Constitution Day is observed each year on September 17 to commemorate the date on which thirty-nine delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania signed the United States Constitution in 1787. The Convention was convened as a result of dissatisfaction with the Articles of Confederation, the first constitution of the United States. In 2004, Congress changed the designation to Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, to “recognize all who, by coming of age or by naturalization, have become citizens.”
The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia offers a number of educational videos, including a virtual tour of the Center’s Signers Hall. The original Constitution is held at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. but wherever you are you can access and download your own copy of the Constitution from the National Archives. You can also download copies of the Bill of Rights (the first ten amendments to the Constitution) and all of the subsequent amendments (11-27).
Click here for a full schedule of online events being offered by the National Constitution Center.
If you haven’t already registered for your required RSW on Secondary Sources make sure you do so. Sessions begin on Friday, September 17 and continue until Sunday, October 3. Remember that these sessions are a requirement of your LP class. You can find the instructions for registration here.
And if you haven’t already taken the required Jurisdiction and Authority RSW, the last two sessions are on Tuesday, September 13. You can still register here.
September 11, 2021 marks the twentieth anniversary of “9/11,” the horrific terrorist attacks on America that took nearly 3,000 lives.
New York Law School sits just blocks away from what became known as Ground Zero, the site of the former World Trade Center’s “Twin Towers,” which collapsed after being struck by two hijacked jetliners.
In the weeks immediately following the attack, NYLS students, staff, and faculty—eyewitnesses all—were asked to put their thoughts about what they had experienced that day on paper. These essays and reflections were compiled and published as Eight Blocks Away: Memoirs of September 11, 2001.
A PDF of Eight Blocks Away is available on the NYLS Digital Commons. You may access it for free here.
If you would like to pick up a free copy of the book*, please stop by the Mendik Library Reference Desk.
*While supplies last.
As we head into the third week of classes, the Mendik Library staff hopes you are finding your way around your new digs and getting comfortable in your library. Our Student Services Guide and Research Tools Guide are great starting places for finding important links to services, tools and library info. The Finding the Law Guide from 1L Orientation is now linked from the Student Students Guide. If you have not already, you should check out our LexisNexis Digital collection of online study aids and treatises.
The reference librarians are eager to work with you and provide support as you work toward your degree and your career. Please don’t hesitate to stop by the Reference Desk or make an appointment with a librarian. Whether you are in your first, third, fifth or last semester we are here for you. We can help you get familiar with library materials, course reserves, and the many services we offer. We can also provide advice on approaches to studying, help you develop a strong research strategy, help you find the most helpful secondary sources in a subject, or help you research an employer of interest. Who knows – we might even be able to demystify the Bluebook and help you create correct citations.
It’s your Library – Check it Out … We would love to chat with you – Stop by; Email us; Team-up with us; call us (212.431.2332); or make an appointment with one of your librarians.
After nearly a year and a half of remote teaching, learning, and studying, we are thrilled to welcome back all of our 3L and 4L students! We’ve missed you and look forward to greeting and working with each and every one of you.
We’re also thrilled to welcome our 2Ls (last year’s entering class) along with the new entering class! Few if any of you have had the opportunity to experience the Mendik Library in person due to the pandemic. That’s about to change as we open for business seven days a week beginning Monday August 23. (We’ve been open all summer but on a reduced schedule. See our home page for the fall semester schedule.) Please make sure to visit and make yourselves at home!
We’re wishing everyone a rewarding and fulfilling semester. We’d love to be a part of your success and hope you will let us help you with all your research projects and information needs. Check us out!
The Mendik Library Staff
Beginning on Monday August 23, the Mendik Library’s hours will be as follows:
A Firm Perspective is written by Martha Goldman, a retired Big Law firm library manager who then returned to the Mendik Library where her career began…
When you need to research aspects of setting up, running and terminating businesses in New York State, White on New York Business Entities is your essential treatise. This nine-volume set dives into all aspects of corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies and not-for-profit organizations. It includes forms for each type of entity, and information about tax implications of the use of corporate entities, their operation and termination. Relevant state and federal cases, New York and federal statutes are also covered. Updated twice per year, it is well-indexed. New York Business Entities is available via the LexisNexis Digital Library (NYLS sign-on required) for members of the NYLS community, as well as via Lexis (username and password required). Happy Researching!
