Law Librarian Blog

Hey Prof, What's Your Cell Phone Number?

Sign of the Times: some FSU departments are removing office phones in a cost-saving move. [JH]

Wikipedia's British Cousin, Wikimedia UK, Ruled Not Tax Exempt

A recent UK determination letter has denied Wikimedia UK tax exempt status because dissemination of ideas "is not in itself a charitable object unless it is combined with teaching or education.". Check out Should Wikipedia Not be Tax Exempt? Its British Cousin is Not! by Darryll Jones, Stetson law prof and co-editor of Nonprofit Law Prof Blog, for details and commentary. [JH]

Villanova Law Dean Resignation Due to Prostitution Link

The Philadelphia Business Journal is reporting that former Dean Mark Sargent who resigned on June 29th will not return to the faculty.  Sargent is linked as a customer to a prostitution ring and is part of an investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police.  DePaul is not the only place with Dean problems it seems.  [MG]

Never Say Anything Nice About Someone and Predicting SSNs

The pitfalls of social networking sites seem to be mostly confined to photos of underage drinking or some other type of embarrassing or illegal conduct.  Youthful indiscretions, as politicians would say, when justifying something most people find offensive.  Now there is a new danger.  The National Law Journal has an article suggesting that plaintiff's counsel could search professional social networking sites such as Linkedin for glowing recommendations and use them against defendants in employment or harassment suits.  Mind you, any similar statements contained in an employee's file would be discoverable in any event.  Employers, however, do not have to send comments to Linkedin as part of the normal course of business.  The NLJ looks at this in the context of lawyers.  The same concern applies to any professionals, including librarians and their employers.

While we are on the subject of the dangers of a social network, news comes that they can by used to by statisticians to help guess social security numbers with a surprising degree of accuracy.  This is based on the way the numbers are created.  The Death Master File is a database maintained by the federal government that matches social security numbers to deceased individuals.  The database is designed to identify fraud with recycled SSNs.  Researchers have used the database to identify patterns in the way numbers are assigned.  As documented, the first three digits are based on the state of birth.  The next two are a group number, and the final four are randomly assigned.  That, coupled with the government's program of assigning SSNs shortly after birth allowed correlation with birthday and other demographic information.  And those details comes from social networking sites as people share more personal information about themselves.

The  results results for getting accurate numbers right is high enough to be scary.  The success rate is 7 percent prior to 1988 (the date of the assigned at birth policy) and 44 percent after.  The smaller the state, the higher the success rate.  I supposed this means that spammers and other cybercrooks will now employ hundred of out of work statistic and math majors to guess SSNs.  Identity theft will be even easier than getting someone to click on a compromised link.  And it's all thanks to Web 2.0.  [MG]

Last Will of Michael Joseph Jackson

Copy of the King of Pop's last will is available here. Hat tip to Texas Tech law prof and Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof Blog editor Gerry Beyer. [JH]

Commentary from Around the Web on SCOTUS Nominee Sonia Sotomayor

The National Law Journal has published a compilation of news and commentary from around the Web on the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. Hat tip to Mitchell Rubinstein, Adjunct Law Prof Blog. [JH]

Thomson West Launches Do Justice and Between Cases

Thomson West has launched Do Justice, a pro bono outreach initiative to support law firm pro bono activities. The Company has also launched Between Cases, a new online resource for displaced legal associates seeking employment and networking opportunities. Details on Legal Current and the Company's press release. [JH]

Entries for Access Group's Video Scholarship Contest for Law Students Due July 15th

Access Group has launched another video scholarship contest for law students this year. Entitled “My Inspiration,” law students are asked to create a video that describes what motivated them to go to law school. The grand prize is a $10,000 scholarship to law school. Access Group also plans to award up to five additional honorable mention scholarships of $1,500 each. Entries are due by July 15th.
 
Complete contest rules, entry form, and information are available online here. There, you’ll also find the sponsor's tribute video to the 2008 contest winners. [JH]

A Day to Celebrate

The Writer’s Almanac reports that today is the anniversary of the founding of the first circulating library: 

It was on this day in 1731 that Ben Franklin founded the first circulating library, a forerunner to the now ubiquitous free public library. He started it as a way to help settle intellectual arguments among his group of Philadelphia friends, the Junto, a group of civic-minded individuals gathered together to discuss the important issues of their day.

Each of the 50 charter members bought an initial share into the company (40 shillings), which helped fund the buying of books, and then paid a smaller yearly fee (10 shillings) that went to buying more books and maintaining the library. In exchange, the members could borrow any of the books. Donations of books were gladly accepted.

They called their charter the Library Company of Philadelphia, and the next year, Franklin hired America's first librarian, Louis Timothee. At first, the books were stored at the librarian's house, but by the end of the decade, they were moved to the Pennsylvania State House, which is now known as Independence Hall.

Also of interest to the grammar nerds out there, The Writer’s Almanac also notes that today is the birthday of William Strunk, of “The Elements of Style” fame.
[EF]

Reminder: NELLCO Executive Director Featured Guest on The Law Librarian This Afternoon

Richard Leiter and Brian Striman will be chatting with NELLCO's Executive Director, Tracy Thompson-Przylucki, about NELLCO and it's many projects and services in today's episode of The Law Librarian. The episode will air live at 2:00 PM (Central). [JH]

Twenty Years as an Internet Open Access Publisher

In June 1989, Charles W. Bailey, Jr. launched PACS-L. In his A Look Back at Twenty Years as an Internet Open Access Publisher, he writes "PACS-L was one of the first library-oriented mailing lists, and, at the time, it was unusual in that it had a broad subject focus (public-access computer systems in libraries, such as online catalogs) rather than a narrow focus on a specific library automation system. Although PACS-L's greatest contribution may have been in raising librarians' awareness of the importance and potential of the then fledgling Internet, it was also the platform on which my initial scholarly digital publishing efforts were based." Check out Bailey's chronology of his open access digital publishing efforts from June 1989 through June 2009. [JH]

Help Save Ohio Public Libraries from Governor's Draconian Budget Cutback Proposal -- 50% Reduction in State Funding

Governor Ted Strickland has proposed what amounts to a 50% reduction in state funding for Ohio's public libraries. His June 19 proposal would cut a total of $227.3 million over the next two years from the state’s Public Library Fund.

From the American Libraries report:

Lynda Murray, director of government and legal services for the Ohio Library Council, told American Libraries that the proposal would cut the Public Library Fund by 30%, or $100 million per year, in FY2010–11. However, since library coffers already shrank by 20% in FY2009 due to a drop in tax revenue, of which libraries get 2.2%, the cumulative effect of enacting Strickland’s budget would be the halving of library support for some 70% of the 251 public libraries that are funded solely by the state according to a June 20 statement issued by OLC.

...

About 30% of Ohio's public libraries have local property tax levies that supplement the state's funding. However, with the Governor's proposed drastic cuts in the state funding for libraries, even those libraries will face decisions regarding substantial reductions in hours of operation, materials, and staffing.

State lawmakers need to know that library users are turning to their public libraries for free high speed Internet access, help with employment searches, and that people of all ages are turning to the library as a lifeline during these difficult economic times before June 30th when the Ohio General Assembly must finalize the FY2010-11 state budget.

Detail on the Ohio Library Council's Save Ohio Libraries! page. You can express your support for public libraries on the Save Ohio Libraries Facebook page and by contacting Governor Ted Strickland here and on Strickland's Facebook page. See also The Ohio Libraries Case post on the LISNews blog.[JH]

X Games Circa 1899

This Thomas Edison produced clip was shot in 1899, and might be the first recording of bike stunts. [JH]

LOC to Archive All Sotomayor Confirmation Tweets

The "official" Library of Congress announcement was a tweet:  "LOC will capture tweets on #sotomayor for its web archives on the Sotomayor nomination." [JH]

Law Prof Tries Selling IRC at Yard Sale

Librarians know that trying to give away, let alone sell, deaccessioned volumes of legal materials is pretty hard to do these days. On Concurring Opinions, Sarah Waldeck (Seton Hall) posted a photo essay about her attempt to sell a copy of the 2008 Income Tax Code and Regulations during her yard sale. Great fun. [JH]

UN Launches World's First Tuition-Free Online University

The UN Global Alliance for Information and Communication Technology and Development (GAID) has announced the launch of the University of the People, a non-profit institution offering higher education worldwide using open-source technology, open course materials, e-learning methods and peer-to-peer teaching. The only charge to students is a $15 to $50 admission fee, depending on their country of origin, and a processing fee for every test ranging from $10 to $100. The University is working towards accreditation. For more, see the GAID press release. Hat tip to LISNews. [JH]

Controversial Airport Security Scanners Get House Attention

One of the more controversial programs run by the Transportation Security Administration is the use of backscatter x-ray technology that sees under clothing.  In fact, it sees very well under clothing, enough that critics call it a virtual strip search.  While Congress can get pretty gung-ho about security, this is one area that makes a lot of people queasy.  Proponents say the passenger exposure (no pun intended, really) to x-rays is not dangerous.  But that's not the real issue.  As Rep. Jason Chaffetz says, "Nobody needs to see my wife and kids naked to secure an airplane."  A lot of people feel the same way.  Chaffetz offered an amendment to a larger TSA bill that offered passengers an alternative pat-down to the x-rays.  The amendment also requires the images to be deleted after they are no longer necessary for security purposes, and prohibits TSA employees from sharing them.  Imagine if these things started showing up online.  That's not happened so far as I'm aware, but the potential exists.  The House vote was 310-118.  The legislation now goes to the Senate.  More details are at CNET here. 

Speaking of changes to TSA procedure, there is a new requirement that the name on the ticket match that of the passenger exactly.  The San Jose Mercury News has a summary of the new rule and its requirements here.  Take note, AALL bound travelers.  [MG]

Senator Complains LOC Hinders Inpector General

In one of those "what the..." moments, news comes out of the Washington Post about a letter written by Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) to, James Billington, the Librarian of Congress, complaining that Billington's office interferes with Inspector General investigations.  The IG issued reports in FY2008 with titles such as Opportunities Exist to Improve Space Management, so it was a bit of a shock to read that the IG issued 13 federal search warrants and 16 IG subpoenas for various investigations covering child pornography possession, identity theft, and embezzlement.  Money quote from LOC IG Karl Schornagel:  "The average person would have no idea that these things happen at the Library of Congress."  Indeed.  The letter isn't immediately available, but LOC spokesperson Matt Raymond says there are factual errors in Grassley's points to which Billington will respond.  Read the whole story here.  [MG]

Findings from Law Librarian Employment Status Survey

Over 180 law librarians responded to Christine Sellers' recent survey of employment status and concerns. 30% of the respondents reported being laid off and three-quarters of those had worked in law firms. Of the 129 law librarians who are currently employed, 60 are worried about losing their jobs! For additional stats and Christine's very informative narrative, check out her Law Librarians of Leisure post. [JH]

Wikipedia Bans Church of Scientology for Self-Serving Contributions

From Section 8 of Scientology Controversies in Wikipedia:

In an effort to adhere to Wikipedia policy, Wikipedia's Arbitration Committee decided in late-May 2009 to restrict access to the site from Church of Scientology IP addresses, to prevent self-serving edits by editors within CoS-administraded networks. A "host of anti-Scientologist editors" were topic-banned as well. Wikipedia policy clearly states that articles should not be edited or created with any intent of gain or profit for any person or organization, and that articles must have a neutral point of view. The committee concluded that both sides had "gamed policy" and resorted to "battlefield tactics", with articles on living persons being the "worst casualties".

Text of Arbitration Committee Decision. See also Christine Corcos' post on Media Law Prof Blog for links to press coverage. [JH]