image by flickr user h080

Things are a bit quiet in the library these days, since there are no classes happening for a few weeks. To reflect this, our hours are a bit shorter than usual. Here’s the scoop on when we’ll be open during this time:

Library Hours (through August 10)

• Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.
• Saturday & Sunday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Library Hours (August 11 – 18)

• Monday – Friday: regular hours
• NOTE: closed to the public for orientation

Reference Hours (through August 11)

• Monday – Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Saturday & Sunday: closed

We return to our full regular schedule on Monday, August 19.

image by Flickr user flow14

As you’re already well aware, Will and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, welcomed a baby boy yesterday. The baby, the Prince of Cambridge, is now third in line for the throne behind his grandfather, Prince Charles, and his father, Prince William. Prior to the baby’s birth, Prince William’s younger brother Harry was third in line. And thanks to some recent legislation, the child was assured that position in the line of succession regardless of its gender.

The Succession to the Crown Act 2013 (UK) received Royal Assent on April 25, 2013. In addition to granting both male and female children born after October 28, 2011 the same position in the line of succession (Sec. 1), the Act also removes a prior restriction about marrying a Roman Catholic (Sec. 2), and limits royal assent on a marriage to only the first six people in the line of succession (Sec. 3), amongst other provisions.

If you’re interested in looking at more UK legislation, take a look at the full legislation.gov.uk website, which has legislation going back to the 13th century.

Image by Flickr user pinprick

The law library recently installed a hot/cold water fountain near the Reference Desk. There has been much rejoicing about this. But besides now having ready access to tea, Earl Grey, hot whenever you want it, what other wonders can this fountain bring into your life?

Well, have you thought about all of the delicious gourmet filling lunches (and drinks) you can now make? Here are some options:

• Ramen
• Cup o Noodles
• Instant mac & cheese
• hot cider
• instant oatmeal and grits*
• hot chocolate
• instant coffee**

Bon appetit!

* No self-respecting Southerner eats those though, right?

** Seriously?

Image by Flickr user plizzba

Another season of exams have begun. And once again, the library is here to provide you with what you need most: caffeine and cute.

There will be free coffee available in the law library conference room throughout the exam period. Stop by any time!

The library’s digital screen is in stress relief mode. Also throughout the exam period, come see a rotating display of pugs in swings, curious donkeys, inquisitive ducks, and other cute animals.

And if that’s not enough for you, we also have study aids, ear plugs, flash cards, study rooms, and more.

Good luck on your exams!

Starting April 23, you can check out all current study aids for 3 hours. Here are the details:

• You’re limited to 2 study aids at a time.
• You can take these books outside of the library.
• If you don’t bring study aids back on time, you will not be able to check them out for the rest of the semester.
• Older editions of study aids can still be checked out for a week, as usual.
• Need a study aid for longer than 3 hours? You’re still welcome to use them in the library without checking them out.

We are running this as a trial just for the Spring 2013 exam period, but if this is a popular policy, we may implement it beyond this semester.

We would really like to know what you think! Stop by the Reference or Circulation desks to tell library staff or send us a chat or an email.

First we started offering you free coffee during exams. Then we gave you tea during Library Abridged. Now, ladies and gents, the library has a hot and cold water fountain! As you can see from the lack of paint and the bits of drywall on the carpet, we didn’t wait long to tell you about it either. This swanky new contraption is located where the old drinking fountain used to be (just next to the Book Exchange and across from the Reference collection). You can get cool tap water and heated water for your tea and instant coffee. Heck, you could make your Ramen.

Enjoy!

Image Creative Commons licensed from Barack Obama’s Flickr account

Last night, President Obama delivered the annual State of the Union address. Today, a transcript of that speech is available in the Congressional Record. Speeches made to a Joint Session of Congress are not the only presidential statements you can find on the Government Printing Office’s website, FDsys. The GPO website also hosts the Compilation of Presidential Documents collection. The Compilation used to be published once a week, but with President Obama’s inauguration in 2009, it became a daily publication. In this collection, you can find all kinds of documents, from the President’s Weekly Address to commemorative statements about historical acts or historical events to proclamations honoring national heroes.

You can access the Compilation of Presidential Documents going back to 1993 on the GPO website — and you may be interested to note that the first item available is actually a statement made by a press secretary, noting the US’s recognition of the new Czech and Slovak republics.

You look like you could use a cookie. Maybe some free coffee. Sound good? Then plan to join us for Library Abridged starting on Monday! Each week between Feb. 4 and Spring Break, you’ll find librarians out in the first floor lobby to offer you free snacks and lots of good information. We’ll be letting you in on several new things this semester, including a Library Rewards program. Look for us during these times:

Mondays: 10-11 a.m.

Wednesdays: 4:30-5:30 p.m.

The full schedule and list of topics is available on our website.

Whether you got a new tablet over the winter break, or if you’ve finally broken free of that cell phone contract to get something new, you may be wondering what mobile apps are available to make your life a little easier as a law student.  From straightforward legal research apps like WestlawNext or Lexis Advance to notetaking software like Evernote, the good news is that there are a lot available. The library has both created an online list of apps that may be of use to you and featured apps in one of last Spring’s Library Abridged sessions. Some favorites around the library include:

• 30/30 – A timed task manager [iOS]
• WestlawNext – now available for both iOS and Android systems
• Google Drive – recently updated with increased functionality [iOS & Android], and
• Flipboard – an attractive news aggregator [iOS & Android]

If you ever have questions about an app, you can always ask at the Reference Desk.

Welcome back! We hope you all had a relaxing and enjoyable winter break.

We also wanted to give you a heads up that a few things have moved in the library. The Study Aids collection has swapped places with the Reference collection, so you’ll now find E&Es, Nutshells, and the rest along the wall in the tall shelves rather than in the half-height shelves. By that same token, if you desperately need to look at a volume of the 1992 Encyclopædia Britannica, you’ll find them where the study aids used to be.

One other change is that the Leisure Collection has also moved out to this same area. Now that complete set of The Wire is even more tempting. You’re welcome.