Law Librarian Blog

Search All Law School Web Sites at Once

If you want to search law school sites collectively, try Search All Law Schools on the CALI webpage. Possible uses? Research tuition figures, law professors, academic concentrations and law school clinics.

Thanks to Marianne Alcorn and Beth Difelice of the Ross-Blakely Law Library.

The all law schools search was created using Google Custom Search. (SA)

New Department of Education Database Freaks Out Privacy Advocates

Inside Higher Ed reports that advocates for colleges and students are "freaked out" by the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General's plan to gather personally identifiable information from nine existing databases of grant, loan and contract recipients into one giant “data analytics system. The plan grants numerous waivers to the federal Privacy Act that will allow the inspector general to share information from its new database with other parties — other federal agencies, state law enforcement agencies, and even foreign governments — that request it and can persuade the department that they need it. And those disclosures can be permitted without notifying those whose information is being released or giving them a chance to correct flawed information. Notice of the plan in the Federal Register. [JH]

Wife: Shooting Was Accidental, Not During Sex

To the headline editor's delight, the husband was smart enought to finish the act before doing the deed in Cincinnati story. Hat tip to LLB's crime reporter, Ben. [JH]

Friday Fun: Friendly Librarian Waives Randy's Fine

[JH]

Browse the 2007 Privacy Act Issuances Database

The Privacy Act Issuances online database contains descriptions of Federal agency systems of records maintained on individuals, rules agencies follow to assist individuals who request information about their records, and computer matching programs between agencies. This information is current as of December 31, 2007. You view by agency or browse by Federal Register notices.

For Privacy Act Compilations prior to 2007, please see the Privacy Act Issuances on GPO Access. [RJ]

A Toast to the 21st Amendment

Today marks the 75th anniversary of the 21st Amendment, which repealed the 18th Amendment that prohibited the "manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors" within the U.S.  As we raise our glass and toast this momentous occasion, let us reflect on the immortal words of Homer J. Simpson who said "To alcohol.  The cause of and solution to all of life's problems."

See also: The Constitution, Designed to Change, Rarely Does.  WSJ.com  [RJ]

New Book Reviews Via AALL Spectum Blog

Recent titles include:

• Intellectual Property Culture, Oxford University Press
• Now What Makes Juries Listen, Thomson West
• Honor & Respect, Protocol School of Washington
• Electronic Discovery and Records Management Guide, Thomson West

Opening: Electronic Services/Reference Librarian, UCDavis Mabie Law Library

The UCDavis Mabie Law Library seeks a candidate with requisite qualifications who demonstrates strong customer service skills and a collegial attitude that thrives in a teamwork environment.

The Library is part of the UC Davis School of Law and provides services to over 590 professional and master’s degree candidates, law and campus faculty, members of the legal profession in the Northern and Central California region, and members of the public. 

Responsibilities:  Reporting to the Associate Director, the position has the following responsibilities:

• Overall management of the law library’s electronic resources.  Includes providing instruction, training, and access; assists with selection, evaluation and licenses; reports statistics on usage, and helps with publicizing electronic resources to faculty, staff, and students.
• Part of the Public Services team, with regular reference desk hours, provides print and online resource assistance for faculty and students, assists with answering reference requests by email. Some evening and/or weekends may be required. Fills in at the Circulation desk when necessary.
• Assigned specific faculty to provide reference services as part of the faculty liaison program.
• Assists with selection, coordination, and upgrading computer services requirements, hardware and software,
• Assists with review of collection and new resources

Qualifications:  Masters degree in library science from an ALA-accredited  institution or its equivalent; JD preferred or experience with legal information resources; knowledge of print and electronic legal information sources; ability to work effectively with a diverse population with many different levels of technical capability.

Benefits:  Librarians are academic appointees. The University offers several health, dental, vision and other insurance plan options, 24 days of vacation and 12 days of sick leave, retirement options, and access to University programs.

To Apply:  Email applications are encouraged.
Please send cover letter, resume and 3 references to Laura Cauchi (licauchi@ucdavis.edu)
UCDavis Mabie Law Library
400 Mrak Hall Dr
Davis, CA  95616

FINAL FILING DATE:  JANUARY 22, 2008

The University of California is firmly committed to the pursuit of diversity. The individual commitment of each and every manager to the principles of diversity, equal employment opportunity and fairness is an integral element in the University's pursuit of excellence.
As a federal contractor, we are obligated to undertake affirmative action consistent with the provisions of Federal Law and University policies.

U.S. News Top 200 Elementary Schools Universities in the World

At some point U.S. News will product the Top 200 elementary schools but until then we have this, the Top 200 Colleges and Universities in the world. The ranking is based on the Times Higher Education-QS World University Rankings.

And the top five universities in 2008 are ...

1. Harvard
2. Yale
3. Cambridge
4. Oxford
5. Caltech

[JH]

Windows Throughout the Years

For those of you geeks out there, check out Wired's tour of Windows OS throughout the years (includes screenshots).  [RJ] 

One for the Ladies: Chippendales Appeal of PTO Trademark Application Rejection Starts Today at 10 AM

Chippendales has appealed the PTO's rejection of its trademark application for its cuffs-and-collar configuration (image left). The PTO refused to register the apparel configuration for "adult entertainment services, namely exotic dancing for women in the nature of live performances" on the grounds that the design is not inherently distinctive. [Analysis of the PTO decision.] The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board will hear the appeal on December 4th at 10 AM.

Hat tip to The TTABlog. [JH]

PACER at 20

A brief history of PACER, which celebrated its 20th anniversay in September, has been published in the November 2008 issue of The Third Branch. [JH]

2008 Financial Crisis Primer

Check out Chicago-Kent's 2008 Financial Crisis Primer. The Primer "brings together some of the best and most accessible materials related to the crisis. It provides resources such as articles on the failure of regulation, the Congressional testimony of key players, editorials on the government's bailout of banks, books on previous financial debacles, and the voices of people who have lost homes in foreclosures." Nicely executed. [JH]

New on LLRX.com

From LLRX.com:

The Government Domain: Tracking the Transition Peggy Garvin's thorough and concise guide to free online presidential transition trackers allows you to stay current with all the latest news, rumors and commentary about the incoming administration, via reliable websites, blogs and RSS feeds.

CongressLine: Presidential Patronage Paul Jenks' commentary addresses the background of the scramble for thousands of presidentially appointed offices within the government that accompanies a new administration. The selection process has evolved over the past couple of hundred years and every position outside of the new president's personal staff requires Senate approval.

Chumby: Internet Access You Can Hug? Conrad J. Jacoby reviews a quirky, open source dual purpose gadget: both alarm clock and a delivery outlet for Internet content that is pushed to you in real time.

FOIA Facts: Sources for FOIA Training Scott A. Hodes comments on the limited availability of training in this critical area, and identifies providers in the private and public sectors.

Federal Judicial Center Study on Effects of the Class Action Fairness Act

Just released: Impact of the Class Action Fairness Act on the Federal Courts: Preliminary Findings from Phase Two's Pre-CAFA Sample of Diversity Class Actions. Key findings include:

• Plaintiffs filed motions to certify a class in fewer than one in four class actions;
• Judges granted six motions, in five cases, to certify a litigation class, and all five cases resulted in a class settlement;
• Before a class settlement, plaintiffs typically had to overcome at least one challenge to the merits in the form of a dispositive motion;
• Parties proposed class settlements in twenty-one, or 9%, of the 231 class actions;
• Judges approved all twenty-one proposed class settlements; in three cases approval came only after modification of the settlement;
• Plaintiffs filed motions to remand in 75% of the removed cases and judges granted remand motions almost 70% of the time, resulting in the remand of more than half of the removed cases;
• Voluntary dismissal was the most frequent disposition of cases not remanded, occurring 38% of the time;
• Motions activity was relatively infrequent in the sample: 56% of the class actions had one or zero motions filed; and
• One in five cases was terminated by the court granting a dispositive motion.

[JH]

Opening: Assistant Professor / Research and Public Services Librarian, University of Nevada Law Library

The Wiener-Rogers Law Library at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Boyd School of Law invites applications for the position of assistant professor / research and public services librarian. The Wiener-Rogers Law Library supports the research, instruction, and public services activities of an innovative institution and an engaged community of scholars.

The Wiener-Rogers Law Library is the largest law library in the state and serves as a resource for the local and state bar and the general public. The Library’s collections are diverse and represent the interests of a faculty engaged in a wide range of scholarship and committed to community involvement. The Law Library’s collections are supplemented with those of the University Libraries. The Law Library expects to develop special collections that reflect Nevada legal history and to make unique resources available to wide audiences through digitization projects.

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas Boyd School of Law, a state-supported law school, is the only law school in Nevada. Its first classes began in 1998, and it now has a faculty of more than 40 educators from around the country. The Law School offers day and evening programs to nearly 500 students. The Law School is recognized nationally for its interdisciplinary clinic program, the Saltman Center for Dispute Resolution, and its lawyering process program. The School of Law is a diverse community of faculty, students, and staff who work together, collegially and respectfully, to maximize the potential of students and to fulfill the mission and aspirations of the Law School.

Description and responsibilities: The position of assistant professor / research and public services librarian is a tenure-track law library faculty position. The research and public services librarian will work as part of a research and instructional support team that interacts with the law school, University communities and the public. Applicants should be conversant in research strategies and resources and understand the changing nature of legal research sources and methods. Applicants should be familiar with new information technologies that assist in instruction and communication, and should be committed to maintaining an ongoing awareness of new developments in legal education and scholarship.

The successful candidate will contribute to the activities of the Library’s public services group that

• Supports faculty scholarship by undertaking research projects, developing new resources, and providing current awareness services; Supports student learning by providing reference assistance and individual instruction in research strategies and techniques, and by providing research assistance and instructional support to student organizations and journals;
• Develops and implements formal and informal instructional programs within the Law School;
• Develops and implements outreach programs to serve the UNLV community, the practicing bar, and the public;
• Develops digital resources that support the mission of the Law School; and
• Communicates information about and promotes the services and resources of the Law Library.

Requirements: Applicants should be service-oriented and interested in innovation and in contributing to an active department that serves diverse communities. Applicants must possess strong written and oral communication skills, and should have experience working in a professional, team-based environment.

A master’s degree in library or information science and a JD are required, although applicants who have one degree and will complete the other within the next six months will also be considered.

Application process: Please submit a letter of interest, a detailed resume listing qualifications and experience, and the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of at least three professional references who may be contacted. Review of materials will begin December 15, 2008, and will continue until the position is filled. Materials should be addressed to Matthew Wright, Search Committee Chair, and are to be submitted via online application at https://hrsearch.unlv.edu. For assistance with UNLV’s on-line applicant portal, contact Jen Martens at (702) 895-2894 or hrsearch@unlv.edu.

UNLV is an affirmative action / equal opportunity employer committed to excellence through diversity.

AALL 2009 Election Results

The results of the AALL 2009 elections are in. LLB would like to congratulate:

• Vice President/President-Elect (July 2009 - July 2010): Joyce Manna Janto

• Executive Board (July 2009 - July 2012): Marcus L. Hochstetler & Janet McKinney

[RJ]

Ending ALR Course with Law Library, the Hip Hop Version

[JH]

AALL's Day in Life Photo Contest Is Underway

Enter your digital or print photographs by February 28, 2009, in any of the following six categories:

1. Librarians as Information Evaluators and Managers
2. Librarians as Expert Researchers
3. Librarians as Teachers and Trainers
4. Librarians as Trailblazers in New Technology
5. The Artistry of Librarianship
6. Most Humorous

Details in AALL Spectrum. [JH]

Get Tomorrow's Federal Regs Today

The Office of the Federal Register has created the Public Inspection Desk to provide online access to materials that will be published in the Federal Register. You can download typescript copies in PDF. Many federal agencies have been doing this for some time (eg SEC) and probably will remain sources for advance copies of rules, regs and notices that will be published in Federal Register materials. However, one useful feature of the Public Inspection Desk is that a target date of publication is provided. [JH]