists offering important new scholarship and knowledge of Lenape culture and history that is not readily available to the general public.” On March 6, 2023, there was a “Live from NYPL” event at which contributors to Lenapehoking: An Anthology “explore[d] the personal journeys of people seeking welcome in their ancestral homeland while pushing back against their erasure.” This event video is available here.
This database includes: the subcollection Indigenous Peoples Treaties (400+ full-text treaties) and treaty-related publications; each edition of United States Code Title 25 and Code of Federal Regulations Title 25; the Indian Law Reporter (published: 1974-2013) and additional serials; a subcollection of tribal codes (published: 1981 and 1988); a subcollection of constitutions, acts and by-laws; selected Native Nations Law & Policy Center publications such as The Need for Confidentiality within Tribal Cultural Resource Protection and Tribal Implementation Toolkit; Model Tribal Probate Code; nearly 50 federal legislative histories; Congressional hearings; scholarly articles; other related works (books and pamphlets); and a bibliography. This database is accessible on campus through the BLS network or off campus through a web browser that communicates with the BLS proxy server. The library team hopes this database will assist BLS students in the spring 2024 seminar: Native American Law. Feel free to email: askthelibrary@brooklaw.eduor text: (718) 734-2432 for help in using this new resource.
This new resource highlights current editions of BLS Library’s casebooks, study aids and guides for law school courses and bar exams. It describes sources on: Doing Well & Being Well; Preparing for Law School Exams & Bar Exams;Administrative Law; Civil Practice & Procedure; Conflict of Laws; Constitutional Law; Contracts; Corporations & Other Business Associations; Criminal Law & Procedure; Evidence; Family Law; Professional Responsibility; Property; Sales; Secured Transactions; Torts; & Wills, Trusts & Estates. Sources are categorized by type and are listed “newest to oldest.” The home screen also includes BLS Library’s hours of access for BLS students.
TIPS: Our librarians continue to develop this research guide and Brooklyn Law School Library’s collection. When you access this guide in future, please reload the web page. If you need help accessing e-resources like CALI casebooks/exercises or study aids in the Understanding and Q&A series, please email us at askthelibrary@brooklaw.edu or text us at 718-734-2432.
Current editions of print casebooks adopted by BLS faculty and many print study aids are in BLS Library’s first-floor Reservecollection. Students can request these sources at BLS Library’s first-floor Circulation desk. These sources circulate for two hours. Many sources in BLS Library’s Cellar-level Main collection circulate for the semester.
Good luck completing end-of-term work and preparing for exams!
The U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) has launched a beta version of its new GovInfo web site. After it completes its beta phase, Govinfo will replace FDsys, the federal government website currently providing free public access to over 50 different collections of federal government information, including the United States Code, the Code of Federal Regulations, Congressional materials, and selected federal case law. Users of GovInfo can browse by A-Z list, by category, by date, and by congressional committee content. To see a list of collections available on Govinfo, visit here.
The Law Library of Congress and Willaim S. Hein & Co., Inc. recently announced that they will partner to to offer free online access to historical U.S. legal materials, including the United States Code, U.S. Reports, Code of Federal Regulations, and the Federal Register. Legal researchers and the public can access these Hein libraries through the Law Library of Congress legal research portal, Guide to Law Online: U.S. Federal. The following collections of historical primary law are available:
While not as comprehensive nor as easily searched as the BLS Library HeinOnline Subscription Databases, these collections help to make important historical legislative, judicial, and executive branch publications freely available to the public. Most of these collections are available on the federal government website FDsys, but coverage only goes back to the mid-1990s. Generally, the free Hein libraries begin with the first edition of the publication in question, and end when free access via FDsys begins.
For almost 20 years, Thomas has been the official source for federal legislative information. Now, users trying to access Thomas will be directed to Congress.gov.
As of now, Congress.gov is a beta site and will remain a beta site until the shifting of all data sets from Thomas is complete. The full transition is expected at the end of 2014, and at this time Thomas will be permanently retired.
Congress.gov replaces Thomas with a system that includes platform mobility, comprehensive information retrieval and user-friendly presentation. It currently includes all data sets available on Thomas except nominations, treaties and communications. As mentioned above, all data sets will be included by the end of this year.
If you are interested in learning how to navigate the new platform, online training is available. Sign up here.
On Monday August 15, 2011 at 11:00 AM EDT Hein Online will be migrating to a new HeinOnline Server. This server change should have little impact on your organization’s access to HeinOnline.
On and off-campus users should access HeinOnline from the BLS Library Quick Link using the domain name of heinonline.org.
Remember off-campus Hein Online user must also have the BLS Proxy Server installed to access BLS’s Hein Online subscription.
If you do experience problems, please make certain you have install the BLS Proxy Server. Contact BLS IT with any proxy configuration problems: Email: support@brooklaw.edu (24 hours) or Phone: (718) 780-7507 (Weekdays 9 am – 6 pm). If the proxy is referencing *.heinonline.org and you are still experiencing problems, please contact us at techsupport@wshein.com.
