Conducting a search in the catalog can produce an overwhelming amount of results.  The good news is that these results can be narrowed by selecting facets.  Facets are located on the left side of the screen and allow the user to narrow by areas such as format, location and publication date.  These are just three of the many facets you can select.  A user can narrow by one or more facets at the same time.  I ran a search on adoption which returned 228 results.  I decided to narrow my results by electronic format and records that had my search term in the subject.  I now have 14 results, which is much more manageable.  Next time you conduct a search in the catalog use facets to find more pertinent results.

Most patrons think of the Catalog as a resource to find a call number for a book located on a shelf.  While this is still the case the Catalog has so much more to offer.  A simple search on Adoption produced records with links to resources in databases like Lexis, HeinOnline, and Westlaw.  Records for additional electronic formats include websites that are both useful and credible.  Over 50,000 articles were located; an advanced search should be done to narrow results.  Finally, five eBooks and over 60 print books were found. 

The next time you begin a research project you may want to start with the Catalog.  You never know what you’ll find! 

(Image from Catalog)

http://www.morguefile.com/archive/display/571907

Have you ever flashed your headlights to warn other drivers about a speed trap?  Is it legal to flash your headlights?  If it is illegal does this law violate your constitutional right to freedom of speech? One man in Florida believes that the ticket he received for flashing his headlights is a violation of his right to free speech.  Read all about the suit he has filed here.

If you are interested in viewing your first amendment rights take the following steps.

1)      Log onto LexisNexis

2)      Make sure the Legal tab is selected

3)      Select view more next to Federal Legal – U.S.

4)      Select USCS – United States Code Service: Code, Const, Rules, Conventions & Public Laws

5)      You can now expand the sections in the Table of Contents, start with:

a.       Constitution of the United States of America

b.      Amendments

c.       Amendment 1

d.      Religious and political freedom (part 1 of 4)

e.      Start reading

You can also read the first amendment by looking at a book or locating it on Westlaw.

I am happy announce that Lexis and Westlaw E-Treatises are now available in the Law Library Catalog.  You no longer have to sign into LexisNexis or Westlaw to find out if the treatise you want is available on the database.   Conduct a search in the catalog on a subject like criminal law.  One of your results will direct you to Criminal Law Advocacy.  Open the record, select the link, sign onto LexisNexis and you will be directed to a search screen for Criminal Law Advocacy, which also includes the table of contents.  If you already happen to be signed into LexisNexis you will automatically be directed to Criminal Law Advocacy from the catalog record.  These steps can also be used for Westlaw titles. 

Summer is a popular time to travel and for those of you who haven’t made plans yet it’s not too late.  Head to the Law Library and take a look at some of the magazines in the Leisure Reading Collection.  This collection is located on the short bookcases between the Arizona and General Collections.  Take a look at the latest edition of Travel & Leisure magazine for suggestions on places to visit.  Maybe you don’t have the time to travel outside of the state?  Peruse the pages of Phoenix magazine or Arizona Highways.  You’ll find ideas for weekend getaways and day trips.  If nothing catches your eye try looking at past issues located in the general collection. 

The Leisure Reading Collection isn’t just for travel buffs.  The Law Library has magazines that cover a variety of topics including sports, entertainment, financial news, and current events.  So when the semester begins and you want to take a break from it all for just 15 minutes, grab a magazine and relax.