Last semester, many of you took part in the LibQUAL+ online survey,
which was designed to measure library service quality. Your
participation was key to helping us understand the concerns and desires
of our patrons.
So, what did students report? How do we
measure up?
Most students seemed pleased with the assistance
they receive from library employees. Some students even mentioned
particularly helpful individuals by name. We are grateful to know
that our assistance is appreciated by our patrons. Students did,
however, raise some valid complaints as well.
Many students complained about the noise level in
the library. Again, for those students who are unaware, “low”
conversation is permitted only on the first floor. In connection
with reference assistance, some quiet dialog will be inevitable on the
second floor service areas. No talking is permitted on the third
floor; it is reserved for silent study. If you like to study with
friends and must talk, reserve a study room or use Broadway Activities
Center. We have added new signs on each floor that clearly set
forth these noise policies. Library staff will continue to
request students to respect these policies when encountering violations.
Students also expressed considerable dissatisfaction
with the physical environment of the law library. We are aware
that many areas need a “make-over.” Resources will be devoted to
the library as part of the law school expansion project. The
library will be gaining new space on the second floor of the
addition. We will also be purchasing new chairs, tables, and
carrels for the existing first and third floors. Plans call for
retrofitting the second floor balcony to allow for an outdoor seating
area.
Students expressed a wish for more group study
rooms. As part of the planned expansion, we will be adding two
additional group study rooms.
Many students complained about the photocopiers in
the law library. Unfortunately, the law library does not select
the model or make of the copiers; that decision is make as part of a
global plan for both Loyola campuses. If a copier is not
functioning properly, please do not simply walk away in
frustration. There are now phones in the second and third floor
copy rooms, which you can use to report such problems to circulation
desk personnel. They will, in turn, call for repairs. By
working together, we can make the best of a situation that is out of
the library’s direct control.
Many students expressed their frustration with the
state of information technology within the law library and the student
labs. They pointed to the numbers of computers out-of-order, the
unavailability of IT personnel, and problems with the wireless
network. With the exception of the online catalog, the law
library has no direct control over information technology; these
matters are handled by the Law School Instructional Resources
Department. The law library does not have independent control
over hardware, software, or IT personnel. For continuing
concerns, you can contact the Instructional Resources Coordinator, Paul
Hickey, in his office in LS 414B or by phone (861-5732). We
sympathize with your concerns and do not mean to minimize them.
We will continue to raise your concerns with IT personnel as we strive
together to correct specific problems and work toward a more
user-centered approach.
Thank you for participating in the online
survey. We are pleased that our library service ethic is
appreciated and hope to successfully address the problems that you have
enumerated. We hope to make your time in law school a truly
rewarding and fulfilling experience.
Legal Research Made Easier
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The law library is pleased to announce the addition of two new online
databases, United Nations Treaty Collection, and Foreign Law Guide.
Both subscriptions are via IP address, so you may only use them from
computers in the building. Links may be found on the catalog’s main
page.
The UN
database contains many useful parts. The “Status of
Multilateral Treaties Deposited with the Secretary-General” contains
the current status of 506 (status as at 1 August 2004) multilateral
treaties deposited with the Secretary-General. Links to the full texts
are provided as well. Another part is the Depositary
Notifications (CNs) by the Secretary-General.” The depositary is
required to provide treaty related information to all interested
parties on the treaties deposited with him. The Secretary-General, as
depositary of multilateral treaties, provides this information by
issuing depositary notifications. The “United Nations Treaty
Series” (14 December 1946 - April 2003) contains the texts of
over 50,000 bilateral and multilateral treaties and subsequent treaty
actions in their authentic language (s), along with a translation into
English and French, as appropriate. The “League of Nations Treaty
Series” is a collection of treaties and subsequent treaty actions
registered with and published by the Secretariat of the League of
Nations pursuant to Article 18 of its Covenant. .
The
online Foreign Law Guide is a searchable index of current sources of
codes and basic legislation in jurisdictions of the world.
These
online sources are a welcome addition to our growing foreign and
international collection.
Dear Libby,
People here ride bicycles
at night without any lights on them, which is dangerous. Why isn’t
there a law about this?
Upset Driver
Dear Curious,
Actually, there is. Sec. 154-1422 of the New Orleans Code
of Ordinances states that
“Every bicycle when in use at nighttime shall be equipped with a lamp
on the front which shall emit a white light visible from a distance of
least 500 feet to the front and with a red reflector on the rear of a
type which shall be visible from all distances from 50 feet to 300 feet
to the rear when directly in front of lawful upper beams of headlights
of a motor vehicle. A lamp emitting a red light visible from a distance
of 500 feet to the rear may be used in addition to the red reflector.”
Legislation and enforcement are two separate issues.
Dear Libby,
I am an undecided voter
who doesn’t know about some “facts” I’ve heard about
congressional candidates. What should I do?
Dazed and Confused
Dear Dazed and Confused,
Politicians often exaggerate, and sometimes they even mislead voters.
Don’t rely on campaign literature. Why not check them out yourself? Go
to http://thomas.loc.gov/ to check their voting record, what they said
on the floor, and what bills they may have sponsored. From the
Library’s Resources page, go to CIS Congressional Universe at
http://web.lexis-nexis.com/congcomp to see biographical and
financial information, full text of Congressional Reports, links to
news stories featuring the politician, and lots of other useful
information
The Louisiana Legislature’s website has won many awards over the years,
and for good reason. It contains information on legislation,
members, committees, and some legislative history. It has links to
online publications, including the civil code.
One may search for information on pending
legislation by bill number, by committee, or by the member who
introduced it. Of course, a general keyword search is also
available.
Care to actually watch a committee hearing?
One may actually watch live broadcasts of house and senate hearings
that are in progress. Recordings of older hearings may also be viewed
online.
Need some help? The website has a Frequently Asked
Questions section that addresses many different areas of interest. The
website also has a “How do I…?” page that answers all technical queries
on finding information using the website.
The House and Senate each maintain separate websites
as well. Each is loaded with information that they deem to be of value
and interest to their constituents.
Any student interested in finding information on
legislation, introduced bills, hearings, or legislative history should
visit this site. Or, if you are simply interested in what your
legislators are up to, this is the first place to explore. Head on over
to http://www.legis.state.la.us/
I don’t mean Martha. Mr. Justice Stewart was quoted long before Martha
Stewart became a media favorite. Here are two excerpts from U.S.
Supreme Court opinions, which show that opinions often contain
opinions. Can you name the opinion, and state what exactly Justice
Stewart was discussing? (answers on back page)
1. “I know it when I see it.”
2.”I think this is an uncommonly silly law….. But we
are not asked in this case to say whether we think this law is unwise,
or even asinine. We are asked to hold that it violates the United
States Constitution. And that I cannot do.”
To read these and other Supreme Court
opinions, open a book. Or, try Findlaw, Cornell’s Legal
Information Institute, HeinOnline, or the pay databases.
We ask that all
Library patrons follow these rules. Many people use this library, and
we must all be considerate.
- Drinks must be in
safety cups; water bottles with a screw top are permitted.
- Snack food is
permitted in first floor reading room. All other food is verboten.
- No tobacco products
of any kind.
- Cell phones should
be switched to silent or vibrate mode. You may use them near the
Administrative area on the second floor, and the Circulation Desk area
on the first floor.
- Please re-shelve
your books.
- Please keep noise
levels low—many students are trying to study. Remember, the third floor
is for Silent Study.
Please call the Circulation Department at 861-5545 if you have any
questions regarding the hours of operation.
Regular Library Hours:
Sunday: 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Monday - Thursday: 7:30 a.m. - 12:00 midnight
Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Reference Desk:
Monday - Thursday: 8:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Answer Key
1. Jacobellis v. Ohio, 378 U.S. 184, 197 (1964).
—Pornographic movies
2. Griswold v. Connecticut, 381 U.S. 479, 527 (1965).
—A statute forbidding professional counsel on
contraception
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Francis Norton, Editor
fxnorton@loyno.edu
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