I was going to post something about the comparative funding levels between the House and Senate versions of the stimulus legislation, but have just learned that ProPublica has already done so on their blog. Congratulations to ProPublica for a really good posting.
Here is the link. http://www.propublica.org/special/the-stimulus-bills-house-vs.-senate
The following are links to issues of American Libraries Direct, the e-newsletter of the American Library Association from December 23, 2008 through February 4, 2009, including a special issue devoted to the “tough economy”. Each link will take you to a particular newsletter issue as noted below:
http://link.ixs1.net/s/ve?eli=m292611&si=u98437424&cfc=3html December 23, 2008
http://link.ixs1.net/s/ve?eli=m292611&si=u98437424&cfc=3html December 24, 2008
Rob Richards an in independent law librarian and legal information consultant based in Philadelphia has pub together a Website listing resources useful in creating metadata for digital legal materials . According to Mr. Richards, “the site is intended for use by researchers studying legal information systems and by librarians building digital libraries of legal materials…” As he explains: “…I wasn’t able to find a pathfinder for people new to the study of legal information systems…, so I wrote my own, and then put it on a Website in hopes that it might be helpful to others. Suggestions and comments are welcome.” He can be contacted at richards1000@comcast.net
Here are the links to his site:
http://home.comcast.net/~richards1000/LegalInformationSystemsBibliography.htm#METADATA, and links to legal scholarly respositories, http://home.comcast.net/~richards1000/LegalInformationSystemsBibliography.htm#INSTITUTIONALREPOSITORIES (listing only stand-alone repositories of legal materials),
This posting links to a summary of the highlights of proposed stimulus legislation. including the Nelson-Collins Amendment and other floor amendments as of February 6, 2009. It is not a complete listing of all programs and spending included in the proposed legislation, but it provides a good overview for those who need access to this information now.To see this document click on the link below. The Nelson-Collins Amendment as of now now (morning of 2-9-2009) appears to be the working Senate version of the proposed economic stimulus legislation.
FROM: News from the [New York] State Archives, Region 1, No. 1-2/2009.
Preserving the American Historical Record Act (PAHR): The Act will authorize grants to support the essential evidence of American government and society held by state and local governments, historical societies, and libraries.
Status: On May 15, 2008, the Preserving the American Historical Record Act (H>R> 6056) was introduced in the 110th Congress. Original co-sponsors were Representatives Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) and Chris Cannon (R-UT). This legislation would provide authorization for the Preserving the American Historical Record program to preserve essential documents and archival records held in state and local governments and historical institutions….
Top Ten Stories of the Week February 6, 2009
Law Firms McDermott Lays Off 60 Lawyers and 89 Staff Members Feb 3, 2009, 12:13 pm CST
Recent news and developments regarding investors and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ( SEC ) as related to the Madoff ponzi scheme:
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has posted information for Madoff investors at:
A Report of the New York State Commission on Sentencing Reform, dated January 30, 2009 and released on February 3, 2009.
The Report, Future of Sentencing in New York State, calls for reforms to New York Stae drug laws; determinate sentencing, graduated and sanctions for parole violators are among the other recommendations offered.It provides the Governor, Legislature and Judiciary with several different options for historic reform.The State Commission on Sentencing Reform is a bi-partisan panel that has spent nearly two years studying New York States sentencing statutes before releasing this Report
Also see the Press Release announcing release of thr Report and New York State Executive Order Number 10 (March 5, 2007) under which the Commission was created:
Sometimes it seems as though Google has become ubiquitous in the world of searching and may want to repeat its act in the world of books. While thinking about this, two articles, one forthcoming and one published Febrary 1 have come to our attention>
The forthoming article Google and the Future of Books* by Robert Darnton, Director of the Library and Carl H. Pforzheimer University Professor of Harvard has much to say on the subject and should be required reading for all who are concerned about these developments. He writes:
“How can we navigate through the information landscape that is only beginning to come into view? The question is more urgent than ever following the recent settlement between Google and the authors and publishers who were suing it for alleged breach of copyright…”
New York Times article by Jonathan Glater, published January 30, 2009.
“Lawyers are having trouble defending the most basic yardstick of the legal profession – the billable hour…”
See article at:
Criminal Law Library Blog