This Sunday, September 18, 2022, marks the two-year anniversary of the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Justice Ginsburg was the second woman to serve as a justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. She left behind an enormous legacy – one that includes not only her signature lace-collar but the transformation of women’s rights in the United States. “The Notorius RBG” visited NYLS a few times in her long and illustrious career. In 2018, she gave the Sidney Shainwald Public Interest Lecture. At the lecture, she was interviewed by NYLS Professor Nadine Strossen. In 1999, Justice Ginsburg spoke at the NYLS Law Review Dinner. Visit our NYLS Digital Commons repository to find more information and pictures.
Celebrate Constitution Day
September 17 marks Constitution Day, commemorating the 1787 date on which thirty-nine of the Philadelphia Convention’s delegates signed the new Constitution.
Stop at the Reference Desk in the Mendik Library to pick up a free pocket-size constitution (while supplies last!).
ConstitutionFacts.com has put together a variety of fun ways to test/expand your Constitutional knowledge.
Which Founding Father are you?
“Expert” level quiz. Harder than you think! This librarian only scored 43 out of 50.
If you are interested in further reading:
The Constitution Today: Timeless Lessons for the Issues of Our Era by Akhil Reed Amar.
Welcome from the Library Director
On behalf of the Mendik Library, I want to welcome everyone back for another exciting year. And, in particular, welcome to the entering Class of 2022-23! We are all looking forward to meeting you as you embark on this challenging and exciting journey.
We have worked hard to make your library a comfortable study and learning environment. The Mendik Library is a vibrant and dynamic information and research center. You can be assured that you are getting the benefit of an outstanding collection of information and technology resources, an extensive offering of services, and an excellent and dedicated library staff.
We describe our resources and services in great detail on our web pages and guides. What you might not realize from these publications is the outstanding quality of the Mendik Library Staff and why that is important to you. Your librarians have many years of experience working in law libraries and teaching legal research. Many have J.D. degrees from law schools around the country and years of legal practice experience. They have been where you are going. They can help you with your library and research needs, of course, but their value to you goes far beyond that. Do not hesitate to ask us questions about the law school, particular courses, or any of the extracurricular activities available. We can help you, or we will direct you to the best person to give you the help you need.
Welcome! We hope the library will quickly become your second home. To our new 1L community members, we recognize that law school is a new experience for each of you, and we are committed to making that experience a rewarding one. We look forward to the opportunity to work with you throughout your law school career and thereafter as alumni.
Sincerely,
Professor Camille Broussard
Library Director & Associate Dean
New LGBTQ+ Database
Although not in time for Pride month, we wanted to let you know about a new database on LGBTQ+ rights available on HeinOnline! The LGBTQ+ database, part of the broader Social Justice Suite, charts “the gay rights movement in America, showing the civil rights codified into law in the 20th and 21st centuries, as well as the inequalities that still exist today.”
Divided into 15 subtopics, the database makes it easy to identify potential resources relevant to your chosen topic. It also includes an interactive timeline covering the LGBTQ+ rights movement from 1950 to the present. Finally, each topic includes relevant scholarly articles and a list of further reading if you want to learn more.
Library Schedule for 6/30-7/4/22
The library hours that were originally posted have changed slightly to accommodate bar exam studiers. The revised hours are as follows:
Regular library hours will resume at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 5. Have a wonderful holiday weekend!
Prioritizing or Multitasking?
A Firm Perspective is written by Martha Goldman, a retired Big Law firm library manager who then returned to the NYLS Mendik Library where her career began…
So, you’ve started your summer job or externship. Got lots to do and feeling overwhelmed? It’s likely that you are confronting a heavy workload and multiple deadlines, all of which seem to need attention at the same time. But when you multitask, you must prioritize! Here are a few tips about prioritizing:
- Decide which tasks are most important or urgent
- Create a to-do list that reflects the tasks in order of their priority
- Place the deadlines for all tasks in your calendar
- Set realistic timelines for each task
- Add time for distractions
- Review and revise your timeline constantly, even throughout the day
You will succeed!
ALERT! Library Service Change on Monday, June 20th
Due to the Monday, June 20th observance of Juneteenth, the library will be open for studiers, however, there will be no library services such as the Reference and Circulation desks. Regular operations will resume on Tuesday, June 21st.
Have a Joyous Juneteenth!
Reminder: Sign Up Today for the Summer Research Challenge and RSWs
We wanted to send a quick reminder to register now for the June Summer Research Challenge and Research Skills Workshops. These sessions will help you brush up on all the tools you can use for your summer externships and your upcoming Fall semester course research needs.
Ramp Up Your Research Skills!
This summer, take advantage of multiple opportunities to up your research game and learn more about tools you’ll need in practice through our popular Summer Research Challenge! Click here to see the flyer for details.
Each session begins at 6:00 p.m., with a short introduction to the research area, and then moves on to a concrete research problem where you need to efficiently identify the law bearing on your client’s situation. The sessions are two hours long and will wrap up with a discussion of results and strategies.
Attend whichever sessions most interest you, but researchers who successfully complete all four will receive a certificate signed by both Associate Dean William LaPiana and Associate Dean & Library Director Camille Broussard recognizing this achievement. It’s a great practical skill certification for your resume.
June 8: Researching Congressional Documents: Statutes and Legislative History
June 15: Navigating the Regulatory Maze: Research in Administrative Law
June 22: Where in the World is the Law: Tools and Strategies for International Law Research
June 29: Research on the Road to Trial: Experts, Juries, Discovery and More
For more information and to register, click this link, scroll down to the June calendar, and select the sessions you would like to register for. You will then be taken to the registration page for that session.
Research Skills Workshops
In addition to the Summer Research Challenge, we will also be offering our regular Research Skills Workshops. These sessions are intended to give pointers on how to handle research situations you might face this summer. The workshops are 30 minutes long and will be offered on Tuesdays & Thursdays at 5:15 p.m., from June 7 through June 30, 2022. To register, click this link, scroll down to the June calendar, and select the sessions you would like to register for. You will then be taken to the registration page for that session.
Call “Home” First for Your Summer Research Needs
While spending time in the library may be the last thing on your mind this summer, if you find yourself needing some research assistance during your internship or summer classes, you should call home! No, not Mom and Dad–your other home, also known as the Mendik Library! While you can always email us at Reference@nyls.edu, we have also assembled a plethora of valuable resources to help you with your summer research needs. Go to https://libguides.nyls.edu/callhomefirst to access our Call Home First Research Guide. It provides many of the research tools and information sources you need to succeed.
