Saturday, October 27, 2007

Business Facts Fast: Factiva

Many law students know the Factiva database as a great source for news and business articles. But Factiva is much more than articles. Just select the "Companies/Markets" tab on the main page, and a wealth of clear and reliable information on individual companies is quickly at hand. After clicking on "Companies," enter the company name or symbol to bring up a concise "Snapshot" page. The "snapshot" includes a company description, key executives and financials, a list of competitors in the industry, recent stock price activity, and the most current news and trade articles relating to the company. For more information, detailed company profile reports and financials are also available from the menu.

Factiva, a subscription database made available through the Axinn Library, is accessible from a link on the Law Library's "Online Resources" page under Commercial and Corporate Law; Business databases (Axinn). You can also link to Factiva from the "Research Databases" list on the Libraries page of the Hofstra University website. Just be aware that there are a limited number of licenses for this database. If you are unable to access Factiva, try again later. If you have any questions about Factiva, ask your favorite reference librarian.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Friday, October 26, 2007

HeinOnline - more than just law reviews

You probably know by now how amazing HeinOnline is for getting the pdf of many law review articles online. But, did you know that there is much more to HeinOnline - much of it in pdf? Take a look at the Law Library's list of HeinOnline Resources and you will discover a wide range, from English Reports 1220-1865 and Legal Classics to the CFR, Foreign and International Law Resources and U.S. Treaties and Agreements .

Check out these links and other materials available through this valuable resource.


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Write To Your Congressional Representative

For budding political activists, or merely for those who, on occasion, have a question to ask, or a request to make, locating and contacting Congressional Representatives has never been easier. The House of Representatives' "Write your Representative" Web site makes the process absolutely seamless.

First, enter your location and your ZIP code in the areas indicated*. Then, click "Contact my Representative". The site will prompt you to enter your contact information, and it will then direct you to a text entry form. Simplicity itself!


*Note: You'll likely need the nine-digit version of your ZIP code, but a link will take you to the USPS Web site, where you can quickly determine the remaining digits.





Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Database

Looking for intellectual property legislation worldwide? Try WIPO's Collection of Laws for Electronic Access (CLEA) database. CLEA provides access to treaties on intellectual property as well as intellectual property legislation from many countries and regions.



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

U.S. Government Info on the Web: A 21st Century Library Workshop

The U.S. Government is one of the world's largest publishers of all kinds of information. Thanks to the advent of the Internet and to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, much government information is available to the public on the Internet.

Government Search and Portals
Federal: Legislative, Judicial & Executive
New York State: Legislative, Judicial & Executive
Other States

Monday, Oct. 29th 10:10 - 11am & Thursday, Nov. 1st 3:10-4 pm
Lower Level Computer Lab

No need to sign up, just show up!

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Monday, October 22, 2007

Strangers to Us All

Lawyers can be wonderful poets. If you don't believe me, take a look at Strangers to Us All, a web site dedicated to lawyers who are also published poets. The site includes chronological, alphabetical and geographical indexes of lawyer-poets; a section on Civil War lawyer-poets; and a list of contemporary lawyer-poets (with biographical information and links to online poetry). The site is constantly updated and alerts us to recently published books of poetry.



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Sunday, October 21, 2007

Committee Hearings Videos

The Senate Committee on the Judiciary offers streaming videos of some of its hearings on its website, including last week's hearings on Attorney General nominee Michael B. Mukasey. Go to the hearings schedule, and if a video is available for a particular hearing, that hearing's notice/witness list page will include a link to a "webcast."

Streaming videos are now offered by a number of House and Senate committees--to find a video, visit the appropriate committee's website and find the hearing you are looking for under the "hearings" section of the page. There will be a link to a video or "webcast" if a video is available. (Links to committee websites are here for the House and here for the Senate. Some committees seem to preserve access to videos longer than others.)



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat