Complaints about the Law Library's schedule over the Martin Luther King holiday were vociferous and sometimes vitriolic. Last summer when we planned the library schedule for the academic year, we were trying to find ways to conserve funds when shortened hours would not be disruptive, so that we could afford to expand hours at more critical times like final exam periods. Since the Martin Luther King holiday fell so early in the semester, we thought it unlikely that students would have pressing research needs at that time. We were wrong. Please accept our apologies and our assurances that we will try never to make the same mistake twice.
The winning name for the on-line catalog is GAVEL (Georgia's Visual Electronic Law). The winning entry was submitted by a recent graduate Marc Leftoff. Wylencia Hood and Kevin Wilson were the first runners up in the Name the On-Line Catalog contest. They also submitted the name GAVEL, but used different words for the acronym. Congrats to all! Thanks to all who participated in our contest.
I hope you all had a chance to check out some of the suggested names for the on-line catalog posted in the display case. Some of our favorite entries were: DELLA (Distinguished and Excellent Law Library Athens, as in Perry Mason), SCATALOGICAL (State Catalog is Computerized at Last), and COLSLAW (Catalog On-Line System for Law). We don't have room to list all the variations on the word DAWG.
We haven't forgotten about the copiers! The Law Library Director has prepared a proposal for contracting out the entire copy room operation. That proposal is at UGA Procurement and should be put out for bids very soon. If there are no qualified bidders, we will explore other options including the purchase of new machines.
David Deriso is our new Computer Services Assistant. David is available to answer your questions in the computer lab in the Annex. He can help you with word-processing, CONTAC/e-mail or virus cleaning. He is available at the following times:
SUNDAY 3:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
MONDAY 3:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
WEDNESDAY 3:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
THURSDAY 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
If you think you have a virus on your home PC, you may wish to copy the library's McAfee virus protection software. Bring a diskette to the lab during Computer Services Assistant David Deriso's posted hours and he will help you copy the software. He can also tell you how to install the software on your home PC.
As you know, all law students can sign up for electronic mail accounts by filling out a form at the Circulation Desk. Now that you have your e-mail or CONTAC account, come and find out what you can do with it! You can communicate with others who have e-mail accounts, both within the Law School and at other institutions around the world. You can join discussion groups. You, too, can surf the Net.
Sign up for Internet classes in the Computer Lab in the Law Library Annex. Classes will be held in the Lab. You must have an active CONTAC account before you can attend these classes. It will take several days from the time you turn in your form for your CONTAC account to be activated. Please plan accordingly. The schedule for classes is as follows:
Tuesday, February 14 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, February 15 2:30 p.m. Thursday, February 16 9:30 p.m. Monday, February 20 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 22 9:30 a.m.
Were you wondering whether the Legal Literature and Legal Biography sections survived the move? Fortunately, they did. Although a little smaller than they were originally, these sections can now be found in front of the Reserve area. Law School and reading for fun seem to be a conflict of terms, but we have a way out: fun reading that is law-related. Everyone needs to take a "mental health" afternoon. Take a break and enjoy the following recommended books from the Legal Literature section!
UNDUE INFLUENCE: The epic battle for the Johnson & Johnson Fortune (KF 749 .J64 .M37 1993) by David Margolick
Here is trash at its finest, the Johnson family in all their glory. None of the characters is particularly lovable; it's hard to feel sorry for the "children" whose funds were valued in the hundreds of millions at the time of their father's death. Nor do you feel compelled to support the rags-to-riches shrewish wife who sent many fleeing in tears. On the other hand, almost like watching an accident, you become morbidly fascinated by this drama. The dollar amounts, the personalities, the entire story is a soap opera. And yet, it is all true. If you have a weekend, disappear into this tale of greed. If you have aspirations of being a trusts and estates attorney, this is a must-read cautionary tale. For those of you taking the Bar, this is an exceptionally good post-Bar relaxer.
MY BROTHER'S KEEPER (KF224 .S5 .S43) by Dr. Stephen Sheppard
A brutal murder of the young wife of a prominent doctor begins decades of legal ramifications. Written by the doctor's brother, this book chronicles the family's experiences through the ten years following the murder. The family watched in horror as Dr. Sam Sheppard was accused, tried and convicted of the murder of his wife. The reader's hopes are raised with each appeal and dashed with each failure. Above all the reader is struck by what appears to be an incredible injustice. Of particular interest to today's law student is the part the press played in Dr. Sheppard's conviction. If ever there was any doubt of the power of the press, this book should erase all that linger. This seems particularly timely in light of Court-TV and the controversy surrounding the O.J. Simpson trial. Although the book was finished before Dr. Sheppard's case had reached its conclusion, it is possible for the reader to discover the end of this tragic story. For the United States Supreme Court's opinion on the Sheppard case, see 384 U.S. 333.
Was Chicken Little right? We hope not, but we have been having some problems with the ceiling in the Annex. We have roofers working on the problem. (This would explain the wonderful tar smell you encounter when you go over the Bridge.) In the meantime, though, we would like to ask you not to sit at the far end of the building near the Microform Reader-Printer. We are working to correct the problem as quickly as we can. Projected finish date is February 20.