On behalf of the Law Library staff, I want to welcome first year students, transfer students, and the students from the Norwich Law School of the University of East Anglia. We welcome back second and third year students and faculty members. We wish everyone a successful and productive year.

The Law Library will have regular hours over the Labor Day weekend. For an up-to-date schedule of library hours, check the Law Library hours web page.

Beginning the law school experience can be intimidating for anyone; getting a legal education may be your toughest act yet. A big part of your first year in law school will be studying and researching in the Law Library. Here are some tips on making life simpler when visiting the facility:

1. Your Samford I.D. card is your key to services in the Law Library. Additionally, it must be shown upon request to desk attendants who do not recognize you as a Cumberland student when entering the Library. Translation: at the beginning of your freshman year, you will likely need to show your I.D. card on a regular basis until you are recognized as a Cumberland law student by all of the desk attendants. You must also present it to check out books or folders placed on reserve by your professors You will also need your Samford I.D. card (with money programmed on it) in order to use the Law Library’s photocopiers.

2. The bookstore sells numerous study aids that vary in usefulness, and are also quite expensive. Before deciding to buy, you might want to check out the study aids available on reserve at the Circulation Desk. The Guide to Study Aids, which has been distributed to all first year law students and is available on the web is an excellent resource for determining what student aids are available for check out from the Reserve section. These items on Reserve are almost always the latest edition and are available for use in the library for three hours at a time (and also can be checked out overnight three hours before the library's closing).

3. We request that you shelve all books that you use from the First Floor and in the periodical collection shelved on the Lower Level. Over the years, there have been many first year students unable to finish their assignments, victimized by thoughtless classmates who refuse to take the time to reshelve needed materials.

4. Cellular telephones should not be used in the Law Library. If you bring one into the reading rooms you must put it on vibration mode. When you receive or place a call, you must go to a photocopy room or outside the Law Library.

5. Conference room keys are available for three hour checkout at the Circulation Desk by student study groups. We urge students carrying on discussions within the library to use conference rooms in order to avoid disturbing other patrons.

6. Four laptops are available for law student checkout at the Circulation Desk. The checkout period is three hours and they are for in-library use only.

7. With the exception of Saturday, librarians are generally available most hours that the library is open. Do not feel embarrassed to ask a librarian for help finding materials. Often, freshmen law students believe that they are the "only student" who cannot find needed materials; in most cases, many students cannot locate them, but do not want to admit it to their classmates. At the same time, do not hesitate to let your Caruthers Fellow from LLR know when you do not understand an assignment.

8. Ignoring Law Library book due dates can do more than empty your pocket of change. Fines at the Law Library are as follows: $1.00 per day per book for non-reserve items; $1.00 per HOUR for reserve materials.

9. Food is not permitted in the Law Library, though drinks in certain approved containers are allowed. For a quick refreshment break, use the law school student lounge. Also, food can be taken into the Great Room of the Law School where there are study tables available.

10. The Law Library reading rooms should be used for research and study purposes; they should not become a meeting point for law student social groups. The noise problem is one which is being constantly brought to our attention by law students. Please consider classmates who, for various reasons, cannot study at home. This library is their only refuge for quiet study. If you wish to socialize, there are numerous places in the Law School, including the Great Room of the Law School, where ample space is available. Please reserve the library facilities for your research and study needs only.

An excellent website for understanding copyright and fair use is available from the Stanford University Libraries.

This web page provides the reader a better understanding of many aspects of copyright law, including academic fair use.

To hone research skills, consider checking out DVDs or videos created by Robert C. Berring, a nationally recognized expert on legal research. Bob Berring has served as professor, library director, and dean at Boalt Hall Law School, University of California, Berkeley. Professor Berring’s recent books include Finding the Law, 12th ed., 2005 (KF240/.C5382/2005/Reference) and Legal Research Survival Manual, 2002 (KF240/.B47/- Reserve), both coauthored with Elizabeth Edinger.

Berring on Legal Research: Deep Principles for Researching and Understanding the Law (DVD-12) is a two-DVD set covering case law, statutes, administrative materials, secondary resources, and more. Professor Berring emphasizes three guiding principles: understand the information; understand the research systems; understand the context of the material. The DVDs illustrate the process using both print and online resources like Westlaw and Lexis. To explore the fine points, download supplemental podcasts at http://www.berringlegalresearch.com. Currently, podcasts cover cases, legislative history, legal periodicals, local laws, and other topics.

Besides the DVD, Professor Berring also created an award-winning video series called Legal Research for the 21st Century. Throughout the series, Professor Berring advises students to think functionally. In other words, try to understand the nature of the research tool whether the format is print or electronic. As described below, the series has five programs on fundamental research skills, and four on specialized topics.

Basics (VT-178). This overview is ideal for law students, paralegals, foreign attorneys, or others encountering American legal resources for the first time. Professor Berring discusses casebooks, hornbooks, nutshells, and other study aids. He explains the state and federal legal system, and the impact of common law and legislation. The program closes with a thorough discussion of the nature and components of reported decisions.

Case Finding and the Future of Case Publication (VT-179). In this tape, learn how to harness the power of the digest system in print and online. Students also gain insight into basic principles of Boolean and natural language searching. In closing, Professor Berring predicts future trends in legal publishing.

Citators and Secondary Source Research (VT-180). Professor Berring explains the importance of citators and how to use them. He also explores the role of secondary resources in conducting efficient legal research.

Statutes, Legislative History and Administrative Materials (VT-181). This tape provides a clear overview of statutory and administrative primary law. Moreover, Professor Berring demystifies the often daunting task of researching legislative history.

Legal Research on the Internet and Research Strategies (VT-182). After identifying selected web sites, Professor Berring emphasizes the importance of evaluating the quality, timeliness, and reliability of Internet resources. Today, individual researchers bear greater responsibility to figure out what information is reliable. Whether using print or electronic resources, all researchers can benefit from Professor Berring’s expert tips for efficient legal research.

For advanced research techniques, try these tapes on special topics. Marci Hoffman, International & Foreign Law Librarian at Berkeley, joins Professor Berring on the foreign and international law programs.

International Law (VT-197).

Foreign Law (VT-198).

Intellectual Property Law (VT-199).

Environmental Law (VT-200). Ask for DVDs or videos at the Circulation Desk. Patrons may view videos or DVDs in the multimedia room any time a librarian is on duty. Alternatively, law students may view DVDs on desktops in the Law Library’s computer labs, or borrow a TV and player for use in a conference room. Moreover, law students may take videos or DVDs out of the library for twenty-four hours.

On the Law Library homepage you will see a button at the bottom of the screen. By using this link, a patron can find a list of what professors have on reserve for the semester. This does not link to full text electronic copies of the material, but gives the patron a complete list of all the folders or books that are on Reserve. Law students can keep up-to-date with what is put on Reserve and what they need to check out at the Circulation Desk.

The Law Library has revised its policy which previously excluded all drinks from the facility. Now, patrons are permitted to bring in and consume beverages under certain conditions. A copy of the new policy can be found posted on the entrance door to the Law Library and a print copy is available at the Circulation Desk. An online copy is also available on the Student Handbook web page.

The Law Library has purchased new drink containers that are available for second and third year law students. If you have not received a container, pick one up at the Circulation Desk.

The Beeson Law Library is pleased to announce a new research database: Foreign & International Law Resources (FILR). This segment of HeinOnline contains many respected journals and yearbooks from inception to recent releases. Like other components of HeinOnline, the database covers current topics plus historical evolution of the law. Presently, FILR is a half million pages or roughly 675 volumes, and growing.

Part I of FILR offers proceedings or serials from institutions like the American Society of International Law, the Max Planck Institute, the United Nations, and more. Yearbooks trace the development of international law in Africa, Asia, Europe, Australia, Britain, Israel, Palestine, Singapore, and other regions.

Continuing a long tradition, the U.S. Department of State publishes a periodic digest explaining the views and practices of the U.S. in public and private international law. Part II of FILR contains classic early digests edited by Francis Wharton (1887), John Bassett Moore (1906), Green Hackworth (1940-1944) and Marjorie Whiteman (1963-1973).

Part III of FILR publishes opinions of the Hague Permanent Court of International Justice and Reports of International Arbitral Awards. Finally, Part IV contains other selected works on arbitration, conferences, and proceedings.

Users may browse the table of contents, or search full-text by word and phrase. The advanced search function allows Boolean operators and limitation by date or publication. Documents retrieved are PDF versions identical to the original.

Watch for future releases including classics by Hugo Grotius, Immanuel Kant, and others plus additional yearbooks and periodicals. Feel free to ask a reference librarian for help if needed.

Free McAfee virus protection is available for PCs and Macs.

Be sure to restart lab computers after each use.

Use a USB drive, CD, or email to backup documents saved to library lab or public computers as your information will be gone after the computers restart.

There will be no library lab print charges for Fall 2007.

If you need wireless setup assistance for your Mac or PC or have any other computer/technology questions – contact Grace Simms via e-mail at glsimms@samford.edu or you can reach her by phone at 726-2687.