Law Librarian Blog

Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission Staff Reports

Hat tip to beSpacific for tracking down the following preliminary staff reports from the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission:

• The Community Reinvestment Act and the Mortgage Crisis
• The Mortgage Crisis
• Government Sponsored Enterprises and the Financial Crisis
• The Role of the Federal Reserve in Banking Supervision and Regulation
• Securitization and the Mortgage Crisis

[JH]

Celebrate NLW 2010 With Free Trials

Happy National Library Week everyone!  Despite our federal government failing to pass House Resolution 1222, Supporting the Goals and Ideals of National Library Week (see Govtrack.us for details and updates), some generous publishers have opened their firewalls and are providing access to some terrific resources. Many of these trials are available beyond the one official week of NLW.  Below, I've noted the ones that I have been contacted about.  All require some registration and some require other qualifiers which I have noted.  If you know of more, please add to the comment list or let me know and I will repost!

ABC-CLIO eBooks is running a trial.  You will need to register with basic information about yourself and your institution.  Once registered, you have full access to their resources including your own bookshelf!

Alexander Street Press produces American History in Video.  Want to spice up those last research classes with some historical moving images?  The “open access” period is from now through April 30!

Credo Reference requires you to participate in a brain teaser challenge in order to access their offerings.  Though this is a standard Library Week sort of game,  I still find it annoying. 

Gale registration also requires you to download a widget.  Once you are all registered you have access to their Archives Unbound, Global Issues in Context and Global Reference on the Environment databases.

ProQuest is opening the gates to two of their History and Genealogy databases:  African American Heritage, Historical Newspapers™ - Black Newspapers.  They are also providing access to CultureGrams, eLibrary, and SIRS Discoverer and Reader products.

Sage Journals Online sets the standard once again.  With a simple registration, you have full access to their resources for free until 5/15.  You go Sage!   

I haven't heard of any free trials from West, though I am not surprised.  (VS)

Short WestlawNext Videos from the West eLearning Center

Log into the West eLearning Center and click on the "WestlawNext - NEW" link under the Browse Subjects heading in the left sidebar, then click on each of following tab for brief WLN videos. Current offerings include the following:

Overview

WestlawNext: The Complete Legal Research System, 8 Min.

Search

The Power of WestSearch, 7 Min.  
Finding Documents, 3 Min.  
Searching Specific Content, 5 Min

Browse

Inclusive and Relevant Results,  8 Min.  
Viewing Documents, 8 Min.  
Document Review Tools, 7 Min.  
Browsing Specific Content, 3 Min.

Expand and Verify

Accessing Related Content, 7 Min.  
Using KeyCite, 7 Min

Organize

Organizing Research with Folders, 5 Min.  
Using History to Access Previous Research, 3 Min

Links to WestlawNext user guides and monthly email newsletter here. [JH]

Round-Up of Practitioner Blogs

Modesto Bankruptcy Lawyer Blog
http://www.modestobankruptcylawyerblog.com
http://www.modestobankruptcylawyerblog.com/index.xml
Reports on bankruptcy news, opinions and matters in California. Published by the Law Office of Ben Roberts.

Phoenix Car Accident Attorney Blog
http://www.phoenixcaraccidentattorneyblog.com
http://www.phoenixcaraccidentattorneyblog.com/index.xml
Reviews injury law cases, reports and news in Arizona. Published by the Breyer Law Offices, PC.

Sacramento Family Law Blog
http://www.rbowmanlaw.com
http://www.rbowmanlaw.com/index.xml
Covers family law news, cases and opinions in California. Published by the Law Office of Bowman & Associates, APC.

Michigan Criminal Lawyers Blog
http://www.michigancriminallawyersblog.com
http://www.michigancriminallawyersblog.com/index.xml
Provides opinion on criminal law cases, reports and news in Michigan. Published by The Reeves Law Group.

Burn Injury Resource Center
http://www.burn-injury-resource-center.com
http://www.burn-injury-resource-center.com/index.xml
Provides insight on burn injury opinions, matters and reports in New York. Published by Kramer & Pollack.

Philadelphia Medical Malpractice Attorney Blog
http://www.philadelphiamedicalmalpracticeattorneyblog.com
http://www.philadelphiamedicalmalpracticeattorneyblog.com/index.xml
Provides opinion on medical malpractice cases, reports and news in Pennsylvania. Published by Eisenberg, Rothweiler, Winkler, Eisenberg & Jeck, PC.