BloombergLaw cite used in federal district court decision

Yes, it has happened - the BL cite format has appeared in a federal district court decision coming from the District of New Jersey: Homa v. American Express. Thanks to 3 Geeks and a Law blog for pointing out this first. Luckily, the Blue Book editors anticipated this event and included citation guidance for BL in the new 19th edition - see Rule 18.3.1, for example.

Federated searching for GPO data

Searching for U.S. government reports and data will be easier now using the GPO (Government Printing Office) new MetaLib feature. This feature allows for federated searching, i.e. searching across multiple databases with a single search. There are 53 databases or data sets covered by this new search feature. These databases range from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patent database to EPA publications and newsletters to the Thomas Congressional site.

Next Generation Learning Challenges

Will $20 million assist low-income students in enrolling in college and completing a degree program? The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is funding the Next Generation Learning Challenges competition to spur the development of educational technology to support students in higher education. Grant awards will range from $250,000 to $750,000 for proposals to create interactive learning opportunities ranging from social media-based learning to distance education to educational game technologies.

InnocenceRecord.org -- new database of DNA exonerations

The Innocence Project and Winston & Strawn, LLP have launched an online database of case profiles and court records where wrongfully convicted persons were later exonerated through use of DNA evidence. The database is intended to help legal scholars, legislators, law enforcement and the general public understand the causes so actions can be taken to prevent future wrongful convictions. Students, professors and attorneys may register for a password to use this database. Researchers needing access to trial transcripts in exoneration cases can request special access. The title to this blog entry links to the database home page.

Jump-Start Your Legal Research

Are you having trouble getting started on a research paper? Do you need a topic, or do you have a topic but don't know where to go from there?

Consider coming to one of the library's two upcoming sessions on jump-starting legal research. We will go over the basics of searching Quest; introduce you to commonly overlooked databases and sources that are available through the law library's website; and discuss how to effectively use secondary sources to get you on a productive research path. Feel free to come with specific questions and/or problems! The sessions are as follows:

Tues.10/19/2010: 12:15 to 1pm w/ Karen Breda in Law Library 253
Wed. 10/20/2010: 12:15 to 1pm w/ Laurel Davis in Law Library 253