Congratulations to the graduating class of 2012!  May 21^st will mark New York Law School’s 120^th Commencement Exercises.  This year’s ceremony will be held at Radio City Music Hall.  Did you know that in 1899 the graduation ceremony was held at Carnegie Hall?

Commencement ceremonies give us time to celebrate our new graduates and time to honor all the Law School’s previous graduates.  It is always fun to view this slice of our history by looking back at the Law School’s Commencement Exercises Programs.  The Library has created an exhibit of Commencement Programs spanning three centuries!  We invite you to take a quick break and walk by the display case in the Library’s Rare Book Room (L302) to see Programs from 1894, 1899, 1900, 1903, 1906, 1925, 1933, 1975, 1985, 1995, 2005 and more . . . .

                                                                                                                                                     
 NYLS Commencement Exercises - 1913

Good Luck on your exams.  We Library Folk send you our best wishes for a successful conclusion to the spring semester.  On a related note, if something is bothering you, we hope you will let us know so that we can work to correct the problem.  Tell us about the light bulb over your favorite study spot that is out; and about the person who is bringing the fries or the pizza that are too smelly and distracting; and about the student in the stairwell talking on his cell phone at full volume.  If a printer is jammed or out of paper, please report it.

We can’t address “it” until we know about it. It’s your library and you’re here to study without distractions.  Let us help.

Every May 1 the United States observes Law Day, which President Dwight D. Eisenhower set aside as a day for Americans to reflect on the role of law in the foundation of our country and its importance for society.  The theme for 2012, No Courts | No Justice | No Freedom, focuses on the importance of courts, their role in ensuring access to justice for all Americans and how severe funding cuts are affecting the court system’s ability to fulfill this role.  Explore the links below to learn more about Law Day and the many related events.

LawDay.org

Making the Case: Highlighting the Importance of the Nation’s Courts

New York City Bar Association Law Day Event

Come play in the sand this summer as you sharpen your legal research skills.   There are still a few spots left in this summer’s one-credit Legal Research Practical Skills course.  It’s guaranteed to make you the researcher you always wanted to be (or the one you now realize you need to be).  Sand toys are included and there’s plenty of room to pitch your umbrella.  Swimsuits not required!  The course meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:30-5:45, June 5^th through July 7^th.  Register via the Registration 2012_2013 Channel on the Portal’s Home tab.

If you’re not drawn to the beach, we will also be offering this summer a series of non-credit legal research workshops (30-45 minutes each) covering such important areas as legislative history,  regulations,  the anatomy of a lawsuit, Bluebooking, “power Googling,” and others.  Watch the Library’s home page for scheduling and sign-up information toward the end of May.

Effective Monday April 23, all study areas and computer labs in the Mendik Library will remain open late night and early morning hours.  The late hours extend to 2 a.m. every day, and the Library space reopens at 7 a.m. every morning.  This Study Hall schedule will remain in effect through the end of the exams period.

During the Study Hall period all areas behind the Circulation Desk, including the Reserve Collection and the Reserve Reading Room, will close at 11 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, and 10 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  The Library opens for business at 8 a.m. on weekdays, and 9 a.m. on weekends.

During late night and early morning Study Hall hours there are no librarians on duty; security guards patrol Library rooms and study areas.  All Circulation transactions, including borrowing and return of books, as well as charge-out and charge-in of Reserve materials, must be completed by regular closing time. Policies regarding food, drink and quiet study remain in effect.

Late and early Study Hall is for NYLS students only; you’ll need your NYLS OneCard ID to stay at closing time, and to enter the Library after closing. Please have your ID ready to show the guard.

Students will be required to leave the Mendik Library when the facility closes at 2 a.m.  Study areas elsewhere on campus remain open 24 hours.

Sunday April 22, 2012 is Earth Day.

Repeating last year’s theme of A Billion Acts of Green®, a “people-powered campaign to generate a billion acts of environmental service and advocacy . . .” the folks at the Earth Day Network have almost reached their goal:  the total Acts of Green reported as of the morning of April 18, 2012 was 977,876,186 (and counting).

One easy Act of Green you could pledge, helping send that number over the one billion mark, would be to turn off the library study table lamps and carrel lights whenever you leave.  Or, you could use the stairs instead of the elevators between floors.  We will thank you and so will the Earth.

Another suggestion:  By drinking your coffee, tea, or other beverage from a spill-proof, reusable mug, you can transform a single Act of Green into an ongoing one, helping continually to reduce the volume of plastic, Styrofoam, and paper cups piling up in landfills or requiring energy for recycling.  At the same time, you’ll be complying with the Library’s food and drink policy and earning our thanks! 

If you don’t have a spill-proof mug, pick one up at the Circulation Desk for $3.00.  Although we already sell these mugs at a loss, for every one purchased through the end of this semester’s exam period librarians will contribute $.50 to Earth Day Network (www.earthday.org/), which works with over 22,000 partners in 192 countries to broaden, diversify and mobilize the environmental movement.

For complete information about Earth Day, visit Earth Day Network.

This is the time of year when our thoughts have turned to the issue of taxation.  Whether you have already submitted your tax returns or continue to fiddle with them under an extension, you may want to take an enjoyable look at the Tax History Project, created by Tax Analysts, publisher of Tax Notes. The Tax History Project is a collection of all kinds of fun and interesting things:

• 1040s back to 1913
• cartoons and posters about tax dating back to the 1870s
• FDR’s tax returns, as well as those of other presidents and presidential candidates

-and much much more!!  See it all at http://www.taxhistory.org

The Library is happy to announce the addition of Fastcase to the long list of electronic resources we offer the NYLS community.

Comparable in many ways to Lexis and Westlaw, Fastcase is a legal research service providing full-text searchable access to comprehensive libraries of federal and state cases, statutes, constitutions, court rules, administrative regulations, and attorney general opinions.  The robust service has recently expanded to offer libraries of newspapers, federal court filings, and legal forms.

Unlike Lexis and Westlaw, Fastcase will not restrict student access to its research libraries in June.  You’ll be able to use Fastcase libraries all summer long, at your job or for any other purpose.  Fastcase also offers excellent free apps for your iPhone and iPad, facilitating research on the fly.

It’s worth your while to check out Fastcase!  One easy way to get started is to sign up for one of their free webinars.  You’ll find a complete list here.

REMINDER:   The April Fool’s Day Info Hunt drawing is almost here!  Submit your completed entries by Tuesday, April 3^rd at 5:00 pm for a chance to WIN one of many prizes, including study aids and texts, and OneCard Guest Cards (these can be used for food purchases as well as printing and copying).  The drawing will take place outside the library entrance at 5:30 pm on Tuesday, April 3^rd.

For more information, click here.

It’s almost April Fool’s Day, so let the games begin!

In the spirit of “the games,” the Mendik Library is challenging you with the chance to enter the April Fool’s Day Info Hunt with a chance to WIN one of many prizes, including study aids and texts, and OneCard guest cards (these can be used for food purchases as well as printing & copying)!

To access the April Fool’s Day  Info Hunt:

*  If you are using Firefox, Chrome or Safari, click here.

*  If you are using Internet Explorer, click here.

Each slide includes one question (there are only 5) plus helpful guidance on sources and steps to get you to the answer.  Press Enter to reveal each step in the research process and to move on to the next question.  Click here to access a PDF answer sheet (or pick up a copy at the Reference Desk) and submit your completed copy at the Reference Desk (or by e-mail: reference@nyls.edu) by 5:00 PM Tuesday, April 3^rd to enter the drawing.  The official collection barrel for completed entries is located at the Reference Desk in the Library.  The drawing will take place outside the library entrance on April 3 at 5:30 PM.  Although you need not be present to win, winners in attendance will have the opportunity to choose from the selection of prizes, and may even receive bonus prizes.  Absentee winners will be contacted by email.

Good luck!