Library Resources for Alumni

Congratulations to the Class of 2014!  We’ve really enjoyed working with you throughout your years here and hope that as alumni you continue to take advantage of the many library resources that are available to you.

In addition to our print collection, you can still access the large and growing number of our online databases.   Alumni always have access to our wireless network and the PC workstations in the Library’s computer labs.  Our dedicated Alumni Research workstations provide access to a generous selection of WestlawNext databases, including cases, statutes, and secondary sources.  Graduates also retain access, for a limited time after graduation, to Lexis Advance, WestlawNext and Bloomberg Law.  Visit our website for details.

Finally, our reference librarians are here seven days a week and always happy to help you with your research questions and strategies  For more information, please visit the Alumni section of our home page.

We hope to see you back this summer !

Make The Library Your Home Office

Summer’s finally here! Wherever you may be working or studying this summer, think of the Mendik Library as your home office.  Reference librarians are available all summer, including most weekends, to help with any research projects.  If you’re having difficulty with a particular research question, don’t hesitate to call, e-mail, or visit the library.  Our schedule is always posted on our home page.

All library resources remain available to you during the summer.  Be sure to take advantage of our online databases, including HeinOnline and Bloomberg BNA.  These resources can be found in the Electronic Resources quadrant on our home page.  Looking for a good treatise?  Check out our Treatises by Topic page for top treatises organized by subject.  Be sure to review our Current Awareness research guide to help you stay informed about current legal developments.

Visit our website for special summer access provisions and usage policies for Westlaw, Lexis and Bloomberg Law.

We’re looking forward to working with you this summer!

Back to Carnegie Hall!

Congratulations to the graduating class of 2014 and their upcoming Commencement Exercises—the Law School’s 122nd—on May 21st!

This year’s ceremony is particularly meaningful because it marks a return to Carnegie Hall, site of the Law School’s first Commencement, on June 7, 1892, and those for the following twenty-one years (through 1913).  

Commencement ceremonies enable us to celebrate our new graduates and to honor previous ones.  It’s always fun to view this slice of our history by looking back at our Commencement Exercises Programs. The Library has created two exhibits of NYLS Commencement Programs spanning three centuries!  We invite you to visit both.

•           In The Honorable Roger J. Miner ’56 Reading Room display case (L302) you’ll find programs from 1950, 1975, 1985, 1991, and 1997.

 •           In the display case near the Event Center (second floor of 185 West Broadway) you’ll find programs from 1892, 1894, 1899, 1900, 1903, 1906, 1913, and more . . . .

 Enjoy the Law School’s rich history!

 

Black’s is the New . . . Black’s

Thomson Reuters has just published a new edition (the tenth) of Black’s Law Dictionary, the well-known and highly regarded legal dictionary.  Check this blog post from Dewey B Strategic for a great photo of all ten editions with an annotated timeline.  The post also provides a brief history of Black’s and summarizes some of its new features.

Westlaw Classic is Going Away

Some important news for those of you who still use Westlaw Classic:  As of July 1, 2014, Westlaw Classic will no longer be available on academic contracts.  You will need to use WestlawNext for all of your Westlaw research.

Your current One Pass credentials (Username and Password) give you access to both Westlaw Classic and WestlawNext.  This Username & Password will continue to be your login for WestlawNext.  You don’t need to make any changes before July 1, 2014.  Over the next week or so, if you sign on to Westlaw Classic, you will begin to see a reminder message of its upcoming demise.

The librarians are available if you have any questions or would like help using WestlawNext.

Food for Fines

If you are graduating this year and you owe any library fines, here’s a chance to save some money and do some good.  For every can or unopened package of food (no glass!) you donate at the Circulation Desk, the Library will reduce the amount you owe by $2.00.  So, for example, if you owe $10 in fines, bringing five cans of food would reduce your fine balance to zero!  You can’t beat a deal like that.  (We donate all food collected to the Salvation Army’s Chinatown Corps., which helps more than 700 senior citizens in the nearby neighborhood.)

Donations must be made prior to May 20, 2014.  Note:  this offer does not apply to fines for lost or damaged materials.

The Real Cinco de Mayo

Yesterday was Cinco de Mayo (the 5th of May), and we hope you all found at least some time to celebrate and enjoy the day amidst all the hard-core studying.

Often mistaken for a celebration of Mexican independence, Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican army’s victory in the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War.  On May 5, 1862, General Lorencez and 6,000 French troops marched towards Puebla, Mexico.  Greatly outnumbered, the Mexicans fought and improbably defeated the French army at Puebla.

Now, Cinco de Mayo is widely celebrated in the United States as a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage.  Even Congress has officially recognized the holiday, passing a number of resolutions entitled “Recognizing the historical significance of the Mexican holiday of Cinco de Mayo.”  For example, S. Res. 128, 111th Cong. (2009),  H. Res. 230, 111th Cong. (2009), and H. Res. 347, 110th Cong. (2007).   This year, President Obama held a reception at the White House to celebrate Cinco de Mayo.

Check out these links from the Law Library of Congress for more information.

…

Celebrate Law Day

In 1958, President Eisenhower designated May 1 “Law Day, USA.”  Law Day celebrates the rule of law and its contributions to Americans’ many freedoms. Law Day 2014 is especially significant as we approach the fiftieth anniversaries of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.  The theme for this year’s observance is American Democracy and the Rule of Law: Why Every Vote Matters, urging every American to reflect on the importance of the right to vote, and challenging them to ensure that all citizens have the opportunity to exercise this right.  Additional information on Law Day can be found on the ABA’s Law Day web page.

Exam Prep Help!

Three important Library resources to keep in mind as you prepare for upcoming exams.

First:  The Library’s Exam Preparation Resources web page offers a host of materials containing practical advice and strategies designed to help you navigate the exam process.

Second:  The Library maintains an archive of previous years’ exams for most courses.  You can access these exams by course or professor name.  From the Library’s home page, click Find Sample Exams under How Do I . . . ?

Third:  CALI offers a variety of lessons and podcasts with helpful tips and advice from faculty on preparing for and taking exams. To access these materials, log in to CALI; under CALI Topics, click Legal Concepts and Skills and scroll down to one or more of these lessons:

Exam Taking Skills, Outlines, and Advice for Law Students (Panel 1 PodCast)

Exam Taking Skills, Outlines, and Advice for Law Students (Panel 2 PodCast)

Exam Taking Skills, Outlines, and Advice for Law Students (Panel 3 PodCast)

Tips for Multiple Choice Exams in Law School (Podcast)

Top 10 Tips for Successfully Writing a Law School Essay

Writing Better Law School Exams: The Importance of Structure