Law Library of Congress: News and Events

Save the Date! Upcoming Law Library Panel Discussion: The Role and Impact of Islamic Law in Transitioning Arab Spring Countries

Date: Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Place: Mumford Room, Library of Congress, James Madison Building, 101 Independence Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20540

The Law Library and the Library’s African and Middle Eastern Division will host a panel discussion on the role and impact of Islamic law in the developing constitutions and laws of transitioning countries in the Middle East/North Africa region.

The panel, led by moderator Mary-Jane Deeb, Chief of the African and Middle Eastern Division, will discuss the role of Shari’a law in the recent and ongoing constitutional drafting processes of Egypt, Tunisia and Libya. The discussion will also concentrate on the broader impact of Islamic law on the legal systems of Arab Spring states, looking particularly at personal status issues. Other points of discussion will include the compatibility of Shari’a law and human rights, and some of the challenges facing women and minorities in transitioning Arab Spring countries.

The distinguished panel will include Nathan J. Brown, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at the Elliot School of International Affairs at the George Washington University; Lama Abu-Odeh, Professor of Law at Georgetown University Law Center; and Issam Saliba, Senior Foreign Legal Specialist at the Law Library of Congress.

Look for more information about this and other events via our social media outlets:

In Custodia Legis, < http://blogs.loc.gov/law/ >
Twitter, < https://twitter.com/LawLibCongress >
Facebook, < http://www.facebook.com/lawlibraryofcongress >.

Upcoming Guggenheim Program Webinars

The Law Library of Congress, in partnership with FLICC/Fedlink, has scheduled two webinars, to be held on Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at 10:00 am and Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at 2:00 pm.

Professor Orin S. Kerr, Law Library Scholar-in-Residence for the Daniel and Florence Guggenheim Foundation Program on Demography, Technology, and Criminal Justice at the Library of Congress has completed a draft of his work, "The Next Generation Privacy Act," which argues that Congress should repeal the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 (18 USC 2510), which regulates government access to Internet records, and replace it with a new statute that reflects current technologies and addresses privacy threats. The draft of Professor Kerr's paper has been accepted for publication in the University of Pennsylvania Law Review (forthcoming 2013).

This two-day webinar will cover a panel discussion on the issues discussed in Professor Kerr's work. The panel will be comprised of leading attorneys, academics and other eminent professionals whose work is assisting Congress in defining the new rules that will apply in this cutting-edge area of law.

Space will be limited to 200 attendees. Information regarding log-in procedures will be announced soon.

Look for more information about this and other events via our social media outlets:
In Custodia Legis, < http://blogs.loc.gov/law/ >
Twitter, < https://twitter.com/LawLibCongress >
Facebook, < http://www.facebook.com/lawlibraryofcongress >.

Event Reminder - The Law Library of Congress to Celebrate Law Day with a Panel Discussion

Date: Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Place: Mumford Room, Library of Congress, James Madison Building, 101 Independence Avenue, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20540

Carrie Johnson, Justice Correspondent for NPR, will moderate a panel discussion on the movement in America for civil and human rights in accordance with this year's Law Day theme "Realizing the Dream: Equality for All" as well as the 150th anniversary of the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Distinguished panelists will include: Risa L. Goluboff, Professor of Law and History at the University of Virginia and Scholar in Residence at the John W. Kluge Center in the Library of Congress; Kirk Rascoe, Director of Opportunity, Inclusiveness, and Compliance at the Library of Congress; Jeffrey Rosen, Professor of Law at The George Washington University and Legal Affairs Editor of The New Republic; and Theodore M. Shaw, Professor of Professional Practice at Columbia University School of Law and Of Counsel to Fulbright & Jaworski LLP.

In addition to the panel discussion, the first draft of the Emancipation Proclamation, handwritten by President Abraham Lincoln, will be placed on rare display at the close of the program for thirty minutes. The draft document was first read by President Lincoln to his cabinet on July 22, 1862.

In case you are unable to make the event, we will post information, including live tweets during the program, a recap blog post, and webcast via our social media outlets:

In Custodia Legis, < http://blogs.loc.gov/law/ >
Twitter, @LawLibCongress < https://twitter.com/LawLibCongress > and @THOMASdotgov < https://twitter.com/thomasdotgov >, using the hashtag #LawDay < https://twitter.com/search?q=%23LawDay >
Facebook, < http://www.facebook.com/lawlibraryofcongress >
YouTube, < http://www.youtube.com/user/LibraryOfCongress >, Browse "Law and the Library" playlist

* Please note that previously our panel included, Sherrilyn Ifill, President & Director-Counsel, NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc. Unfortunately, Ms. Ifill could not attend the event due to a scheduling conflict.

All Actions Added to Congress.gov (and Other Updates)

The Law Library of Congress is pleased to announce that Congress.gov has been updated to include all legislative actions and these actions may be sorted using facets. In addition, the Congressional Record now goes back to the 107th Congress.

The update to Congress.gov today is the fourth round of enhancements since its launch just over seven months ago.

Visit the Law Library of Congress blog, In Custodia Legis, for more on the new additions to Congress.gov: http://blogs.loc.gov/law/2013/04/all-actions-added-to-congress-gov-and-other-updates/

Kluge Center Event Featuring Risa Goluboff

ACLS Burkhardt Fellow Risa Goluboff discusses how social and political activists of the 1960s challenged vagrancy laws as a means of repression and control.

Thursday, April 11, 2013 at the Library of Congress.

Goluboff will examine "People out of Place: The Sixties, the Supreme Court, and Vagrancy Laws" at 12 p.m. in Room 113 on the first floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building. The lecture is free and open to the public.

These laws made it a crime "to wander about with no visible means of support," says Goluboff. She’ll describe how various groups like "communist, labor union members, beatniks, poor people, civil rights demonstrators, African Americans, hippies, gay men and lesbians, women, Vietnam protestors and others" used litigation to convince the Supreme Court to strike down vagrancy laws in 1971 and 1972.

Goluboff is a professor of constitutional law, civil rights litigation and legal and constitutional history at The University of Virginia. She is a visiting scholar in the Library's John W. Kluge Center.

Remember to come to the Law Library of Congress Law Day event on Wednesday, May 1, which will include Goluboff as a panelist. For more details, see: http://blogs.loc.gov/law/2013/04/law-day-program-features-u-s-civil-and-human-rights/ .

Law Day Program Features U.S. Civil and Human Rights - May 1, 2013

The Law Library of Congress will host "The Movement in America for Civil and Human Rights" on May 1. This program is part of the Law Libraryâs annual celebration of Law Day, a national day to celebrate the rule of law and its contributions to the freedoms that Americans enjoy. In 1957, the American Bar Association instituted Law Day to draw attention to both the principles and practices of law and justice.

Our event will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 1, in the Mumford Room, located on the sixth floor of the Library's James Madison Building,101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C. The event is free and open to the public; tickets are not required. Feel free to share the event with others on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/events/546929958673650/.

Carrie Johnson, Justice Correspondent for National Public Radio (NPR), will moderate a panel discussion on the movement in America for civil and human rights and the impact it has had in promoting the ideal of equality under the law in accordance with this year's theme "Realizing the Dream: Equality for All." This year's event is special in that it marks the 150th anniversary of the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation and the 50th anniversary of the "I Have a Dream" speech by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

In addition to the panel discussion, the first draft of the Emancipation Proclamation, handwritten by President Abraham Lincoln, will be placed on rare display at the close of the program for thirty minutes. The draft document was first read by President Lincoln to his cabinet on July 22, 1862.

Look for more information about this and other events via our social media outlets:
In Custodia Legis, < http://blogs.loc.gov/law/ >
Twitter, < https://twitter.com/LawLibCongress >
Facebook, < http://www.facebook.com/lawlibraryofcongress >.

Law Library of Congress Job Opening: French Law Specialist

Foreign Law Specialist (France and Other French Speaking Jurisdictions) (Vacancy #:130005)

The incumbent serves as a Foreign Law Specialist for the Law Library of the Library of Congress. The Foreign Law Specialist is responsible for providing research, advice and assistance on foreign legal issues, questions, or situations to the United States Congress, Executive Branch Agencies, the Judiciary and foreign law reference services to other constituencies including the general public. In that capacity, the Specialist conducts legal research and analysis and prepares or contributes to legal opinions, briefs, reports, memoranda, and comparative analyses related to the laws and legal systems of France and other French speaking jurisdictions and international organizations where countries of assigned jurisdictions are members. In addition, the Specialist assists in the development of the Law Library's online products and recommends acquisitions to the Law Library's collections related to the assigned jurisdictions.

GS-11 - Law Library- $62,467.00- $81,204.00
Opening Date: 21-MAR-13
Closing Date: 19-APR-13
Availability: Open to all

Six Months of Congress.gov

Congress.gov was launched six months ago. During that time the Library of Congress has been working to develop the beta into a full system through a series of updates. Learn more about the enhancements and see the top ten most viewed bills and resolutions for the first six months on In Custodia Legis.

Save the Date! May 1, 2013 - The Law Library of Congress to Celebrate Law Day with a Panel Discussion

Congressional Record Added to Congress.gov

Today, Congress.gov gets a big enhancement with the addition of the Congressional Record.

The Congressional Record page defaults to the most recent issue with the tab for the Daily Digest selected and displayed below. There are tabs for all of the sections that were printed on that day. If all four sections are in the current issue, in addition to the Daily Digest, you will see tabs for the Senate, House of Representatives, and Extensions of Remarks. You can search the Congressional Record from this page or find an issue by date or year and page number. When searching all sources on Congress.gov, the Congressional Record will be included in search results with legislation and Members of Congress.

Visit the Law Library of Congress blog, In Custodia Legis, for more on the addition of the Congressional Record to Congress.gov: http://blogs.loc.gov/law/2013/01/congressional-record-added-to-congress-gov/

November Update to Congress.gov

Highlights of minor updates include:

- Member profiles search order tuning;
- Clarification of "Party history" for Members who have changed party;
- Leadership designations on Member profile pages where appropriate;
- Fine-tune display of website and contact information for current Members;
- Retention of user source selection when searching on legislation or Member landing pages;
- Improvement of presentation of "more" page for sponsor/cosponsor; and
- Release of three additional legislative process videos - Introduction and Referral of Bills, Committee Consideration, and Calendar and Scheduling.

Read more about the November update on In Custodia Legis at http://blogs.loc.gov/law/2012/11/the-november-update-to-congress-gov/.

The Law Library of Congress Twitter Account (@LawLibCongress) Surpasses 30,000 Followers

The Law Library of Congress Twitter account, @LawLibCongress, topped 30,000 followers.

The Law Library of Congress uses Twitter to interact and engage with patrons, tweet about new web content, and announce and live tweet events.

The @LawLibCongress Twitter stream is now on the homepage in the right column: http://law.gov

In addition to @LawLibCongress (http://twitter.com/LawLibCongress), the Law Library of Congress can also be found on:

- Twitter @THOMASdotgov: http://twitter.com/THOMASdotgov
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lawlibraryofcongress
- In Custodia Legis blog: http://blogs.loc.gov/law/
- iTunes U: http://deimos3.apple.com/WebObjects/Core.woa/Browse/loc.gov.3061529668
- YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL96401BE3402149B9

New Law Library of Congress Homepage

The Law Library of Congress is pleased to announce a new homepage at http://loc.gov/law/. It is less text heavy, easier to scan, and includes a highlights carousel.

Two of the most used products, Congress.gov and the Guide to Law Online, are prominently displayed. The @LawLibCongress Twitter stream is now on the homepage in the right column.

The homepage updates compliments the enhancements made in June that widened the page layout and improved search by adding metadata and related facets. For more on the June update see http://blogs.loc.gov/law/2012/06/we-have-a-new-look-changes-to-the-law-library-of-congress-website/.

Visit our blog, In Custodia Legis, for more information on the new homepage at http://blogs.loc.gov/law/2012/10/welcome-to-our-new-front-door-a-revamped-homepage/.

Orientation to Congress.gov

Congress.gov, the successor to THOMAS.gov, the current public site for legislative information, was launched Sept. 19, 2012. This orientation is designed to give a basic overview of the beta site. While the focus of the session will be searching legislation and the Congressional member information attached to the legislation, the new features of Congress.gov will be highlighted. To register, sign up in person in the Law Library Reading Room (LM201), call (202) 707-9801, or complete the Seminar Form.

The next class is Friday, October 12, 10:00-11:30, in room 100 of the Adams Building of the Library of Congress, and the next webinar is online Wednesday, October 24, 2:00-3:00.

Please complete the Seminar Form to register for one of the Congress.gov sessions. Please provide your name, contact information, and the class you wish to attend from the drop down menu. If you choose to attend the Webinar, you must submit an email address for confirmation and instructions for joining the Web conference.

For more on Congress.gov, see our In Custodia Legis post introducing the new system: http://blogs.loc.gov/law/2012/09/introducing-congress-gov/

Introducing Congress.gov

Congress.gov, a new resource for United States legislative information, was launched on September 19.

With Congress.gov you can now search across all of the content in the system (as of the launch, this includes bill text, summary and status, and Member profiles), refine your results, quickly see the status of a bill on a timeline, and view the new Member pages with legislation sponsored and cosponsored. It is also designed to dynamically fit the size screen you are using, including a monitor, tablet, and phone.

This project will be ongoing; we will be incorporating additional content to Congress.gov (with the Congressional Record up next) in batches over the next year. The launch is only the beginning as we continue to work on enhancing Congress.gov.

In Custodia Legis: May Retrospective

Visit our blog, In Custodia Legis, to read about the most viewed posts for May, for a quick recap of the top commented on posts, interviews, and interesting pictures.

The top ten posts for May are:

1. The State of What?? U.S. States that Never Made the Cut
2. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
3. Cinco de Mayo is Not Mexican Independence Day?
4. The Mysterious Disappearance of the First Library of Congress
5. 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Puebla (aka Cinco de Mayo!) - Pic of the Week
6. Legal Curiosities: What am I?
7. The History of the Mexican Constitution
8. Finalists Announced for 2012 Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction
9. Eritrean Independence Day
10. Women's Rights in Africa: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

The 17 posts in May are:

Legal Curiosities: What am I?
Legal Curiosities: What I Am.
April Retrospective
150th Anniversary of the Battle of Puebla (aka Cinco de Mayo!) - Pic of the Week
Global Legal Monitor: April Highlights
An Interview with Candice Townsend, Head of the Reference Section in the CALM Division, Library of Congress
The State of What?? U.S. States that Never Made the Cut
The Chicago Legal News, Myra Bradwell and Susan B. Anthony - Pic of the Week
Law Day Program with Richard Dreyfuss
An Interview with Barbara Moore, Program Specialist for the Office of the Law Librarian
Republic of San Marino - Pic of the Week
Finalists Announced for 2012 Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction
An Interview with Dan Paterson, Preservation Specialist/Rare Book Conservator at the Library of Congress
The Mysterious Disappearance of the First Library of Congress
Law Library's Love of Libraries - Pic of the Week
The Shadow under the Arch of Titus
Glimpse of Law Series - Installment 1: The East Corridor Mosaic Vaults

Enhancements to the Law Library of Congress Website

Today is the launch of an updated look for the Law Library of Congress website at http://loc.gov/law/. From time to time, the Law Library changes its website design and features to make it more user-friendly and better functioning. This release is more of a refreshment of the site as well as an update to its search function.

Some of the new and improved features include:

(1) Page layout
(2) Improved search
(3) Highlighting of content
(4) New Law Library logo and left-hand navigation highlights

Visit our blog, In Custodia Legis, for more information at http://blogs.loc.gov/law/2012/06/we-have-a-new-look-changes-to-the-law-library-of-congress-website/

Global Legal Monitor: May Highlights

The Law Library of Congress blog, In Custodia Legis, published the top ten Global Legal Monitor (GLM) articles of the month.

Below is a list of the top ten most viewed GLM articles for May in the order of their popularity:

1. Liberia: Human Rights
2. South Korea: Permanent Dual Nationality Allowed after 60 Years
3. Turkey: New Minimum Wage
4. Mongolia: Election Law Amended, New Election System Adopted
5. China: Amendment of Criminal Procedure Law
6. Zambia: Draft Constitution to Include Press Freedom
7. Belarus: Browsing Foreign Websites a Misdemeanor
8. Trinidad and Tobago: Dangerous Dogs Act Finally to Come into Force
9. Denmark: Retirement Age Raised
10. France: Law on Immigration, Integration and Nationality

Visit In Custodia Legis to read the post and related Global Legal Monitor articles.

The @LawLibCongress Twitter Account Surpasses 25,000 Followers

The Law Library of Congress Twitter account, @LawLibCongress, topped 25,000 followers. Are you one of them? The Law Library of Congress uses Twitter to interact and engage with patrons, tweet about new web content, and announce and live tweet events.

In addition to @LawLibCongress (http://twitter.com/LawLibCongress), the Law Library of Congress can also be found on:

- Twitter @THOMASdotgov: http://twitter.com/THOMASdotgov
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lawlibraryofcongress
- In Custodia Legis blog: http://blogs.loc.gov/law/
- iTunes U: http://deimos3.apple.com/WebObjects/Core.woa/Browse/loc.gov.3061529668
- YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL96401BE3402149B9

In Custodia Legis: April Retrospective

Visit our blog, In Custodia Legis, to read about the most viewed posts for April, for a quick recap of the top commented on posts, interviews, and interesting pictures.

The top ten posts for April are:

1. Failure to Update the Law a Titanic Mistake
2. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
3. A Matter of Size: Israel's New Legislation against Too-Skinny Models
4. The Loch Ness Monster, Zombies and the Law
5. Citizen Activist Richard Dreyfuss to Speak at the 2012 Law Day Program
6. The History of the Mexican Constitution
7. W3C Government Linked Data Working Group Drafts Open for Comment
8. Slavery in the French Colonies: Le Code Noir (the Black Code) of 1685
9. THOMAS House Committee Hearing Video Update
10. Law Library of Congress Hosts Event, Releases Guide on Legal Translation

The twenty-four posts published in April include:

Myra Bradwell
Bebe Mom vs. Brit Mum: Manners and Junk Food
March Retrospective
W3C Government Linked Data Working Group Drafts Open for Comment
Career Development Program Graduation - Pic of the Week
Law Library of Congress Hosts Event, Releases Guide on Legal Translation
Global Legal Monitor: March Highlights
A Matter of Size: Israel's New Legislation against Too-Skinny Models
First 100 Days as Law Librarian
The Trial of Seif al Islam al Gaddafi
Recap of Presentation - Jews on Trial: The Papal Inquisition in Modena, 1598-1638
Failure to Update the Law a Titanic Mistake
Visit to the University of Costa Rica's Law School Library
The District of Columbia 1862 Emancipation Law
Citizen Activist Richard Dreyfuss to Speak at the 2012 Law Day Program
An Interview with Tariq Ahmad, Legal Analyst at the Law Library of Congress
The Loch Ness Monster, Zombies and the Law
American Bar Association in the Library - Pic of the Week
OASIS Puts Akoma Ntoso on the Standards Track
Updated New Zealand Legislation Website - It's Pretty (and Useful)!
Happy Birthday William: Shakespeare, Henry V and Salic Law
A New Volume of U.S. Supreme Court Records and Briefs at the Law Library of Congress
Happy Birthday, @THOMASdotgov! - Pic of the Week
Sonnets at the End of the Reign of H.I.M. Don Agustin I of Mexico

Academy Award-winning Actor Richard Dreyfuss to Speak at the 2012 Law Day Program

In recognition of Law Day 2012, the Law Library of Congress will host Richard Dreyfuss for a discussion focused on the Dreyfuss Initiative, a nonprofit corporation that aims to revitalize civics education in public schools. The program will begin at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 1 in the Coolidge Auditorium, located on the ground floor of the Library's Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St., SE, Washington, DC 20540.

The event is free and open to the public but seating is limited to venue space. Visit the Law Library of Congress blog, In Custodia Legis, for more information on the event.

In Custodia Legis: March Retrospective

Visit our blog, In Custodia Legis, to read about the most viewed posts for March, for a quick recap of the top commented on posts, interviews, and interesting pictures.

The top ten posts for March are:

1. A Law Classification Scheme as Linked Data?
2. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
3. THOMAS House Committee Hearing Video Update
4. Jolande Goldberg on Tree Figures, Memorization and the Law of Blood Relations
5. Shreddy: From the Office of the Law Librarian - Pic of the Week
6. February Retrospective
7. Celebrating Saint Patrick's Day in England
8. Bicentennial of the Promulgation of the Spanish Constitution of 1812
9. Global Legal Monitor: February Highlights
10. Cherry Blossoms, Insects, and Inspections

The twenty-two posts published in March include:

The Law Librarian in London
Next Stop, Capitol South - Pic of the Week
Global Legal Monitor: February Highlights
A Law Classification Scheme as Linked Data?
An Interview with Patrick Brown, Friends of the Law Library of Congress Rare Book Fellow
Presentation - Jews on Trial: The Papal Inquisition in Modena, 1598-1638
February Retrospective
African and Middle Eastern Division, Library of Congress - Pic of the Week
THOMAS House Committee Hearing Video Update
An Interview with Danna Cassise, Senior Employee Relations Specialist
2012 Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction: Entries Accepted through April 6
A Visit to the Italian Law Collection - Pic of the Week
Celebrating Saint Patrick's Day in England
Bicentennial of the Promulgation of the Spanish Constitution of 1812
Jolande Goldberg on Tree Figures, Memorization and the Law of Blood Relations
An Interview with Julie Gutin, Editor at the Law Library of Congress
States in the Senate
Shreddy: From the Office of the Law Librarian - Pic of the Week
John Hessler on the Corpus Agrimensorum, Roman Land Law, and Mathematical Approaches to Archeology
Cherry Blossoms, Insects, and Inspections
Language is...the instrument of domination and liberation
Library Rules! - Pic of the Week

Translation of National Legislation into English

The Law Library of Congress is pleased to present a new resource guide to finding translations of the laws of Afghanistan, Argentina, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Mexico, and Russia. There are also two international guides on International Organizations and International Courts.

The guide was prepared for the American Society of International Law 106th Annual Meeting Pre-Conference: "Conveying Meaning: Legal Interpretation, Translation, and Publishing."

In Custodia Legis: February Retrospective

Visit our blog, In Custodia Legis, to read about the most viewed posts for February, for a quick recap of the top commented on posts, interviews, and interesting pictures.

The top ten posts for February are:

1. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
2. Watch House Committee Hearings on THOMAS
3. The Law Behind the Magic of Harry Potter
4. Now There's a Congressional Record App for That
5. The History of the Mexican Constitution
6. Super Bowl, Indy, and Blackouts - Pic of the Week
7. The Supreme Court and the Library - Pic of the Week
8. Orphan Works and Fair Use in a Digital Age
9. Watch Senate Floor Video on Senate.gov
10. The Australian Parliament's New Website

The nineteen posts published in February include:

An Interview with Rong Xiang, Foreign Law Intern at the Law Library of Congress
Watch House Committee Hearings on THOMAS
Super Bowl, Indy, and Blackouts - Pic of the Week
January Retrospective
Global Legal Monitor: January Highlights
Interview with Judith Gaskell, former Librarian of the Supreme Court of the United States and Law Library of Congress Volunteer
The Law Behind the Magic of Harry Potter
The Supreme Court and the Library - Pic of the Week
The President's Budget
Abolition of Slavery in Ethiopia
Watch Senate Floor Video on Senate.gov
From the Desk of the Law Librarian of Congress
Interview with Jeanine Cali, Writer at the Law Library of Congress
Banner Proclaiming the Spanish Constitution of 1812 - Pic of the Week
African American History Month
The Australian Parliament's New Website
Visitez le Parlement du Canada - Pic of the Week
Orphan Works and Fair Use in a Digital Age
An Interview with Colin Hess, GIS Intern at the Law Library of Congress

New In Custodia Legis Blogger: Tina Gheen

The Law Library of Congress is pleased to welcome Tina Gheen to In Custodia Legis, the Law Library of Congress blog.

Tina Gheen joined the Law Library of Congress in 2011 as the Emerging Technologies Librarian. She works with experts from the Law Library and across the Library of Congress to investigate metadata, search, and technology issues related to the Law.gov project. She serves on numerous committees and working groups both within the Library and with external groups such as CENDI, Science.gov and the W3C. Tina came to the Library of Congress from the National Science Foundation, where she was the library director. Her background is in science, technology, and libraries, but her first love has always been birds. She holds a B.S. in Biology from Southwest Texas State University and M.L.S. from the University of North Texas.

Her first post "A Law Classification Scheme as Linked Data?" is available at http://blogs.loc.gov/law/2012/03/a-law-classification-scheme-as-linked-data/

Global Legal Monitor: February Highlights

In Custodia Legis now does a monthly series on the top ten Global Legal Monitor (GLM) articles of the month.

Below is a list of the top ten most viewed GLM articles for February in the order of their popularity:

1. Belarus: Browsing Foreign Websites a Misdemeanor
2. Japan: Statute of Limitations for Murder Abolished
3. South Korea: Permanent Dual Nationality Allowed after 60 Years
4. Turkey: New Minimum Wage
5. European Union: Treaty on Fiscal Compact
6. Denmark: Retirement Age Raised
7. United States: Computer Hacker Can Be Prosecuted for Securities Fraud
8. United States: New Jersey Supreme Court Revises Test for Admissibility of Eyewitness Identifications
9. Hong Kong: Minimum Wage Law Takes Effect
10. Italy: Renewable Energy Law Adopted

Visit In Custodia Legis to read the post and related Global Legal Monitor articles.

Congressional Legislation @ Your Fingertips: Using THOMAS, the Library of Congress Web Site for Federal Legislative Information

THOMAS, the Library of Congress Web site for federal legislative information, offers the public an opportunity to search and read legislation, track its progress from bill to law, and follow congressional debates. Learn tips and techniques for using this valuable research tool by joining Pamela Craig, Senior Legal Research Specialist in the Law Library at the Library of Congress, in a webinar introducing THOMAS on Wednesday, Feb.22, 2:00-3:00 pm, Eastern time. Register at http://www.loc.gov/law/opportunities/thomas-form.php .

THOMAS.gov Twitter Account Tops 10,000 Followers

The THOMAS.gov Twitter account, @THOMASdotgov, surpassed 10,000 followers. The Law Library of Congress uses the account to tweet about U.S. legislation, news about THOMAS.gov, House committee live streams, and to interact with users. The @THOMASdotgov tweets also display on the THOMAS homepage.

In addition to @THOMASdotgov (http://twitter.com/THOMASdotgov), the Law Library of Congress can also be found on:

- Twitter @LawLibCongress: http://twitter.com/LawLibCongress
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lawlibraryofcongress
- In Custodia Legis blog: http://blogs.loc.gov/law/
- iTunes U: http://deimos3.apple.com/WebObjects/Core.woa/Browse/loc.gov.3061529668
- YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/LibraryOfCongress#g/c/96401BE3402149B9

Global Legal Monitor: January Highlights

In Custodia Legis started a monthly series on the top ten Global Legal Monitor (GLM) articles of the month.

Below is a list of the top ten most viewed GLM articles for January in the order of their popularity:

1. Belarus: Browsing Foreign Websites a Misdemeanor
2. Japan: Child Pornography Law Amendment Discussed
3. South Korea: Permanent Dual Nationality Allowed after 60 Years
4. Hong Kong: Minimum Wage Law Takes Effect
5. Turkey: New Minimum Wage
6. United States: New Jersey Supreme Court Revises Test for Admissibility of Eyewitness Identifications
7. Denmark: Retirement Age Raised
8. Lithuania: Dual Citizenship Law Vetoed
9. United States: Supreme Court Rules that U.S. Apology for Overthrowing Hawaiian Monarchy Does Not Affect Hawaii Public Lands
10. France: Law on Immigration, Integration and Nationality

Visit our blog, In Custodia Legis, to read the post and related Global Legal Monitor articles.

In Custodia Legis: January Retrospective

Visit our blog, In Custodia Legis, to read about the most viewed posts for January, for a quick recap of the top commented on posts, interviews, and interesting pictures.

The top ten posts for January are:

1. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
2. Now There's a Congressional Record App for That
3. Meet the New Law Librarian of Congress, David Mao
4. "Bills To Be Considered on the House Floor" Repository
5. Black’s Law Dictionary, 1st Edition – Pic of the Week
6. Happy Seventeenth Birthday THOMAS!
7. Celebrating the New Year with a Look Back at the Old Year
8. Congressional Record: Print to Pad - Pic of the Week
9. December Retrospective
10. The History of the Mexican Constitution

New Congressional Record App Available for iPad

The Congressional Record App is presented by the Library of Congress. It was an initiative of the House leadership under the guidance of the Committee on House Administration.

Visit our blog, In Custodia Legis, for more information on the new iPad app.

Meet the New Law Librarian of Congress, David Mao

Read the interview with the new Law Librarian of Congress, David Mao, on In Custodia Legis ( http://blogs.loc.gov/law/2012/01/meet-the-new-law-librarian-of-congress-david-mao/ ) and the press release announcing his appoitment ( http://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2012/12-005.html ).

In Custodia Legis: December Retrospective

Visit our blog, In Custodia Legis, to read about the most viewed posts for December, for a quick recap of the top commented on posts, interviews, and interesting pictures.

The top ten posts for December are:

1. Tools for My Trade?
2. A Series of Tubes - Pic of the Week
3. A State Mandated Christmas Bonus
4. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
5. From the Law Librarian
6. Historic Bird’s Eye View of The Library of Congress - Pic of the Week
7. Bacon and the Law: Findings from our Records and Briefs
8. The UFO Files
9. The THOMAS Starting Point - Pic of the Week
10. November Retrospective

In Custodia Legis: November Retrospective

Visit our blog, In Custodia Legis, to read about the most viewed posts for November, for a quick recap of the top commented on posts, interviews, and interesting pictures.

The top ten posts for November are:
1. The Inspiring Story of Nelson Mandela
2. The Final Act – Mark Strattner Reflects on Retirement
3. Researching Federal Statutes
4. Teaching with the Raw Materials of the Law: Primary Sources and the Legislative Process
5. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
6. A THOMAS Time Capsule
7. Slavery in the French Colonies: Le Code Noir (the Black Code) of 1685
8. October Retrospective
9. Laws in a Crusader State
10. The THOMAS Starting Point – Pic of the Week

Welcome to the Law Library of Congress Reading Room Video

Visit our Facebook page for a quick introduction to what you will see when you enter the Library of Congress Madison Building and come into the Law Library Reading Room.

The Law Library of Congress Facebook page is a great place to interact with us and keep up to date with new legal and legislative developments.

If you "like" the Law Library, take a minute to click "Invite Friends" (right side, towards the top) and let your friends know about us too.

The Law Library of Congress can also be found on:

- In Custodia Legis blog: http://blogs.loc.gov/law/
- Twitter @LawLibCongress: http://twitter.com/LawLibCongress
- Twitter @THOMASdotgov: http://twitter.com/THOMASdotgov
- iTunes U: http://deimos3.apple.com/WebObjects/Core.woa/Browse/loc.gov.3061529668
- YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/LibraryOfCongress#g/c/96401BE3402149B9

Law Library of Congress Twitter Account Tops 20,000 Followers

The Law Library of Congress Twitter account, @LawLibCongress, surpassed 20,000 followers. The Law Library uses Twitter to interact with patrons, tweet about new web content, and announce and live tweet events.

In addition to @LawLibCongress (http://twitter.com/LawLibCongress), the Law Library of Congress can also be found on:

- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lawlibraryofcongress
- In Custodia Legis blog: http://blogs.loc.gov/law/
- iTunes U: http://deimos3.apple.com/WebObjects/Core.woa/Browse/loc.gov.3061529668
- YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/LibraryOfCongress#g/c/96401BE3402149B9
- Twitter @THOMASdotgov: http://twitter.com/THOMASdotgov

In Custodia Legis: October Retrospective

Visit our blog, In Custodia Legis, to read about the most viewed posts for October, for a quick recap of the top commented on posts, interviews, and interesting pictures.

The top ten posts for October are:
1. The Inspiring Story of Nelson Mandela
2. Weird Laws, or Urban Legends?
3. Elections in Liberia: Some Legal Developments
4. Stacks in the Stacks - Pic of the Week
5. Slavery in the French Colonies: Le Code Noir (the Black Code) of 1685
6. Lunch with the Librarian of Congress
7. Map of African Legislatures - Pic of the Week
8. Interning at the Law Library of Congress
9. September Retrospective
10. International Plain Language Day

In Custodia Legis: September Retrospective

Visit our blog, In Custodia Legis, to see what was the most viewed posts for September, for a quick recap of the top commented on posts, interviews, and interesting pictures.

Event Reminder: Kellogg Biennial Lecture in Jurisprudence

Tomorrow, October 5, 2011, at 3:00pm, the Law Library of Congress presents The Frederick R. and Molly S. Kellogg Biennial Lecture in Jurisprudence: "Sovereignty & Legitimacy: On the Changing Face of Law, Questions and Speculations" with Dr. Joseph Raz.

The lecture is free and open to the public. No tickets are required.

The Library of Congress
The Thomas Jefferson Building
10 First Street, SE
Coolidge Auditorium
Washington, DC 20540
Near the Capitol South Metro stop.

More information is available on our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=266908533342180

National Disability Employment Awareness Month

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The month celebrates the accomplishments in the workplace of persons with disabilities and reaffirms the commitment to ensuring equal employment opportunities to all citizens.

Visit our website to read more about National Disability Employment Awareness Month from the Law Library of Congress.

Law Library of Congress Event: Kellogg Biennial Lecture in Jurisprudence

The Law Library of Congress presents The Frederick R. and Molly S. Kellogg Biennial Lecture in Jurisprudence: "Sovereignty & Legitimacy: On the Changing Face of Law, Questions and Speculations" presented by Dr. Joseph Raz.

The lecture is free and open to the public. No tickets are required.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011, 3:00pm

The Library of Congress
The Thomas Jefferson Building
10 First Street, SE
Coolidge Auditorium
Washington, DC 20540
Near the Capitol South Metro stop.

Please request ADA accommodations 5 business days in advance at: 202.707.6362 (voice/tty) or ada@loc.gov.

More information is available at http://blogs.loc.gov/law/2011/04/kellogg-biennial-lecture-on-jurisprudence-featuring-professor-joseph-raz/

Constitution Day and Citizenship Day

In celebration of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, the Law Library of Congress presents this guide providing commentary and recommended resources.

Constitution Day and Citizenship Day is observed each year on September 17 to commemorate the signing of the Constitution on September 17, 1787 and "recognize all who, by coming of age or by naturalization, have become citizens."

Visit our website to read more about Constitution Day and Citizenship Day from the Law Library of Congress.

National Hispanic Heritage Month

Today is the start of National Hispanic Heritage Month. Learn about the history of legislation and presidential proclamations which established the month on the Law Library of Congress website.

National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates and recognizes the contributions Hispanic Americans have made to American society and culture and to honor five of our Central American neighbors who celebrate their Independence days in September.

Law Library of Congress Event: "The Supreme Court and Free Speech" Sept. 16 Lecture by Slate's Dahlia Lithwick

Dahlia Lithwick of Slate Magazine will deliver a lecture titled "The Supreme Court and Free Speech" at the Library of Congress at 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 16. The event will be held in Madison Hall, located on the ground floor of the Library's James Madison Building at 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C. Sponsored by the Law Library of Congress, the lecture is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required.

The lecture will explore the implications of the Supreme Court's conflicts over free speech issues and how the press and the public contribute to the court's divisiveness.

More information is available at http://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2011/11-163.html

In Custodia Legis: August Retrospective

For the second month in a row, the Inspiring Story of Nelson Mandela was the top In Custodia Legis post.

What else made the top ten for August? Visit the Law Library's blog, In Custodia Legis, to see and for a quick recap of the top commented on posts, interviews, and interesting pictures.

Twitter on THOMAS

Today the Law Library of Congress launched another update to THOMAS: the @THOMASdotgov Twitter feed is now dynamically updating on the homepage in the right column. It is just below the Weekly Top Five. One of the goals with the Twitter account is to provide timely alerts about legislative developments and, with this change, now this can be done directly from the homepage.

Read more about this and other new enhancements to the THOMAS.gov in the blog from the Law Library of Congress, In Custodia Legis.

In addition to @THOMASdotgov (http://twitter.com/THOMASdotgov), the Law Library of Congress can also be found on:

- Twitter: http://twitter.com/LawLibCongress
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lawlibraryofcongress
- In Custodia Legis blog: http://blogs.loc.gov/law/
- iTunes U: http://deimos3.apple.com/WebObjects/Core.woa/Browse/loc.gov.3061529668
- YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/LibraryOfCongress#g/c/96401BE3402149B9

Happy Birthday to In Custodia Legis Blog

In Custodia Legis started one year ago today on August 2, 2010. The Law Library of Congress has posted 275 times in the past 365 days.

The top ten posts for the past year are a great mix of the subject areas covered:

1. Top Law Library of Congress Web Pages
2. An Irishman's "Gust of Passion" in the American Trial Collection
3. Maps, Parliaments, and Trials: An Irish Sampler
4. The Inspiring Story of Nelson Mandela
5. There's a Congressional App for That
6. Cinco de Mayo is Not Mexican Independence Day?
7. Slavery in the French Colonies: Le Code Noir (the Black Code) of 1865
8. Tattoos and Copyright in The Hangover Part II
9. THOMAS: The Revamp during the Recess
10. What Does This Symbol Mean?

Thank you for reading the blog, leaving comments, or blogging about In Custodia Legis.

In Custodia Legis: July Retrospective

The Inspiring Story of Nelson Mandela inspired a lot of views and was one of our top posts.

We also learned the answer to "What lets you search for laws passed by Congress?" when THOMAS was on Jeopardy.

Our intern, Bacilio, was a prolific blogger during the month with guest posts on vacations, hackers, and Monticello. Our new bloggers, Nathan and Hanibal, contributed posts on Improbable Biology, Trial By Ordeal, and South Sudan.

What made the top ten for July? Visit the Law Library's blog, In Custodia Legis, to see and for a quick recap of the top commented on posts, interviews, and interesting pictures.

Law Library of Congress Surpasses 15,000 Followers on Twitter

The Law Library of Congress (@LawLibCongress) has surpassed 15,000 followers on Twitter. Are you one of them? It's a great way to interact with the Law Library and keep up to date with new legal and legislative developments.

South Sudan: a new Guide to Law Online page

On July 9, 2011, South Sudan declared its independence and became the 54th African nation and 193rd member of the United Nations. Accordingly, the Law Library has added a page on South Sudan to the Guide to Law Online (http://www.loc.gov/law/help/guide.php). This page serves as a portal to links on South Sudan's branches of government and to demographic details on this new nation.

Hanibal Goitom of the Law Library's Global Legal Research Center describes South Sudan in his recent entry on the Law Library's blog, In Custodia Legis, at http://blogs.loc.gov/law/2011/07/south-sudan-and-the-law-library.

Mr. Goitom is also available to assist with legal research on South Sudan, and you may send him questions through the Library of Congress's "Ask a Librarian" service, at http://www.loc.gov/rr/askalib/ask-law.html.

The Wickersham Award Ceremony

On Monday, the Friends of the Law Library of Congress presented the 2011 Wickersham Award to former Supreme Court Associate Justice John Paul Stevens.

Visit the Law Library of Congress blog, In Custodia Legis, for a summary of the event.

In Custodia Legis: May Retrospective

In May, a lot of people learned about the actual date of Mexico's Independence Day, in what turned out to be our most popular post of the month, Cinco de Mayo is Not Mexican Independence Day? We also celebrated with Law Day, Jewish American Heritage Month, Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, and Eritrean Independence Day this month.

Visit the Law Library's blog, In Custodia Legis, for a quick recap of the most viewed posts, top commented on posts, and interview posts.

Tweaking THOMAS

Read about the new enhancements to the THOMAS.gov homepage in the blog from the Law Library of Congress, In Custodia Legis.

Law Library of Congress Surpasses 10,000 Followers on Twitter

The Law Library of Congress (@LawLibCongress) has surpassed 10,000 followers on Twitter. It's a great way to interact with the Law Library and keep up to date with new legal and legislative developments.

The @LawLibCongress account is one of our two Twitter accounts. The Law Library of Congress recently announced our newest Twitter account: @THOMASdotgov (http://twitter.com/THOMASdotgov).

The Law Library can also be found on:

- In Custodia Legis blog: http://blogs.loc.gov/law/
- iTunes U: http://deimos3.apple.com/WebObjects/Core.woa/Browse/loc.gov.3061529668
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lawlibraryofcongress
- YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/LibraryOfCongress#g/c/96401BE3402149B9

In Custodia Legis: April Retrospective

In Custodia Legis surpassed 14,000 email subscribers in April. We also celebrated our 200th post!

During the month, Roberta wrote a guest post on the release of our strategic plan. The strategic plan has been mentioned a few times since the post was published including by INFOdocket, Federal Computer Week, Library Research, and Slaw.

Visit the Law Library's blog, In Custodia Legis, for a quick recap of the most viewed posts, top commented on posts, and interview posts.

Now on Twitter: @THOMASdotgov

The Law Library of Congress is pleased to announce our newest Twitter account: @THOMASdotgov (http://twitter.com/THOMASdotgov).

The @THOMASdotgov account will provide alerts on THOMAS.gov updates, bills being considered on the floor of Congress, and will serve as a venue for feedback on THOMAS.gov.

Please follow us today!

In addition to the @THOMASdotgov Twitter account, the Law Library can also be found on:

- In Custodia Legis blog: http://blogs.loc.gov/law/
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/LawLibCongress
- iTunes U: http://deimos3.apple.com/WebObjects/Core.woa/Browse/loc.gov.3061529668
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lawlibraryofcongress
- YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/LibraryOfCongress#g/c/96401BE3402149B9

The Law Library of Congress Strategic Plan Released

The Law Library of Congress is proud to present its 2011-2016 Strategic Plan. Read the In Custodia Legis guest post by Roberta Shaffer, the Law Librarian of Congress, that introduces the Strategic Plan at http://blogs.loc.gov/law/2011/04/the-law-library-of-congress-strategic-plan-released/.

The complete document can be downloaded at http://www.loc.gov/law/news/strategic_plan_2010_FINAL.pdf.

In Custodia Legis: March Retrospective

The Law Library of Congress has completed the eighth month of In Custodia Legis, and so far there have been over 175 posts. The blog just kept growing this month. The number of page views doubled from February to March led by our two most popular posts ever: Top Law Library of Congress Web Pages and Maps, Parliaments, and Trials: An Irish Sampler.

Visit the Law Library's blog, In Custodia Legis, for a quick recap of the posts in March including the most viewed posts, top commented on posts, and interview posts.

Law Library of Congress Event: New Online Database on Women's Legal Rights To Be Demonstrated, Mar. 31, 11:00am

In 1980, 66 countries signed the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which has since been ratified by 185 countries. To support the principles underlying CEDAW, in 2008 the American Bar Association (ABA) launched the International Models Project on Women's Rights (IMPOWR). The goal of the initiative was to establish an online collaborative database on women's rights under law.

Aileen Pisciotta, chair of the IMPOWR Task Force, will introduce and demonstrate the new website (www.impowr.org) at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 31, at the Law Library of Congress, located in Room LM-240 of the James Madison Building at 101 Independence Avenue, S.E., Washington, D.C. (Coffee and light refreshments will be served at 10:30 a.m.) The event is free and open to the public but seating is limited. Advance registration is required at lawguest@loc.gov.

More information is available at http://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2011/11-055.html

Law Library of Congress Surpasses 5,000 Likes on Facebook

The Law Library of Congress recently passed 5,000 people who like us on Facebook. Are you one of them? It's a great place to interact with us and keep up to date with new legal and legislative developments.

If you're a fan, take a minute to click "Suggest to Friends" (right side, towards the top) and let your friends know about us too.

In Custodia Legis: February Retrospective

Visit In Custodia Legis for a quick recap of the posts in February including the guest posts, most viewed posts, top commented on posts, and the interview posts.

Next Week: "Father Chief Justice" Edward Douglass White and the Constitution

Next Tuesday, The Law Library of Congress Presents
A Play Preview by Paul R. Baier, Professor of Law
Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Louisiana State University

Tuesday, March 8, 2011, 2 to 3:30 pm

Coolidge Auditorium, Jefferson Building, Library of Congress, 101 Independence Ave SE, Washington, DC 20540

RSVP at lawguest@loc.gov or call Tynesha Adams at 202-707-5065

Please request ADA accommodations five business days in advance at: 202-707-6382 (voice/tty) or email ada@loc.gov

Come experience a veritable New Orleans style jazz funeral depicting:
-Captain Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. facing death in the Valley of Antietam
-Justice Holmes sitting in his living room on Constitution Day
-Chief Justice White's "Voice of the Fireside" at the Willard Hotel

Playwright and law professor Paul R. Baier takes you behind the scenes in the role of Professor Richard Henry Jesse, a close friend of Chief Justice White.

This Mardi Gras inspired play preview features:
Charles J. Cooper as Chief Justice White
Ronald S. Flagg as Justice Harlan
Tom Goldstein as Justice Brandeis
Donald A. Hoffman as Justice Holmes
Roberta I. Shaffer as Fanny Holmes
Jacob A. Stein as Justice Holmes
Celebrate and share the joy of life lived to its top!

A Play Preview: "Father Chief Justice" Edward Douglass White and the Constitution

The Law Library of Congress Presents
A Play Preview by Paul R. Baier, Professor of Law
Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Louisiana State University

Tuesday, March 8, 2011, 2 to 3:30 pm

Coolidge Auditorium, Jefferson Building, Library of Congress, 101 Independence Ave SE, Washington, DC 20540

RSVP at lawguest@loc.gov or call Tynesha Adams at 202-707-5065

Please request ADA accommodations five business days in advance at: 202-707-6382 (voice/tty) or email ada@loc.gov

Come experience a veritable New Orleans style jazz funeral depicting:
-Captain Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. facing death in the Valley of Antietam
-Justice Holmes sitting in his living room on Constitution Day
-Chief Justice White's "Voice of the Fireside" at the Willard Hotel

Playwright and law professor Paul R. Baier takes you behind the scenes in the role of Professor Richard Henry Jesse, a close friend of Chief Justice White.

This Mardi Gras inspired play preview features:
Charles J. Cooper as Chief Justice White
Ronald S. Flagg as Justice Harlan
Tom Goldstein as Justice Brandeis
Donald A. Hoffman as Justice Holmes
Roberta I. Shaffer as Fanny Holmes
Jacob A. Stein as Justice Holmes
Celebrate and share the joy of life lived to its top!

www.loc.gov/law

In Custodia Legis: January Retrospective

Visit In Custodia Legis for a quick recap of the posts in January including the guest posts, most viewed posts, top commented on posts, and the interview posts.

THOMAS is Now on Science.gov

The 111th and 112th Congresses from THOMAS.gov have been added to the basic search on science.gov. Science.gov pulls together 200 million pages of government science information. Now you'll be able do scientific research and see relevant legislation all in one location.

Visit In Custodia Legis, the blog from Law Library of Congress, to read more.

Law Library of Congress Reaches 5,000 Followers on Twitter

The Law Library of Congress (@LawLibCongress) has surpassed 5,000 followers on Twitter. Are you one of them? It's a great place to interact with the Law Library and keep up to date with new legal and legislative developments.

If you're already a follower, take a minute to let your friends know about us too.

Greetings from the Law Librarian of Congress

Visit our website to read important Law Library of Congress updates from Roberta Shaffer, Law Librarian of Congress. The holiday letter includes information on our research, staff updates, digital initiatives, publications, staff news, special events and programs, visitors, partnerships, and strategic planning and future directions.

In Custodia Legis: Blogging into 2011

Excerpt from In Custodia Legis: Blogging into 2011 -

At this time of year it's great to look forward to what the year might bring, but it's also a great time to look back on the previous year and what has been achieved. With that in mind, here's a recap of some of the events and achievements related to In Custodia Legis in 2010.

The Law Library's blog was launched on August 2, 2010, with our first post answering the question, What Exactly is In Custodia Legis? In the five months since that post we've now published over 100 items! (That milestone was reached just last week.)

We've written about a wide range of topics our blog team comes from different parts of the Law Library and that means we can share our knowledge about things like our collections, reference services (including Ask A Librarian), THOMAS, and the laws of different countries. Several posts written by guest bloggers have helped to expand our coverage and our own knowledge as well! We've also started a couple of regular features: Pic of the Week and our interview series, both of which have proved to be quite popular. We hope you've enjoyed getting a glimpse into the Law Library and reading about the different people that work here.

The number of visits to the blog has steadily increased since August. We publish at least one post every weekday and a large number of people (nearly 13,000) have signed up to get email alerts. There's also the option to subscribe to our RSS feed. We put links to all the posts on both our Facebook and Twitter pages too, so hopefully it's easy for you to follow us and find posts that might interest you.

Visit In Custodia Legis to see the ten most viewed posts in 2010.

THOMAS: The Last Update of the Year

This is the fourth set of enhancements to THOMAS in 2010. THOMAS was updated in January, June, and August. In this release, THOMAS links to GPO Access were converted to FDsys, search was enhanced, more detail was added to the Bill Summary & Status display, and additional metadata was added.

THOMAS was launched on January 5, 1995 in response to the bipartisan leadership of the 104th Congress that directed the Library of Congress to make federal legislative information freely available to the public. Named for the third president, the system represents Thomas Jefferson's ideals of an informed electorate. THOMAS is publicly accessible at thomas.loc.gov.

Founded in 1832, the Law Library makes its resources available to members of Congress, the Supreme Court, other branches of the U.S. government and the global legal community, and sustains and preserves a universal collection of law for future generations. With more than 2.6 million volumes, the Law Library contains the world's largest collection of law books and other resources from most countries of the world and provides online databases and guides to legal information worldwide through its website at www.loc.gov/law/.

Human Rights Day

The Law Library of Congress is pleased to present a new Commemorative Observation website on Human Rights Day.

Human Rights Day is observed each year to commemorate the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948. The adoption of the UDHR was proclaimed in resolution 217 A (III).

Visit our website to read more about Human Rights Day: http://go.usa.gov/1VF

Also, in recognition of Human Rights Day 2010, the Law Library of Congress will host a panel discussion on "Cultural Property Rights of Indigenous People." The event will be held at the Library of Congress at 1 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 10 in the Mumford Room, located on the sixth floor of the James Madison Building at 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington D.C. 20540. The event is free and open to the public. For more information see: http://go.usa.gov/1Wj

Law Library to Celebrate Human Rights Day with Program on Cultural Property Rights of Indigenous People

In recognition of Human Rights Day 2010, the Law Library of Congress will host a panel discussion on "Cultural Property Rights of Indigenous People." The event will be held at the Library of Congress at 1 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 10 in the Mumford Room, located on the sixth floor of the James Madison Building at 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington D.C. 20540.

Sponsored in part by the Friends of the Law Library of Congress, the event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required.

Record Month for In Custodia Legis

November has been a record setting month for the Law Library of Congress' blog, In Custodia Legis. There have been more posts and more total pages views than any other month.

In Custodia Legis is Latin for in the custody of the law. One role of the Law Library of Congress is to be a custodian of law and legislation. As part of this, our team of bloggers covers current legal trends, collecting for the largest law library in the world, a British perspective, a perspective from New Zealand, and developments and enhancements in THOMAS.

In Custodia Legis can be subscribed to by RSS (http://blogs.loc.gov/law/feed/) and email (http://service.govdelivery.com/service/subscribe.html?code=USLOC_90). Blog posts are frequently mentioned on the Law Library of Congress Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/lawlibraryofcongress) and through Twitter (http://twitter.com/LawLibCongress).

National American Indian Heritage Month

November is National American Indian Heritage Month, which celebrates and recognizes the accomplishments of the peoples who were the original inhabitants, explorers and settlers of the United States.

Visit the Law Library of Congress website for an overview, legislative branch documents, executive branch documents, and web resources.

Roberta Shaffer: An Interview with the Law Librarian of Congress

Roberta Shaffer is the Law Librarian of Congress. She was appointed the 22nd Law Librarian of Congress in August, 2009.

Visit our website to read the interview and learn more about her background, academic/professional history, job, working at the Law Library of Congress, and other items.

Two Months of In Custodia Legis

It's been two months since the Law Library of Congress launched our blog, In Custodia Legis. Since the launch, we've posted thirty-seven times on a wide range of legal issues including Al Capone's Jury, the Case of the Barking Dog, Gateways to Dutch Law, U.K. Gun Laws, and Tweeting THOMAS. In Custodia Legis now has over 12,000 email subscribers.

In Custodia Legis is Latin for in the custody of the law. One role of the Law Library of Congress is to be a custodian of law and legislation. As part of this, our team of bloggers covers current legal trends, collecting for the largest law library in the world, a British perspective, a perspective from New Zealand, and developments and enhancements in THOMAS.

In Custodia Legis can be subscribed to by RSS (http://blogs.loc.gov/law/feed/) and email (http://service.govdelivery.com/service/subscribe.html?code=USLOC_90). Blog posts are frequently mentioned on the Law Library of Congress Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/lawlibraryofcongress) and through Twitter (http://twitter.com/LawLibCongress).

THOMAS Releases Third Major Update in 2010

Just in time for the return of Congress from August recess, THOMAS has undergone its third major enhancement of 2010. Building upon the enhancements made in January (http://thomas.loc.gov/home/whatsnew.html) and June (http://thomas.loc.gov/home/whatsnew062010.html), the latest enhancements add a mobile friendly homepage, integrate features from the Library of Congress and Law Library of Congress websites into THOMAS, and add a new portal to state legislature websites.

THOMAS now has a mobile-friendly homepage that will display on devices with lower screen resolutions like BlackBerrys. The homepage has also been optimized for iPhones and Droids, leveraging their larger screens to provide complete access to the full version of the THOMAS homepage.

The global footer now available on most Library of Congress websites, including the Law Library of Congress website, appears throughout THOMAS. The global footer includes ways to stay connected with the Library including an "All ways to connect" link (http://www.loc.gov/homepage/connect.html).

In addition to easier access to the Library's social media, there is a new box to highlight ways to connect with THOMAS and the Law Library of Congress through the In Custodia Legis Blog (http://blogs.loc.gov/law/), Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/lawlibraryofcongress), Twitter (http://twitter.com/LawLibCongress), YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/user/LibraryOfCongress#g/c/96401BE3402149B9), and iTunes U (http://deimos3.apple.com/WebObjects/Core.woa/Browse/loc.gov.3061529668).

A link to State Legislature Websites (http://thomas.loc.gov/home/state-legislatures.html) has been added to the THOMAS homepage. This new page displays a map with links to the legislative bodies for all fifty states, Washington, DC, and U.S. territories. It provides quick access to state legislative websites that are similar to what THOMAS provides on a federal level.

THOMAS was launched on January 5, 1995 in response to the bipartisan leadership of the 104th Congress that directed the Library of Congress to make federal legislative information freely available to the public. Named for the third president, the system represents Thomas Jefferson's ideals of an informed electorate. THOMAS is publicly accessible at thomas.loc.gov.

Founded in 1832, the Law Library makes its resources available to members of Congress, the Supreme Court, other branches of the U.S. government and the global legal community, and sustains and preserves a universal collection of law for future generations. With more than 2.6 million volumes, the Law Library contains the world's largest collection of law books and other resources from most countries of the world and provides online databases and guides to legal information worldwide through its website at www.loc.gov/law/.

Piracy Trials

The Law Library of Congress has digitized its collection of pre-1923 piracy trials. This historical collection of piracy trials is critical for understanding how the various nations of the world handled piracy issues before the year 1900. Full text of these titles are available from the bibliography.

Over fifty books have been digitized as part of this new collection.

Law Library of Congress Launches Its Blog, In Custodia Legis: Law Librarians of Congress

The Library of Congress added its fourth blog today entitled In Custodia Legis: Law Librarians of Congress (http://blogs.loc.gov/law/). In Custodia Legis is Latin for in the custody of the law. One role of the Law Library of Congress is to be a custodian of law and legislation. As part of this, our team of bloggers covers current legal trends, collecting for the largest law library in the world, a British perspective, a perspective from New Zealand, legislative developments in THOMAS, and cultural intelligence and the law.

The blog will accept moderated comments from readers, governed by rules of respectful, civil discourse and appropriateness. Those rules are part of a policy the Library of Congress adopted to guide the creation of the other audience-specific blogs and social media.

In Custodia Legis can be subscribed to by RSS (http://blogs.loc.gov/law/feed/) and email (http://service.govdelivery.com/service/subscribe.html?code=USLOC_90).

Blogs are among the important born-digital content that is being saved and preserved in perpetuity under the Library's National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program (http://www.digitalpreservation.gov). The Law Library has been working since 2007 to save more than one hundred legal blogs (http://www.loc.gov/law/find/web-archive/legal-blawgs.php).

Founded by an act of Congress in 1832, the Law Library makes its resources available to members of Congress, the Supreme Court, other branches of the U.S. Government and the global legal community, and sustains and preserves a universal collection of law for future generations. With more than 2.6 million volumes, the Law Library contains the world's largest collection of law books and other resources from all countries and provides online databases and guides to legal information worldwide through its website at http://www.loc.gov/law.

Global Legal Information Catalog Pilot Launched

The Law Library of Congress is pleased to announce the Global Legal Information Catalog.

The Global Legal Information Catalog includes information about publications which reprint the laws and regulations of multiple jurisdictions on a particular legal topic. The purpose of the database is to provide additional identifying information about titles, beyond that which is provided in the Library's online catalog. The database works as an interface with the Library of Congress's online catalog and is searchable by jurisdiction, title, subject and keyword.

New Legal Reference Librarian Job Opening at the Law Library of Congress

The Law Library of Congress seeks a legal information professional with education and experience (1) providing legal and legislative information services to diverse and demanding clients in a large law library or similar legal information organization; and (2) creating, organizing managing and promoting content using Web 2.0 and other technologies for dynamic websites. Qualified candidates with both Juris Doctor and Masters in Library/Information Science degrees from accredited universities with appropriate training and experience are strongly encouraged to apply.

The successful incumbent will demonstrate progressively responsible work experience or combination of education & work experience and proficiency in (1) providing concise and thorough oral and written research guidance utilizing creative methodologies to respond to complex inquiries; (2) applying a strong public service demeanor when providing legal and legislative information services to diverse and demanding clientele; (3) developing, organizing and managing legal and legislative collections (websites, blogs and online resources); (4) creating, organizing and managing legal and legislative content for dynamic websites; and (5) using time management skills to complete multiple time-sensitive assignments and projects.

Members of the Law Library of Congress staff will be available at the AALL Annual Meeting to discuss the position. However, interviews will not be conducted at AALL, and applicants must apply according to the instructions in the vacancy announcement.

Elena Kagan Supreme Court Confirmation Hearing Starts

The Elena Kagan Supreme Court confirmation hearing starts today. President Obama announced the nomination of Solicitor General Elena Kagan to replace Stevens on May 10, 2010. Notably the first female Solicitor General and first female dean of Harvard Law School, if Kagan is confirmed, she will also be the fourth woman to serve on the Court.

To serve congressional and public requests for resources pertaining to this historic nomination, the Law Library of Congress has developed a web presentation on Kagan on its Supreme Court Nominations site at www.loc.gov/law/find/court-nominations.php. Visit our bibliography to find out more about the new Supreme Court nominee.

Connect with the Law Library of Congress

Now you can quickly connect with the Law Library of Congress on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, & iTunes U through the new social media box on the left of our website.

Women Judges in Post-Apartheid South Africa Subject of Film To Be Shown by Law Library of Congress on June 23

You are cordially invited to attend a screening of "Courting Justice," an award-winning film that highlights the lives of women judges in South Africa, will be presented by the Law Library of Congress at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 23, in the Mary Pickford Theater, located on the third floor of the Library's James Madison Building, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, DC.

The event is free and open to the public, but advance reservations are required. Please call 202-707-9834 or e-mail bmoo@loc.gov.

Second Set of THOMAS Enhancements in 2010 Launched: Including Expanded Bookmarking and Sharing Toolbar

In continuing the celebration of its 15th anniversary, the Library's public legislative information system known as THOMAS has been updated for a second time this year. New items for the June update include expanded use of the bookmarking and sharing toolbar that was well received when introduced in January (http://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2010/10-003.html), improved headers and navigation for searches, including the years with the sessions of Congress, new RSS feeds and email alerts for the Tip of the Week and Weekly Top Bills, and new pages dedicated to all the ways THOMAS can be searched or browsed.

A more in depth description of the current enhancements can be accessed through http://thomas.loc.gov/home/whatsnew062010.html.

Elena Kagan Nominated to the Supreme Court

On April 9, 2010, Justice John Paul Stevens announced that he would retire after nearly 35 years on the bench of the U.S. Supreme Court. President Obama announced the nomination of Solicitor General Elena Kagan to replace Stevens on May 10, 2010. This is President Obama's second nomination to the nation's highest court, following his selection of Justice Sonia Sotomayor in May 2009. Notably the first female Solicitor General and first female dean of Harvard Law School, if Kagan is confirmed, she will also be the fourth woman to serve on the Court.

To serve congressional and public requests for resources pertaining to this historic nomination, the Law Library of Congress has developed a web presentation on Kagan on its Supreme Court Nominations site at www.loc.gov/law/find/court-nominations.php. Visit our bibliography to find out more about the new Supreme Court nominee.

David S. Mao Appointed as First Deputy Law Librarian of Congress

Roberta I. Shaffer, Law Librarian of Congress, announces selection of first Deputy Law Librarian of Congress.

Law Library of Congress on Twitter

The Law Library of Congress (@LawLibCongress) is closing in on 1,500 followers on Twitter. Are you following us? It's a great place to interact with us and keep up to date with new legal and legislative developments.

If you're already a follower, take a minute to let your friends know about us too.

Law Day 2010 Event - You Be the Judge: Cross-Cultural Issues in the Courts

In recognition of Law Day 2010, the Law Library of Congress will present a program titled "You Be the Judge: Cross-Cultural Issues in the Courts." The two-hour program will begin at noon on Monday, May 3, in the Mumford Room, located on the sixth floor of the Library's James Madison Building, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C.

The event is free and open to the public; tickets are not required.

In a growing number of cases in state and federal courts all across the country, parties are raising "the cultural defense" - invoking the customs and traditions of a diversity of cultural backgrounds to explain their actions. Even when these issues are not raised directly, culture is playing a role in many civil and criminal cases.

In this engaging and highly interactive presentation, audience members will use hand-held technology to "vote" on the outcome of vignettes drawn from real cases and presented by an inter-disciplinary panel of some of the nation's leading cross-cultural experts.

Moderated by George Washington University School of Law professor Jonathan Turley, the panel will include Rene L. Valladares, chief of the Trial/Appellate Division of the Office of the Federal Public Defender, Las Vegas, Nev.; Dr. Mark J. Mills, M.D., J.D., a renowned forensic psychiatrist and professor of medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons; and the Hon. Delissa A. Ridgway, U.S. Court of International Trade-New York and chair of the American Bar Association's National Conference of Federal Trial Judges.

Haiti: Legal Bibliography

The Law Library of Congress collection contains numerous Haitian law titles. The titles in the public domain will be digitized by the Law Library of Congress and made available through various locations including the Library of Congress catalog. The goal of this project is to offer a comprehensive legal collection for Haiti.

The Wickersham Award - The Friends of the Law Library of Congress

The Friends of the Law Library of Congress will honor Harold Hongju Koh, on May 4, 2010, by presenting him with the 2010 Wickersham Award. The event will take place at the Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C. starting at 6:30 p.m. Please visit our site for event and ticket information. Seating is limited so please make your plans to attend soon.

Law Library of Congress on Facebook

The Law Library of Congress recently passed 1,500 fans on Facebook. Are you one of them? It's a great place to interact with us and keep up to date with new legal and legislative developments.

If you're a fan, take a minute to click "Suggest to Friends" (below the graphic on the left) and let your friends know about us too.

A Conversation with Roberta Shaffer, Law Librarian of Congress

On Friday, March 19, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern time, Roberta Shaffer will be appearing in an online Webinar program entitled "Law Librarian Conversations," which is hosted by Rich Leiter, the director of the Law Library at the University of Nebraska. The topic of Friday's episode will be "A Conversation with Roberta Shaffer, Law Librarian of Congress." Roberta and Rich will be joined by a panel of other law librarians.

The program will be archived at this Web site: http://lawlibcon.classcaster.net/.

Women's History Month

Women's History Month honors and celebrates the struggles and achievements of American women throughout the history of the United States. American women have struggled throughout our history to gain rights not simply for themselves but for many other under represented and disenfranchised groups in America.

Visit our site for an overview, legislative branch documents, and executive branch documents.

African American History Month

National African American History Month in February celebrates the contributions that African Americans have made to American history in their struggles for freedom and equality and deepens our understanding of our Nation's history.

Visit our site for an overview, legislative branch documents, executive branch documents, and web resources.

Law Library of Congress on YouTube and iTunes

You can now find the Law Library of Congress on YouTube and iTunes. The Law and the Library Playlist can be found at http://www.youtube.com/user/LibraryOfCongress#g/c/96401BE3402149B9. To find videos in iTunes, search Law Library of Congress and select our "Law and the Library" iTunesU series or visit http://deimos3.apple.com/WebObjects/Core.woa/Browse/loc.gov.3061529668.

Law and the Library is a series of debates and discussions on a wide variety of contemporary legal issues. The series presented by the Law Library of Congress ranges from talks by current or former Members of Congress to pressing foreign, comparative, and international legal issues.

Webcast of Kellogg Lecture on Jurisprudence - Now Available

The Law Library hosted the inaugural Frederic R. and Molly S. Kellogg Biennial Lecture on Jurisprudence. This year's speaker was Ronald Dworkin, Professor of Jurisprudence
at University College London and the New York University School of Law.

After you view the webcast, visit our Facebook page and let us know what you think.

Law Librarian of Congress - A "Holiday" Letter

Roberta I. Shaffer, the Law Librarian of Congress, has written a "holiday" letter that provides updates on the Institution as it heads into the next decade.

What's New in THOMAS?

Several changes have been made to THOMAS for the second session of the 111th Congress.

Bookmarking and Sharing Widget
This new toolbar, found near the top of most THOMAS pages, allows users to save or share a permanent link via bookmarks, email, or social networking sites such as Twitter or Facebook. The toolbar also includes quick links to subscribe to THOMAS RSS feeds and to print.

Top Five Bills
The five most-searched-for bills from the past week will be listed in the center box on the right side of the homepage. Hovering the mouse over the bill number will display the title of the bill. Clicking on the bill number will bring you to the Bill Summary and Status page for that bill.

New RSS feed: Bills Presented to the President
This new RSS feed lists bills that have passed both the House and Senate and have been sent to the White House for the President's signature. If there are currently no bills awaiting signature, a list of all bills signed into law thus far during the current Congress will be produced.

To see a complete list of RSS feeds and email updates available through the Library of Congress, please visit http://www.loc.gov/law/news/rss.php.

Contacting Members of Congress
It's now easier to contact your Members of Congress. A link to this page of tips about how to contact your Representative or Senator is included on the homepage.

Tip of the Week
Each week, a new tip about using THOMAS will be displayed on the right-hand side of the THOMAS homepage, below the "Top Five" list. Following the link within the tip will display in-depth information on that topic.

Bill Text PDFs
We have made changes to bill text display pages to make the PDF more visible and accessible. Clicking on a PDF link will bring you to the Government Printing Office (GPO) PDF for a specific version of a bill.

Increased Timeout Interval
Search results within THOMAS are displayed on temporary pages. In response to your feedback, we have increased the timeout from 5 minutes to 20 minutes.

THOMAS: Bills Presented to the President RSS Feed

Wondering what legislation has passed Congress and is awaiting the president's signature? Now you can subscribe by RSS or email for alerts.

In addition to Bills Presented to the President, the Daily Digest, the House Floor Today, and the Senate Floor Today are also available as RSS feeds or email updates from THOMAS. The new Bills Presented to the President feed is one of several RSS feeds available from the Law Library of Congress.

The Law Library of Congress feeds include:
THOMAS: Bills Presented to the President
THOMAS: Daily Digest
THOMAS: House Floor Today
THOMAS: Senate Floor Today
Current Legal Topics
Global Legal Monitor
Over 300 Global Legal Monitor Topics & Jurisdictions RSS Feeds
News & Events
Webcasts

Law Library of Congress - Free Press in a Time of Terrorism

In celebration of Human Rights Day, the Law Library of Congress will host a 90-minute panel discussion titled "Free Press in a Time of Terrorism" at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 10.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held in Room LM 621, the West Dining Room, located on the sixth floor of the Library's Madison Building, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C. Advance reservations are not required, but seating is limited.

The discussion will focus on how countries around the world are attempting to balance the needs of a free press with an effective strategy against terrorism.

For complete information about this upcoming program, please see the entire press release.

Law Library of Congress Job Opening: Deputy Law Librarian of Congress

Deputy Law Librarian of Congress (Vacancy #:090119)

SL-00 - Law Library- $117,787.00- $162,900.00
Opening Date: 01-DEC-09
Closing Date: 02-FEB-10
Availability: Open to all

The Deputy Law Librarian of Congress works under the general direction of the Law Librarian for Congress and is responsible for the effective oversight of the day-to-day operations of the Law Library, with enterprise-wide responsibility. The Deputy Law Librarian coordinates the various activities and initiatives undertaken in the various Directorates and Divisions of the Law Library, and assists the Law Librarian in the daily management of the Law Library by overseeing legal research and other services provided to the Law Library's primary users/constituencies - the United States Congress, the Executive Branch, and the Federal Judiciary. As part of this responsibility to serve these primary users, the Deputy directs strategic development and policy relating to the management and direction of workflow within and between the various Directorates and Divisions of the Law Library of Congress. In the absence or unavailability of the Law Librarian of Congress, the Deputy shall assume the Law Librarian's responsibilities and authority, independently executing those duties with sound discretion and judgment.

Become a Law Library of Congress Fan on Facebook

First the Law Library of Congress was on Twitter (http://twitter.com/LawLibCongress), and now we are on Facebook. Become a fan for information on our upcoming events, new legal research reports, and conversation. Our Facebook page includes our location, our hours, and where else on the web you can find the Law Library of Congress.

Visit our Facebook page and let us know what you think.

Native American Heritage Month, Key Note Program

The Law Library of Congress is co-sponsoring the Native American Heritage Month. Dawn Sturdevant Baum, a staff attorney with the Native American Rights Fund (NARF), will deliver the keynote address at 2pm in the Whittal Pavillion located in the Jefferson Building on November 18, 2009. Reservations are not needed to attend the address.

National American Indian Heritage Month, November 2009

National American Indian Heritage Month celebrates and recognizes the accomplishments of the peoples who were the original inhabitants, explorers and settlers of the United States.

Visit our website to read more about National American Indian Heritage Month from the Law Library of Congress.

Event Reminder: Law Library of Congress Event: Kellogg Lecture on Jurisprudence

Professor Ronald Dworkin, professor of jurisprudence at University College London and the New York University School of Law, will deliver the inaugural Frederic R. and Molly S. Kellogg Biennial Lecture on Jurisprudence at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 26, 2009, in the Coolidge Auditorium of the Library of Congress.

The Law Library of Congress is on Twitter

The Law Library of Congress can now be found on Twitter. Follow us for news, events, and other information.

National Disability Employment Awareness Month

National Disability Employment Awareness Month celebrates and recognizes the accomplishments in the workplace of men and women with disabilities and reaffirms the commitment to ensuring equal employment opportunities to all citizens.

Visit our website to read more about National Disability Employment Awareness Month from the Law Library of Congress.

October Orientations to Legal Research & THOMAS

The Law Library of Congress will host a THOMAS Orientation and an Orientation to Legal Research in October.

Orientation to THOMAS
Friday, October 16, 2009, 10:00am-12:30pm
Adam Building, LA 100
The THOMAS Orientation is designed to give a basic overview of the THOMAS website through lecture and hands-on exercises.

Orientation to Legal Research
Thursday, October 22, 2009, 10:00am-12:30pm
Madison Building, Multimedia Center, LM 240
Orientation to Legal Research and the Use of Law Library Collections is designed to give a basic introduction to legal sources and research techniques.

Visit our website to read more about and RSVP for the Orientations to Legal Research & THOMAS from the Law Library of Congress.

Kellogg Lecture on Jurisprudence

Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, September 17

National Hispanic Heritage Month

In celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, the Law Library of Congress presents this guide providing commentary and recommended resources.

National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates and recognizes the contributions Hispanic Americans have made to American society and culture and to honor five of our Central American neighbors who celebrate their Independence days in September.

THOMAS Launches Two New RSS Feeds: House & Senate Floor Today

In addition to the Daily Digest, the House Floor Today and Senate Floor Today are now available as RSS feeds or Email updates from THOMAS. The new Floor Today feeds are two of several RSS feeds available from the Law Library of Congress.

The Law Library of Congress feeds include:
THOMAS: Daily Digest
THOMAS: House Floor Today
THOMAS: Senate Floor Today
Current Legal Topics
Global Legal Monitor
Over 300 Global Legal Monitor Topics & Jurisdictions RSS Feeds
News & Events
Webcasts

Roberta I. Shaffer Appointed Law Librarian of Congress

Librarian of Congress Dr. James Billington has named Roberta I. Shaffer to be the next Law Librarian of Congress. She brings an extensive education and diverse work experience to the position, which begins on August 30th, 2009.

Recent Updates in Current Legal Topics

The Law Library of Congress has added several items recently to the Current Legal Topics page.

Campaign Finance
This report examines campaign finance laws, including those governing the length of the campaign period, funding sources and disclosure requirements, restrictions on contributions and expenditures, and free speech implications of such restrictions, in Australia, France, Germany, Israel, and the United Kingdom.

State Legislation on Comprehensive Health Care Coverage
As the national debate on health care continues, state laws provide small scale models of legislation that might be implemented on a larger scale. State Legislation on Comprehensive Health Care Coverage provides an overview of certain legislation in Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont as well as links to state codes.

Sex Selection & Abortion
This report provides an analysis of laws on the subject of sex selection and abortion in Australia, Canada, India, and New Zealand.

Habeas Corpus Rights
This report analyzes the right available to persons in Canada, Egypt, France, Germany, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Kingdom, and Yemen to challenge the legality of their arrest or detention.

Supreme Court Nominations: Sonia Sotomayor
Sotomayor was confirmed on August 6, 2009 by a vote of 68-31.

Law Library of Congress Job: Librarian (Law)

Librarian (Law) (Vacancy #: 090111)

The Law Library of Congress is seeking a Legal Information Analyst who has experience analyzing, abstracting (summarizing) and indexing US federal and/or state legal and legislative information and documents to support the Global Legal Information Network (www.glin.gov) and other legal / legislative information systems. The successful incumbent will demonstrate through progressively responsible work experience a proficiency in (1) analyzing, synthesizing summarizing and indexing federal laws, regulations, court decisions, treaties and executive agreements, bills, congressional committee reports and congressional hearings; (2) developing, managing and routinely using legal and legislative thesauri; and (3) acquiring, organizing and disseminating legal and legislative information.

GS-11 - Law Library - $60,989.00 - $79,280.00
Promotion Potential: 13
Closing Date: Aug 17, 2009
Availability: Open to all

Law Library of Congress Job: Foreign Law Specialist (Turkey)

Foreign Law Specialist (Turkey) (Vacancy #:090116)

The employee in this position serves as a Foreign Law Specialist for Turkey and other Turkic-speaking jurisdictions for the Law Library of the Library of Congress. These jurisdictions include but are not limited to Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The Foreign Law Specialist is responsible for providing advice and assistance on foreign legal issues, questions, or situations related to the countries of assigned jurisdiction to the United States Congress, Executive Branch Agencies, the Judiciary, and other constituencies, including the general public. In that capacity, the Specialist conducts legal research and analysis and prepares or contributes to legal opinions, briefs, reports, memoranda, and comparative analyses related to the laws and legal systems of assigned foreign legal jurisdictions. In addition, the Specialist assists in the development of the Law Library's Global Legal Information Network (GLIN) and recommends acquisitions to the Law Library's collections related to assigned jurisdictions. Individuals with a law degree from a Turkey and Turkic-speaking jurisdiction and/or experience as an attorney in a Turkey and Turkic-speaking jurisdiction are encouraged to apply.

GS-11 - Law Library- $60,989.00- $79,280.00
Promotion Potential: 15
Closing Date: 10-AUG-09
Availability: Open to all

Event Reminder: Law Library of Congress Event: Legal Challenges Facing NATO at 60

To mark NATO's 60th anniversary, the Law Library of Congress will host a panel discussion on the legal challenges facing NATO today. The program, sponsored jointly with the Inter-University Center for Terrorism Studies, will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. on Thursday, July 9 in the Montpelier Room, located on the sixth floor of the Library's James Madison Building, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C.

Panel will focus on NATO's expansion in Eastern Europe, its training mission in Afghanistan and its anti-piracy operations off the coastline of Somalia. Panelists include Richard L. Prosen, a senior foreign-policy professional with more than 20 years' experience in increasingly responsible national-security positions; Peter Roudik, formerly a legal adviser to the Russian Parliament and currently assistant director of legal research in the Law Library of Congress; and Maj. Gen. Melvin G. Spiese, U.S. Marine Corps Training and Education Command.

The event is free and open to the public but seating is limited. Advance reservations are recommended (Barbara Moore, 202-707-9834, bmoo@loc.gov).

Law Library of Congress Job: Pacific Common Law Specialist

Foreign Law Specialist (Pacific Common Law) (Vacancy #:090112)

The Foreign Law Specialist for Pacific Common Law is responsible for providing advice and assistance on foreign legal issues, questions, or situations related to the countries of assigned jurisdiction (including Australia & New Zealand) to the United States Congress, Executive Branch Agencies, the Judiciary, and other constituencies, including the general public.

In that capacity, the Specialist conducts legal research and analysis and prepares or contributes to legal opinions, briefs, reports, memoranda, and comparative analyses related to the laws and legal systems of assigned foreign legal jurisdictions. In addition, the Specialist assists in the development of the Law Library's Global Legal Information Network (GLIN) and recommends acquisitions to the Law Library's collections related to assigned jurisdictions.

Individuals with a law degree from a Pacific Common Law jurisdiction and/or experience as an attorney in a Pacific Common Law jurisdiction are encouraged to apply.

GS-11 - Law Library- $60,989.00- $79,280.00
Promotion Potential: 15
Closing Date: 13-JUL-09
Availability: Open to all

Law Library of Congress Event: Legal Challenges Facing NATO at 60

Founded in 1949, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a military alliance of member nations that agree to mutual defense in response to attack upon one or all members. To mark NATO's 60th anniversary, the Law Library of Congress will host a panel discussion on the legal challenges facing NATO today.

The program, which is sponsored jointly with the Inter-University Center for Terrorism Studies, will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. on Thursday, July 9 in the Montpelier Room, located on the sixth floor of the Library's James Madison Building, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C.

The event is free and open to the public but seating is limited. Advance reservations are recommended (Barbara Moore, 202-707-9834, bmoo@loc.gov).

The panel will discuss NATO's expansion in Eastern Europe, its training mission in Afghanistan and its anti-piracy operations off the coastline of Somalia.

Panelists include Richard L. Prosen, a senior foreign-policy professional with more than 20 years' experience in increasingly responsible national-security positions; Peter Roudik, formerly a legal adviser to the Russian Parliament and currently assistant director of legal research in the Law Library of Congress; and Maj. Gen. Melvin G. Spiese, U.S. Marine Corps Training and Education Command.

The Global Legal Monitor Adds Jurisdiction & Topic RSS Feeds

The Global Legal Monitor from the Law Library of Congress now has more than three hundred RSS feeds available. Each topic and jurisdiction now has a dedicated RSS feed.

The Global Legal Monitor provides timely news on legal developments from around the world. Legal developments can be viewed by topic and by jurisdiction. Each legal development has its own permanent link for easy access, sharing, and bookmarking.

Event Reminder: The Approach of the Halakah and Sharia' to Contemporary Legal Issues

Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Time: 12:30-2:00 pm
Location: Mumford Room, Madison Bldg., 6th Floor
101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C.

The Law Library of Congress and the African and Middle Eastern Division are proud to present a 90-minute program titled "The Approach of the Halakah and Sharia' to Contemporary Legal Issues." The program will be moderated by Don Wallace, chairman of the International Law Institute and professor of law at the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C. Panelists include Rabbi Sholml Yaffee and Issam Michael Saliba.

The Approach of the Halakah and Sharia' to Contemporary Legal Issues

The Law Library of Congress and the African and Middle Eastern Division are proud to present a 90-minute program titled "The Approach of the Halakah and Sharia' to Contemporary Legal Issues."

Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Time: 12:30-2:00 pm
Location: Mumford Room, Madison Bldg., 6th Floor
101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C.
Contact: Leon Scioscia, (lsci@loc.gov)

The program will be moderated by Don Wallace, chairman of the International Law Institute and professor of law at the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C. Panelists include Rabbi Sholml Yaffee and Issam Michael Saliba. In addition to explaining the historical development of Judaic and Islamic law, the program will explore adaptations of these laws that could benefit policymakers in their legislative work on foreign policy and other areas affecting religiously oriented communities.

Request ADA accommodations five business days in advance at (202)707-6362 or ADA@loc.gov

New Resource on Supreme Court Nominee Sonia Sotomayor

The Law Library of Congress launched a new website on Supreme Court Nominee Sonia Sotomayor. The site contains information on articles and books by Sotomayor, Congressional documents, cases, and web resources.

President Barack Obama was given an early opportunity to leave his stamp on the United States Supreme Court after Justice David Souter's retirement announcement on May 1, 2009. His first choice is Sonia Sotomayor, a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit since 1998.

The site contains selected resources, additional material will be added.

United States: The Constitution

The Law Library of Congress launched a new website on the United States Constitution. The site combines various items from the Law Library of Congress in one centralized location.

The website includes sections on Constitutional Interpretation, Executive Privilege, Military Tribunals, Presidential Inherent Powers, Presidential Signing Statements, Second Amendment, State Secrets Privilege, War Powers, War Powers Resolution, and Additional Constitutional Resources.

THOMAS Launches First RSS Feed

The Daily Digest is now available as the first RSS feed from THOMAS. The THOMAS: Daily Digest feed is one of five RSS feeds available from the Law Library of Congress.

Event Reminder: Law Day, Friday, May 1

Date: Friday, May 1, 2009
Time: 1pm - 2:30pm
Location: Members' Room, Jefferson Bldg.
Contact: Barbara Moore, (bmoo@loc.gov)

The Law Library of Congress and the Friends of the Law Library of Congress celebrate Law Day & the Emancipation Proclamation. What effect did the Emancipation Proclamation have on the Civil War? What inspired President Lincoln to undertake such a sweeping executive order in his first term? Did it have a broader effect on the slave trade throughout the Americas and Europe? These questions and many more will be discussed by Congressmen G.K. Butterfield and Jesse Jackson Jr., Dean Kurt Schmoke and Professor Emeritus Roger Wilkins, with congressional correspondent Kwame Holman moderating.

In addition to material from Rare Books on display, the Manuscripts division as well as Prints and Photographs will display material relating to slavery and the Emancipation Proclamation.

The event is free and open to the public but seating is very limited and advance reservations are suggested at (202) 707-9834, bmoo@loc.gov.

For more information on Law Day, visit: http://www.loc.gov/law/help/commemorative-observations/law-day.php

For more information on Lincoln and the Law, visit: http://www.loc.gov/law/help/rare-books/lincoln.php

Event Reminder: Domestic and International Human Environment Challenges with Barry Hill, Monday, April 27, 2009

Date: Monday, April 27, 2009
Time: 1pm - 2pm
Location: Library of Congress, Whittall Pavilion
Contact: Barbara Moore, (bmoo@loc.gov)

The Law Library of Congress presents an address on domestic and international human environment challenges with Barry Hill. In his talk, Barry Hill will define "human environment challenges," and discuss the relationship between the rule of law and government enforcement of protective environmental laws to address these challenges.

The event is free and open to the public but seating is very limited and advance reservations are suggested at (202) 707-9834, bmoo@loc.gov.

Legal Reference/Web Services Librarian Position Available at the Law Library of Congress

The Law Library of Congress seeks a legal reference librarian with education and experience (1) providing legal and legislative information services to diverse and demanding clients in a large law library or similar legal information organization; and (2) creating, organizing and managing web content for dynamic websites. Qualified candidates with both Juris Doctor and Masters in Library/Information Science degrees from accredited universities with appropriate training and experience are strongly encouraged to apply. The successful incumbent will demonstrate progressively responsible work experience or combination of education & work experience and proficiency in (1) providing concise and thorough oral and written research guidance utilizing creative methodologies to respond to complex inquiries; (2) applying a strong public service demeanor when providing legal and legislative information services to diverse and demanding clientele; (3) developing, organizing and managing legal and legislative collections (websites, blogs and online resources); (4) creating, organizing and managing legal and legislative content for dynamic websites; and (5) using time management skills to complete multiple time-sensitive assignments and projects.

GS-11 - Law Library- $60,989.00- $79,280.00
Opening Date: 20-APR-09
Closing Date: 20-MAY-09
Availability: Open to all

Law Day / Emancipation Proclamation Event

The Law Library of Congress and the Friends of the Law Library of Congress celebrate Law Day & the Emancipation Proclamation.

Date: Friday, May 1, 2009
Time: 1pm - 2:30pm
Location: Members' Room, Jefferson Bldg.
Contact: Barbara Moore, (bmoo@loc.gov)

What effect did the Emancipation Proclamation have on the Civil War? What inspired President Lincoln to undertake such a sweeping executive order in his first term? Did it have a broader effect on the slave trade throughout the Americas and Europe? These questions and many more will be discussed by Congressmen G.K. Butterfield and Jesse Jackson Jr., Dean Kurt Schmoke and Professor Emeritus Roger Wilkins, with congressional correspondent Kwame Holman moderating.

Please join the staff and Friends of the Law Library of Congress for this important discussion celebrating the 52nd observance of Law Day, a day set aside annually by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to draw attention to the principles and practices of law and justice. For more information, contact Christine Herrmann at cher@loc.gov or (202) 707-9866.

The event is free and open to the public but seating is very limited and advance reservations are suggested at (202) 707-9834, bmoo@loc.gov. Request ADA accommodations five business days in advance at (202) 707-6362 or ADA@loc.gov

Domestic and International Human Environment Challenges with Barry Hill

The Law Library of Congress presents an address on domestic and international human environment challenges with Barry Hill.

Date: Monday, April 27, 2009
Time: 1pm - 2pm
Location: Library of Congress, Whittall Pavilion
Contact: Barbara Moore, (bmoo@loc.gov)

In his talk, Barry Hill will define "human environment challenges," and discuss the relationship between the rule of law and government enforcement of protective environmental laws to address these challenges.

Acting Law Librarian Donna Scheeder will introduce Mr. Hill, a distinguished public servant, author and academic, who in his present position is responsible for coordinating the EPA's capacity-building initiatives for foreign governments in environmental law and policy. Additionally, he is responsible for enforcement and compliance assurance and helps to train foreign judges in environmental law. He will introduce his recently released textbook/handbook, "Environmental Justice: Legal Theory and Practice" (March 2009), published by the Environmental Law Institute (ELI), a leading think tank in environmental law and policy.

The event is free and open to the public but seating is very limited and advance reservations are suggested at (202) 707-9834, bmoo@loc.gov. Request ADA accommodations five business days in advance at (202)707-6362 or ADA@loc.gov.

Legal Blawgs

The Law Library of Congress is pleased to announce the launch of the Legal Blawgs web archive. Harvesting began in 2007 and the archive has grown to more than 100 items covering a broad cross section of legal topics.

Event Reminder: Legislating in Heels, Tomorrow, March 18

Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Time: 1:00 - 2:30 P.M.
Location: Whittall Pavilion in the Jefferson Building
Library of Congress, Washington, DC

In celebration of National Women's History Month 2009, the Law Library of Congress presents Legislating in Heels - An Anecdotal Journey with the Honorable Connie Morella on March 18, 2009.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Christine Herrmann at cher@loc.gov or (202) 707-9866. Advance reservations are suggested, (202) 707-9834 or bmoo@loc.gov.

Global Legal Monitor Reaches Milestone

The Global Legal Monitor by the Law Library of Congress recently surpassed 1,000 items available on legal news and developments worldwide. As the Global Legal Monitor has grown, so have the number of subscribers. Over 3,000 subscribers are alerted by email when the Global Legal Monitor is updated.

The Global Legal Monitor has the ability to view legal developments by topic (more than one hundred) and by jurisdiction (over one hundred and fifty). The content of the Global Legal Monitor can also be searched through its advanced search interface.

Each legal development has its own permanent link for easy access, sharing, and bookmarking. To keep up to date on new legal developments in the Global Legal Monitor subscribe to its RSS feed or email update (http://www.loc.gov/law/news/rss.php).

Kellogg Biennial Lecture on Jurisprudence Call for Nominations

The Law Library of Congress seeks nominations for a scholar to give the inaugural lecture for the Frederic R. and Molly S. Kellogg Biennial Lecture on International Jurisprudence at the Library of Congress. The lecture, to be held at the Library of Congress, is planned for Oct. 30, 2009.

All nominations and materials must be faxed or e-mailed by April 10:
fax: 202-707-1820
e-mail: cher@loc.gov

For more details of the nomination procedures, see our website.

Legislating in Heels - An Anecdotal Journey with the Honorable Connie Morella

In celebration of National Women's History Month 2009, the Law Library of Congress presents Legislating in Heels - An Anecdotal Journey with the Honorable Connie Morella on March 18, 2009.

Please join Acting Law Librarian Charles Doyle and Associate Librarian of Congress Deanna Marcum in honoring all women with a lively presentation by this distinguished former Congresswoman and Ambassador to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

The event will take place on Wednesday, March 18, 2009 between 1:00 and 2:30 pm at the Whittall Pavilion, located in the Jefferson Building on 1st Street SE between Independence Avenue and East Capitol Streets in Washington, D.C.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Christine Herrmann at cher@loc.gov or (202) 707-9866. Advance reservations are suggested, (202) 707-9834 or bmoo@loc.gov.

Women's History Month, March 2009

In celebration of Women's History Month, the Law Library of Congress presents this guide providing an overview, legislative branch documents, and executive branch documents.

Women's History Month honors and celebrates the struggles and achievements of American women throughout the history of the United States.

Visit our website to read more about Women's History Month from the Law Library of Congress.

Event Reminder: Looking Beyond Gitmo, Tomorrow, February 18

Date: Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Time: 1pm - 2:30pm
Location: Library of Congress, Madison Building, 6th Floor Mumford Room

The Law Library of Congress will sponsor a panel discussion titled Looking Beyond Gitmo: U.S. and Foreign Approaches Toward Legal Treatment of Terrorist Suspects Wednesday, Feb. 18, 1-2:30 p.m. The Mumford Room, on the sixth floor of the James Madison Building 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C. The event is free and open to the public but seating is limited and advance reservations are suggested at (202) 707-9834, bmoo@loc.gov.

Panelists will include: Charles D. Stimson, senior legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation, and Law Library of Congress legal specialists Clare Feikert, Louis Fisher and Ruth Levush. The panel will be moderated by Peter Roudik, assistant director of legal research and head of the Eastern Law Division in the Law Library of Congress.

Lincoln and the Law from the Law Library of Congress

The Law Library of Congress is pleased to present a newly digitized collection to celebrate the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth. The collection covers three eras including nine items in the Lincoln the Lawyer collection, five on Habeas Corpus and the War Powers of the President, and eight covering The Assassination: Trials.

Lincoln's effort to restore the Union and his contributions to American political thought and its ideals of freedom often obscure the fact that he had been a successful attorney. Lincoln himself admitted his ambition lay in politics and not in the law, "My forte is as a Statesman, rather than a Prosecutor." Even if the law was Lincoln's "secondary" avocation, it was indelibly linked to him in life... and death.

Visit our website to read more about Lincoln and the Law and view the newly digitized rare books from the Law Library of Congress.

Looking Beyond Gitmo: U.S. and Foreign Approaches Toward Legal Treatment of Terrorist Suspects

February 18, 2009, 1:00 - 2:30 P.M.
Mumford Room, 6th Floor, Madison Building
Library of Congress, Washington, DC

On January 22, 2009, President Barack Obama signed an Executive Order directing the Central Intelligence Agency to close the GuantÃ¡namo Bay detention camp in Cuba within a year. Some individuals and groups view this as a risky step because the facility known as "Gitmo" is perceived as a secure location to conduct trials of terrorist suspects. Others welcome the move, but believe it could take longer than one year to accomplish.

The Law Library of Congress will sponsor a panel discussion titled "Looking Beyond Gitmo: U.S. and Foreign Approaches Toward Legal Treatment of Terrorist Suspects." The 90-minute program will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 18, in the Mumford Room, located on the sixth floor of the James Madison Building at 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C.

The event is free and open to the public but seating is limited and advance reservations are suggested at (202) 707-9834, bmoo@loc.gov.

Featuring Law Library's Specialists
Clare Feikert - Speaking on "The UK's Approach to Suspected Terrorists"
Lou Fisher - Speaking on "Detainees, Interrogation, and Military Tribunals"
Ruth Levush - Speaking on "Non-Criminal Detention of Persons Suspected in Posing Terrorism Threats - Israeli Experience", and
Charles "Cully" D. Stimson - The Heritage Foundation, former Deputy Assistant Defense Secretary for Detainee Affairs - Speaking on a broad base of detention topics
Moderator Peter Roudik

National African American History Month, February 2009

In celebration of National African American History Month, the Law Library of Congress presents this guide providing an overview, legislative branch documents, executive branch documents, and web resources.

National African American History Month in February celebrates the contributions that African Americans have made to American history in their struggles for freedom and equality and deepens our understanding of our Nation's history.

Visit our website to read more about National African American History Month from the Law Library of Congress.

The Law Library of Congress Panel Discussion on the 60th Anniversary of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Today, December 10, 2008, the Law Library of Congress will celebrate the 60th Anniversary of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) with a panel discussion entitled "An Aspirational Illusion or a Blueprint for Continuing Reform?" This special event, which is presented on this landmark anniversary, provides a unique opportunity to reflect upon a groundbreaking document that was adopted in 1948 by the United Nations General Assembly.

Event details:
Wednesday - December 10, 2008
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Law Library Multimedia Center (LM240)
James Madison Building, Library of Congress
Free and Open to the Public
Limited Seating /Advance Reservations Suggested
Please contact Barbara Moore at bmoo@loc.gov or 202-707-9834

National American Indian Heritage Month, November 2008

In celebration of National American Indian Heritage Month, the Law Library of Congress presents this guide providing commentary and recommended resources.

National American Indian Heritage Month celebrates and recognizes the accomplishments of the peoples who were the original inhabitants, explorers and settlers of the United States.

Visit our website to read more about National American Indian Heritage Month from the Law Library of Congress.

Redesigned Global Legal Monitor Launched

The Law Library of Congress is pleased to announce the launch of the redesigned Global Legal Monitor. The Global Legal Monitor has transformed from a monthly published PDF to a dynamic continuously updated website. The new Global Legal Monitor has the ability to view legal developments by topic (more than one hundred so far) and by jurisdiction (over one hundred and fifty). The content of the Global Legal Monitor can also be searched through its advanced search interface.

Each legal development has its own permanent link for easy access, sharing, and bookmarking. To keep up to date on new legal developments in the Global Legal Monitor subscribe to its RSS feed.

The Global Legal Monitor is an online publication from the Law Library of Congress covering legal news and developments worldwide. It draws on information from the Global Legal Information Network, official national legal publications, and reliable press sources.

15th Annual GLIN Directors' Meeting, September 23-25, 2008

The 15th Annual Global Legal Information Network (GLIN) Directors' Meeting will be held from September 23-25, 2008. This event, hosted by the Law Library of Congress, will bring together representatives from GLIN member countries, national and international organizations, and observers representing 22 different nations to discuss the year's accomplishments in building GLIN, an Internet-based, multilingual legal information system.

Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, September 17

In celebration of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, the Law Library of Congress presents this guide providing commentary and recommended resources.

Constitution Day and Citizenship Day is observed each year on September 17 to commemorate the signing of the Constitution on September 17, 1787 and "recognize all who, by coming of age or by naturalization, have become citizens."

Visit our Web site to read more about Constitution Day and Citizenship Day from the Law Library of Congress.

Legal Research/Reference Librarian Position Available at the Law Library of Congress

The Law Library of Congress seeks a legal research/reference librarian with education and experience (1) providing legal and legislative information services to diverse and demanding clients in a large law library or similar legal information organization; (2) creating and organizing web content; and (3) developing and managing legal and legislative electronic resources. Qualified candidates with both Juris Doctor and Masters in Library/Information Science degrees from accredited universities with appropriate training and experience are strongly encouraged to apply.

Librarian (Law) (Vacancy #:080252)
GS-11 - Law Library- $58,206.00- $75,669.00
Closing Date: 03-OCT-08

Program Specialist Position Available at the Law Library of Congress

The Law Library of Congress is recruiting for a Program Specialist who assists the Special Assistant for Outreach and Development in his/her efforts in support of the Law Library's outreach/development efforts. Performs assigned tasks or guided projects necessary to facilitate development and promotion efforts. Actively supports the Special Assistant's efforts in promoting the services of the Law Library to Congress and other constituencies, and to maintain its prestige and stature as the National Law Library, and increasing its presence in the international legal research and law library communities. The incumbent reports directly to, and acts in a confidential capacity with, the Special Assistant to the Law Librarian (Outreach and Development).

Law Library of Congress Brochure Garners Marketing Award

The American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) has named the Law Library of Congress the winner of the 2008 AALL/Thomson West Excellence in Marketing Award in the Best Brochure category. The award honors oustanding achievement in public relations activities that serve to raise the visibility of law librarianship and the AALL.

Law Library of Congress Safety Drill Tomorrow June 25, 2008

The Law Library of Congress and the Madison Building will be closed tomorrow, Wednesday, June 25, 2008, from 10:00-11:30 for a safety drill that will require all people within the building to "Shelter-In-Place." If you are in the Law Library when the drill begins, you will be required to proceed with staff to a designated location where you will not be able to conduct any research and you will have to remain in that location for the duration of the drill. The Law Library will resume regular services when the drill is complete.

Foreign Law Research Center Opens at the Law Library of Congress

The Law Library of Congress officially opened its new Foreign Law Research Center on Monday, June 9, 2008. The Center may be used by members of the public and will be open Monday through Friday, 8:30a.m. - 4:00 p.m. The Foreign Law Research Center houses the unified foreign law reference collection used by Law Library legal specialists, research support, and reference staff to conduct needed research for members of Congress and other priority clients.

Law Library of Congress Safety Drill to Impact Use of the Madison Building

The Law Library of Congress and the Madison Building will be closed on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 from 10:00-11:30 for a safety drill that will require all people within the building to "Shelter-In-Place." If you are in the Law Library when the drill begins, you will be required to proceed with staff to a designated location where you will not be able to conduct any research and you will have to remain in that location for the duration of the drill. The Law Library will resume regular services when the drill is complete.

Senator Lindsey Graham to Join Law Library of Congress's Law Day 2008 Panel Discussion on May 1

The Law Library of Congress is pleased to announce that Senator Lindsey Graham, South Carolina, will be participating in the Law Day panel discussion on Thursday, May 1 at the Library of Congress.

"The Rule of Law in Established and Emerging Countries"
Thursday, May 1, 2008
1:00pm - 2:30pm, a reception will follow
Northeast Pavilion, 2nd Floor
Thomas Jefferson Building, Library of Congress
Advance reservations are required as this program is open to the public and seating is limited. Please e-mail Barbara Moore at bmoo@loc.gov or phone 202-707-9834.

Speakers include: Dr. Rubens Medina, Law Librarian of Congress; Lindsey Graham, United States Senator, South Carolina; Harry T. Edwards (Moderator), Judge, U. S. Court of Appeals for District of Columbia Circuit; Rob Boone, Director, American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative; Rosa Brooks, Professor of Law, Georgetown Law School; Thomas Carothers, Vice President for Studies-International Politics and Governance, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; Kurt L. Schmoke, Dean, Howard University School of Law and former Mayor of Baltimore.

For more information on the history of Law Day, please visit our Web site at: http://www.loc.gov/law/help/commemorative-observations/law-day.html

Legal Information Analyst Position Available at the Law Library of Congress

The Law Library of Congress is recruiting for a Legal Information Analyst who has appropriate education and/or experience providing legal and legislative reference services to diverse and demanding clients in a law library or similar legal information organization AND preparing written legal analysis of court decisions, proposed legislation, regulatory schemes and/or government programs. The successful incumbent will demonstrate through progressively responsible work experience or a combination of education and work experience a proficiency in (1) providing concise and thorough oral and written guidance and/or substantive responses to requests for legal and legislative information; (2) applying creative legal and legislative research methodologies to respond to complex inquiries demonstrating a broad knowledge of the latest print materials and electronic databases including web-based resources; (3) applying a strong public service demeanor when providing legal and legislative information services to diverse and demanding clientele; (4) preparing reports, memos, correspondence and other documents analyzing legal issues and requiring interpretation and/or summaries of bills, committee reports, statutes, regulations, court decisions, background studies and policy reports; and (5) completing on time multiple time-sensitive assignments and projects requiring exceptionally developed time management skills.

Qualified candidates with both Juris Doctor and Masters in Library/Information Science degrees from accredited universities and law library reference and legal research/analysis training and/or experience are strongly encouraged to apply.

Law Day Program at the Library of Congress on May 1

The Library of Congress will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Law Day with an examination of what the Rule of Law means to established and emerging countries. The panel discussion will be held at the Library from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 1 in the Northeast Hall and Pavilion on the second floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First Street S.E., Washington, D.C. A reception will follow.

Sponsored by the Law Library of Congress, the program is free and open to the public. Seating is limited and advance reservations are required [contact Barbara Moore at bmoo@loc.gov or (202)707-9834 by April 25].

Featured speakers include Harry T. Edwards (Moderator), Judge, U. S. Court of Appeals for District of Columbia Circuit; Rob Boone, Director, American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative; Thomas Carothers, Vice President for Studies-International Politics and Governance, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; Kurt L. Schmoke, Dean, Howard University School of Law and former Mayor of Baltimore; and Jane E. Stromseth, Faculty Director, Human Rights Institute and Professor of Law, Georgetown Law School.

Karamah Joins the Global Legal Information Network

The Global Legal Information Network (GLIN) is pleased to announce the addition of Karamah to its membership. Karamah: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights, is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization. GLIN, a cooperative international legal database administered by the Law Library of Congress, has a membership of 36 government agencies and international organizations.

Orientation to Legal Research

Orientation to Legal Research
Date: April 10, 2008
Time: 10am - 12:30pm

An overview of the basic methods of conducting federal legal research focusing on using the Law Library's federal collections. The Law Library's resources for locating these items in print and automated formats are presented.

Reservations Required.

To register, sign up in person in the Law Library Reading Room (LM 201), call (202) 707-9801, or complete the Seminar form on our Web site to register. Prior to attending a class, you need to obtain a Library of Congress Registration Card.

Book Talk by Mickey Edwards

Book Talk by Mickey Edwards
Date: Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Time: 1pm - 2:00pm
Location: Law Library Multimedia Room (LM 240)
Madison Building, Library of Congress
101 Independence Ave., SE, Washington, DC

Former Congressman Mickey Edwards will present a talk on his newly published book "Reclaiming Conservatism: How a Great American Political Movement Got Lost-and How It Can Find Its Way Back." A book signing will follow.

Reservations Required. Contact: Alisa Carrel, acar@loc.gov

News Item from the Law Library of Congress

The Law Library of Congress announces the availability of RSS feeds and e-mail delivery. Available feeds cover: Law Library News and Events, Law Library Webcasts, Legal Research Reports, and the Global Legal Monitor.