The Library will be holding two RA orientation training sessions for new research assistants.  In the orientation, RAs will learn about library services and policies and will gain an introduction to our databases and to best research practices.

The sessions will be:
•    Friday, September 28, 2012 from 11 am to noon
•    Friday, October 5, 2012 from 11 am to noon
 All sessions will be held in EB Williams Library, Room 320

Please RSVP to Thanh Nguyen (nguyent2@law.georgetown.edu) with which session you plan to attend.

Researchers looking for congresional publications, such as hearings, committee reports and prints will notice that ProQuest Congressional has a new look. Unveiled recently, the new interface features a Basic Search, Advanced Search and Search By Number option.

While the Basic Search searches full text, titles and all bibliographic data, the Advanced Search capability allows users to restrict their search to a specific date range or Congress, as well as publication type providing more focused results.

The Search by Number feature is best used with a known citation, such as 107 S. Rpt. 5. Users should also make use of the "How Do I?" feature in the right hand column, which will direct them to the best search form for legislative histories.

Please feel free to ask a reference librarian if you have any questions about the new ProQuest Congressional interface!

Today the German Federal Constitutional Court ruled on a request from what the New York Times called a group of "German lawmakers, academics and some 37,000 citizens" for a temporary injunction blocking German payments into the "bailout" fund to assist struggling member states' economies as the European sovereign debt crisis continues. The court did not rule on the formal constitutionality of this long-term and possibly more permanent arrangement, however. An extended extract of the decision, in English, is posted at the official site of the Budesverfassungsgericht, BVerfG, 2 BvR 1390/12 . German taxpayers have been concerned about the continuing sovereignty of their elected Parliament to determine how their tax money is being spent as the euro crisis unfolds. The court apparently believes that the Bundestag's continuing budgetary responsibilites in the arrangements will be effective, at least until shown to be otherwise. 

The Bluebook is now available for iPad and iPhone users for $40 to download for use in the app called rulebook, from Ready Reference Apps. This contains the full text of the entire 19th edition of the book, which is fully searchable.  You can bookmark sections, add notes and highligt sections. There's been an online version of the Bluebook for a while, but this is the first time this content is available in a native mobile app.  You can't get it on an Android or Windows Phone device, but if you own an iPhone and an iPad, you can get it on both devices with a single purchase, as long as they share the same iTunes account.

Because it's available as an app, this version of the Bluebook gets you easy access to the book's contents.  Searches are quick, and it should be easy to get to find what you need. Following is a view of the search results for "parallel citation" with the iPhone and iPad results shown together. Text in the iPhone display is understandably truncated, but it shows rule number or bluepage reference.  By comparison, the web-based version of the Bluebook lets you sort search results by table, rules, bluepages and personal notes.  Both are pretty easy to scan.

In terms of pricing, the Bluebook app cost is comparable to the other electronic version.  For $40, you get the 19th edition to keep. By comparison, current price for the other version is: $32 for 1 year, $42 for 2 and $50 for 3 years. On that system, you get access to the 18th and 19th edition, and there are differences to the way materials are browsed and searched. In print, it costs around $34.

The app version is very useful, but there are a few small features not yet fully implemeted. Though you can highlight text, you cannot copy and paste it yet.  The app designer says that this feature is expected in an update soon. This will be especially helpful if you use this app platform for other content, such as court rules.

One quirk to the rulebook app is that moving from section to section isn't a smooth reading experience, like you find in a Kindle or iBooks.  Sometimes it works to browse from one section to the next, but the app is a bit finicky right now. Admittedly, the Bluebook isn't exactly a "pager turner" kind of publication, so this is probably okay.   Also, this might be something addressed in a future update to the rulebook app.

If you use an iPhone or iPad and have to reference the Bluebook, consider this app as an option.  To explore the rulebook app platform before buying, you can dowload the free app and get a version of the Federal Rules of Evidence for free to try the platform.

Georgetown Law students are reminded that we've got a comprehensive Bluebook Guide to help understand many of the features of this citation resource.

Going into the second week of classes, we’re getting a lot of (welcome!) traffic in the Library and many questions at the reference desks from new students. Here are some of the most common, complete with answers:

Where are the U.S. Code and/or state code books that I need for my LRW assignment?
The official U.S. Code and its annotated forms (U.S.C.A. and U.S.C.S.) are located in the Williams Reading Room, along with other federal primary law materials. The Guide to Resources in Williams Reading Room (look in your Library orientation folder for a printed copy) will show you more precisely where each set is.

To locate a state statutory code, first see the Library’s research guide for the state (browse the alphabetical list of all guides). In the state’s guide, find the section for “Statutes & Legislation” – there are links to the relevant databases on Westlaw and Lexis, plus the call number for the printed code in the Library. Use the locations guide on the Library website or the maps on the touchscreen displays (Williams circulation desk and Wolff main floor) to determine the call number location in the building.

When is the Library open?
A comprehensive calendar of Library hours for the Williams and Wolff buildings, reference services, and circulation desks is on the Library’s website (on the homepage, click on “About the Library” on the left, then the “Hours” link that appears below it on the next page). To quickly see today’s hours, scroll to the bottom of any page on the website – they’re to the right of the map. Please note that circulation desk hours differ from those for the Library buildings: If you’re in the Library late at night or early in the morning, be sure to plan accordingly for checking out items.

I’m interested in working at the Library. How can I find out more about student jobs?
Throughout the year, there are numerous opportunities for student employment in the Library. As they become available, openings are posted in the Law Center’s weekly “What’s Happening” newsletter, both online and posted around campus. The Library wouldn’t run without our student employees, and we’d be delighted to have you join us!

Have other questions?
Of course you do! Let us know at the reference desks (contact us), and check the Law Library blog, Facebook page, and Twitter page often for answers and other useful info.