FAULKNER UNIVERSITY, JONES SCHOOL OF LAW
THE LIBRARY LINK
Vol. 2008, No. 1
January 2008
PLUG IN AND POWER UP YOUR
RESEARCH WITH NEW OUTLETS
Responding to the increasing demand for computer-friendly study space, the library has installed new power outlets for your convenience. Each of the study tables near the window in our spacious, well-lighted atrium area near the library entrance now has a power outlet next to it.
Thanks to the university maintenance staff for quickly responding to our request for a way to help “power” your research and study needs!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Many of us make New Year’s resolutions. A good resolution for any law student is to take more advantage of the resources offered by our law library. Below are some of the resources available to you throughout the academic year. Some you’re familiar with, others may be new:
Online catalog. A very powerful, but often overlooked, tool for your research is the library’s online catalog. The catalog contains records for almost all of the library’s holdings, including books, microfiche, online databases, and even relevant Internet websites. For the electronic resources (including thousands of e-books), you can launch right into the item from a link in the catalog record. This definitely is not the old “card catalog” – try it and see! Author, title, subject, and even key-word searching can be used: http://innopac.faulkner.edu/search/.
Library website. This is a gateway to the many resources and services brought to you by your law library. Visit the site at: /jsl/library.asp. You’ll find library hours, staff contacts, links to electronic resources, lists of our new library acquisitions, a schedule of “Databasics” workshops, links to our series of research guides, and even a link to your Faulkner email account. The “website spotlight” on the front page features an interesting website every week or two. You can use the website to access our unique “Research Vortex” (see below).
Research Vortex. This new portion of the library’s website uses both alphabetical listings and topically-arranged groupings to direct researchers to a wide array of digital research sources. The Research Vortex provides links to subject-specific databases, digital treatises, and research guides. It even offers live feeds of up-to-the-minute, topic-specific digital information! Links to useful web sites are also included. To slip into the Vortex, click on the “Electronic Databases & Research Vortex” link on the front page of the library website, or go there directly via: http://www.joneslawlibrary.org/.
Research librarians. Our trained, experienced law librarians are our greatest asset. We are ready to assist you in meeting your information needs. Personal, one-on-one research help is available in our Research Office on the first floor. We can even help you if you are not on campus! Just call (334-386-7533) or email (JSLreference@faulkner.edu) for assistance. A librarian is on duty or on call 6 days a week: 8a to 9p Monday and Tuesday; 8a to 8p Wednesday and Thursday; 8a to 6p Friday; and from 2p to 6p on Sunday.
Databasics workshops. Our series of informal workshops, called “Databasics,” will help you refresh your skills or dive into an unfamiliar topic. These small-group sessions last about 30 minutes and cover topics such as using digests, finding statutes, using citators, computer use basics, finding law review articles, citation form, and Lexis and Westlaw basics. If you have a suggestion for a Databasics workshop, just let us know! (This month’s offerings are listed below.)
GET BACK ON TRACK WITH OUR
“DATABASICS” REFRESHERS
Start the Spring Semester off right with a research refresher or two. Our Databasics workshops are just the thing to help shake off the holiday rust. These short, informal sessions are held in our Computer Training Lab on the first floor. The monthly calendar of Databasics sessions is posted around the law school and on the library website. Our January Databasics are:
ü Other People's Stuff: Finding Sources Outside Our Library – We’re confident about our books, but we realize there just might be things we don’t have, but other libraries will. That’s okay; we aren’t jealous – we actually want you learn how to find out what resources those other libraries have, and how to get them through interlibrary loan and library consortia. (Tues. 1/15 at 11:20a; Thurs. 1/17 at 5:30p; Fri. 1/18 at 2:00p; Mon. 1/21 at 9:30a; Tues. 1/29 at 11:30a)
ü Finding Briefs that Fit – Legal briefs aren’t just things to dread writing for LRW. If you find the right ones, briefs can provide a guide for what yours can or should look like, help you identify and tailor arguments, and serve as powerful research tools. (Mon. 1/14 at 9?30a; Wed. 1/16 at 12:30p; Fri. 1/18 at 10:00a; Tues. 1/22 at 11:30a; Mon. 1/28 at 9:30a)
TAKE A STUDY BREAK WITH NEW
CASUAL READING ACQUISITIONS
Even the most diligent student needs a study break now and then. To make your “down” time more enjoyable, the library has added some new “casual reading” publications. These are located on the slanted shelves at the front of the library in the atrium area (you know, near the new power outlets). We’ve added magazines like U.S. News, National Geographic, Sporting News, and Smithsonian. These join our subscriptions to daily newspapers like Montgomery Advertiser, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and USA Today. We also have legal and business publications such as National Law Journal, Alabama Lawyer, and Economist.
Drop by and browse our selection. If you have suggestions for other new casual reading additions, please drop us a note in the suggestion box or send us an email message.
Watch for the next issue of The Library Link!