The President has proclaimed March 2016 as Women’s History Month and has asked all Americans to celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8, 2016. Our friends at HeinOnline have introduced Peggy, their new Women and the Law database. It brings together books, biographies and periodicals dedicated to the role of women in society and the law. You can access it from the HeinOnline home page. In addition, the Library of Congress has a dedicated web page for Women’s History Month, including information about events, ceremonies, and celebrations.
Find Love in the Library
As an early Valentine’s Day treat the Mendik Library once again offers this easy opportunity to WIN great study aids, texts, Starbucks gift cards, NYLS t-shirts, Lexis points, and other prizes (including a personally inscribed copy of Professor Roffer’s newly published “The Law Book: From Hammurabi to the International Criminal Court, 250 Milestones in the History of Law”). And did we mention chocolate?
Click here to access the Valentine’s Day Info Hunt – Questions from Cupid. Each slide includes one question (there are only 7) and easy, step-by-step instructions. Click here to access an answer sheet or pick up a copy at the Reference Desk. Either submit your completed answer sheet at the Reference Desk or e-mail it to reference@nyls.edu by 5:00 PM on Thursday, February 11. The drawing will take place outside the library entrance on February 11 at 5:45 PM. You need not be present to win, but an additional entry form will be added for each student who does attend!
The Natural Born Citizen
There’s been a lot of debate lately about the citizenship of presidential candidates and the constitutional requirement that only a “natural born Citizen” is eligible for the Office of President. You can find the relevant provision in Article II, Section 1, Clause 5 of the United States Constitution.
It was not until 1868, however, that the Fourteenth Amendment established “birthright” citizenship, declaring all persons born in the U.S. to be citizens. That was only one aspect of the amendment’s profound importance. For a brief introduction to what historians and scholars describe as the most important amendment since the adoption of the Bill of Rights in 1791, see this excerpt from Professor Michael Roffer’s recently published The Law Book: From Hammurabi to the International Criminal Court, 250 Milestones in the History of Law.
Group Study Room Policy
Please remember the policy governing the Mendik Library’s Group Study Rooms:
Group study rooms are for groups of students to work on academic tasks. A study group consists of two or more students, conversing in a normal tone of voice. Study groups are welcome to use these rooms on a first-come-first-served basis.
Individual use is allowed only when study groups are not using the room. Individual studiers must share the room, or yield it if the conversation bothers them. Be considerate of other library users who may require the room. Do not stay for more than four hours.
Also, remember to leave the room clean and in order. All trash should be placed in waste baskets and furniture returned to original locations. Do not store or leave your belongings unattended.
Contact a librarian at X-2332 if you have any questions or need assistance.
We appreciate everyone’s cooperation.
Join Us for Coffee . . .
We love allowing our students to bring their coffee (and other drinks) into the Library, a tradition that will continue alongside our New Year’s resolution to permit only those drinks arriving (and remaining) in spill-proof containers. Our NYLS Mugs–available at the Circulation Desk for $5–are perfect in that role! Bottoms up!
Welcoming Our New Online Catalog!
During the semester break the Library will be rolling out our new online catalog (which is part of a wider integrated library software system named Koha.) This will replace our existing catalog.
The new online catalog will provide all the features that you’ve come to expect from our current system. You’ll use it to search the Library’s collections of books and electronic resources. It will help you identify your course reserves, charge these out, and renew them. It will keep track of the materials you’ve borrowed, tell you when they’re due to be returned, and list any Library fines or fees you may have incurred.
Plus, the new online catalog will offer features not found in our current catalog, such as search history and filtering of search results. If you like Amazon’s website, you’re likely to be more comfortable with the new catalog.
All of your account information in our current catalog will migrate to the new online catalog. Your Library barcode and login credentials will remain the same. Our award-winning mobile app, Mendik Mobile, is still available, and none of its features will change.
The go-live date for our new online catalog will be Monday, December 21.
The Library staff thanks you for your patience and understanding as we migrate from one software platform to another. If you notice any glitches when using the new catalog, please bring them to our attention so that we can work to resolve them.
We believe you’ll be pleased with the final product.
Racial Discrimination in Jury Selection
On November 2, the U.S. Supreme Court heard argument in Foster v. Chatman, No. 14-8349, revisiting the issue once thought settled by the 1986 decision in Batson v. Kentucky, which held it unconstitutional to strike potential jurors based on race. A transcript of the oral argument in Foster is available here. The Court will post an audio recording on November 6.
For a brief review of peremptory challenges to jury selection and their history, see this excerpt from Professor Michael Roffer’s recently published The Law Book: From Hammurabi to the International Criminal Court, 250 Milestones in the History of Law.
The PATRIOT Act
On Oct. 26, 2001, President George W. Bush signed the USA PATRIOT Act, giving authorities unprecedented ability to search, seize, detain or eavesdrop in their pursuit of possible terrorists.
If you’re interested in more details, read this excerpt from Professor Michael Roffer’s new book, The Law Book: From Hammurabi to the International Criminal Court, 250 Milestones in the History of Law
On September 11, 2001, four passenger planes hijacked by al-Qaeda terrorists crashed into the World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon, and a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, killing a total of 2,977 victims. In the wake of that horrific tragedy, Congress passed the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT) Act. For years it has polarized a nation struggling with concerns for security on the one hand and threats to privacy on the other.
Once described as “perhaps the longest, broadest, most sweeping piece of legislation in American history,” the USA PATRIOT Act reflected unified congressional
effort to combat terrorism by enhancing law enforcement agencies’ surveillance and investigative powers. Congress passed it with overwhelming support: 357–66 in the House and 98–1 in the Senate, but critics have challenged the unorthodox nature of its passage. It had little federal agency review, no public hearings, no committee markup, no Conference Committee Report, little floor debate, and almost no time for review of the final bill before Congress voted, imparting a legacy of controversy to the legislation.
Two of the Act’s core and most controversial provisions gave law enforcement agencies additional powers to monitor and intercept electronic communications that might relate to terrorist activities. This provision enhanced powers long available under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and the Electronic Communications Privacy Act. The new act permits electronic surveillance where a “significant purpose”—as opposed to the sole or primary purpose—is to gather foreign intelligence. Second, it permits “roving”surveillance of individuals, not limited to a single telephone or computer.
So as not to grant law enforcement officials a perpetual license to spy on whomever they wanted, the Act also included a four-year sunset stipulation. In 2005, Congress enacted the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act, which made permanent most of the expiring provisions of the original act and adopted a new sunset date for the two most controversial sections. At time of press, the current expiration date for those sections was June 1, 2015. The debate over the Act is sure to persist as the nation continues to negotiate a balance between civil liberties and national security.
What Does Halloween Have in Common with Your Legal Practice RSW Classes?
You can get LP credit towards fulfilling your RSW requirements by taking this specially added class this Saturday, October 24. You’ll learn new legal research skills as you work your way through each of the questions in the Halloween Info Hunt. At the end of class, just drop your completed entry form in the raffle drum at the reference desk and you’re entered to win great pretty good prizes at the drawing on Tuesday October 27 at 5:50 outside the Library. You need not be present to win but why not show up and share in some Halloween sweets. More details about the Info Hunt are available on the Library’s Home page. You do NOT need to register to attend Saturday’s class and you are encouraged to enter the Info Hunt even if you don’t attend Saturday’s class.
The class will be in room L203 in the Library from 2:00-2:40 p.m., this Saturday October 24.
No costumes required.
The Haunted Halloween Info Hunt is Back!
Happy Halloween from the Mendik Library!
As an early Halloween treat, here’s your opportunity to WIN one of more than a dozen great study aids, texts, Lexis points, and NYLS Swag! Just answer any 3 of the 6 Haunted Halloween Info Hunt questions. Answer all 6 and we’ll double your chances to win by adding a second entry for you. Your answer doesn’t need to be perfect—just close!
Click here to access the questions. Each slide includes just one question, along with step-by-step instructions to get you to the answer.
Print this PDF answer sheet (or pick up a copy at the Reference Desk) and drop it in our Reference Desk Raffle Drum by 5 PM on Tuesday, October 27. Drawing will be held on Tuesday, October 27 at 5:50 p.m. right outside the library.