Welcome

Welcome to the Ruth Lilly Law Library.  We hope you will find the Library to be a comfortable setting for legal research and study. All staff members work very hard to provide you with excellent library support and services. We want to make your law school experience as rewarding as possible and are always happy to help you with your legal research needs and to provide assistance in accessing and using materials and information.  When you are learning how to conduct legal research, we expect to see you at the Reference Desk often. Please remember that librarians don’t think there is any such thing as a stupid question, unless it is the question you didn’t ask.

For detailed information about hours, policies, location of materials, electronic database services, etc., please see the Law Library web page at http://indylaw.indiana.edu/library/library.htm.  Please note that in response to student requests we are now opening at 10 a.m. on Sunday instead of at noon.

To help us better meet your needs, we encourage your comments and suggestions. If you have any problems with Library services or have suggestions for improvement, I am always happy to speak with you either in my office in the library, by phone at 274-3411, or via e-mail at juanspac@iupui.edu.

The Library staff has been very busy this summer preparing the Library for your use, and we encourage you to utilize our resources and our services. We wish you a happy and successful year.

Judith Anspach   

Law Library Key Accomplishments 2008 - 2009

During the period July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009, the Law Library successfully delivered a sophisticated range of library and information services to students, faculty, and other community members with a focus on providing a welcoming and customer friendly environment.

 The Library was open 105 hours per week during the regular academic schedule with extended hours provided during final exam periods.  The Library gate count recorded 277,703 visits since the beginning of the fiscal year. 

Library personnel supported individual research by faculty, students, and others by providing reference service 73 hours per week during the regular academic schedule.   Librarians answered 6,746 reference and directional questions -- an increase of 30% over last fiscal year.

The Library added 1,603 print titles, 22,430 electronic titles, 248 microform titles, and 44 titles in other formats to its collection.  To make sure that students and faculty had access to additional resources that they needed, the Library made 1,962 requests for books and articles from other libraries on behalf of faculty and students.  The Library handled 1,310 requests for materials from other libraries.

Librarians taught the legal research component for Legal Analysis, Research, and Communication I and II in eleven sections of first year students in the day program and another six sections in the evening program.  They also taught the legal research component to eight sections of LARC III students.   A section of Legal Research for LLMs was also taught both on-campus and online to the Egyptian students.  Additionally, librarians offered an Advanced Legal Research class of two sections in the Fall and Spring and one section in the summer.  

This year the Law Library will continue to focus on providing excellent service in a welcoming and friendly environment.  To help us better meet your needs, we encourage your comments and suggestions.

Library Hours - Fall 2009

A 21st Century Library

Did you know that you can read some of the library’s books and not even have to go to the shelf to get them?  Or that you can read a law review article without leaving the comfort of your own home?  One of the great things about the 21st century library is that you don’t have to come to the building to use it!  A growing number of the library’s research materials are available 24/7 through both the Ruth Lilly Law Library’s website and IUCAT, the Indiana University online catalog.

 Need to read a law review article?  One of the largest digital collections of law review articles is HeinOnline, which has almost 1300 journals and law reviews.  If you are looking for particular journal you can access HeinOnline directly from the Law Library’s website, or type the name of the journal into IUCAT.  Both ways will give you a link that will take you right to the title, where you can then find the volume that contains the article you are looking for.

Want to read a book?  The Law Library has a subscription to Oxford Scholarship Online, which includes about 150 recent treatises on a variety of legal topics.  If you are looking for legal history material, the Making of Modern Law collection would be a good choice; it has almost 23,000 online books.  As with online law reviews, you can go directly to Oxford Scholarship Online or Making of Modern Law on the Law Library’s website, or find a book from either of these collections in IUCAT by typing in an author’s name, title, or keyword.
Even more specialized research tools are available in multiple ways.  The Law Library has subscriptions to a number of BNA and CCH databases that contain online versions of reporters and loose-leaf sets on subjects like business, health and tax law.  Once again, you can find these items right from the Law Library’s website or search for the title in IUCAT to take you to the material.

Even more specialized research tools are available in multiple ways.  The Law Library has subscriptions to a number of BNA and CCH databases that contain online versions of reporters and loose-leaf sets on subjects like business, health and tax law.  Once again, you can find these items right from the Law Library’s website or search for the title in IUCAT to take you to the material.

Need to know the meaning of a word used in the holding of a U.S. Supreme Court decision at 2:00 a.m?  Need to find another way to say collaborative in the cover letter you are writing in the coffee shop?  Need a quick statistic, a clever quote about character, or an encyclopedia explanation?

A plethora of research resources available via the University Library’s Online Reference Shelf, gives new meaning to the library term “ready reference” –  http://www.ulib.iupui.edu/genref.  At your fingertips, find, for example:  dictionaries; thesauri; country and state profiles; U.S. and world statistics; poetry, quotes and speeches; and encyclopedias, almanacs and factbooks.  Explore the Reference Shelf for access to accurate, authoritative, objective, and up-to-date information when(ever) you need it. 

What do you need to do to access these materials from off-campus?  When you select the resource you want to use, you will be presented with an authentication page requiring you to input your IU ID and password.  Another method of authentication is logging in through a VPN (Virtual Private Network).  Logging in through a VPN allows your computer to be recognized as if you were on campus and can save you from having to login every time you access campus online resources.   For more information on using VPN, see http://kb.iu.edu/data/aygt.html.

The Law Library still has print copies of most of these resources available to you on the shelves, but hopefully you have seen that there are often several ways to get the research materials you need.  In the 21st century library, you now have more choices than ever!

Tips and Tricks for Finding Books

When you need to find Books (Texts, Treatises, Monographs) in the Law Library, always check IUCAT first.  You can find the IUCAT link on the Law Library’s webpage or go directly to it by typing http://www.iucat.iu.edu/ into your browser search screen.  Once you reach this website, you should log in with your user name and password.  You may choose to access the “Guest” login option, but doing so will not allow full access to all IUCAT services, like your personal account, electronic books, and request delivery.   If you would like a one-on-one demonstration of using IUCAT, stop by the Reference Desk or contact one of the Reference Librarians for assistance.  We’re always here to help!

 You can search for books by Author, Title, or Keyword (or any combination of these), in each of the search entry lines on the IUCAT screen.  The search option you use will be determined by what information you have available.  Always enter as much information as you know, since this will help you retrieve quicker and more accurate results.  For example, if you know the exact title of a book (or any key words within the title), you can type that information in the title entry line.  If you aren’t sure of the exact title, then choose the keyword option and enter key words you think will achieve the best results.  Adding the author’s name, if you know it, will help to assure that you find the correct book.   A copy of IUCAT Library Help Topics can be found at this link: http://www.indiana.edu/~libopac/iucathelp/iucat_help.html. 

 If you want to know if our library owns a book, choose the Indpls-Ruth Lilly Law Library (I-Law) option in the “Library” field.  You can also search only the law libraries (I-Law & Bloomington), by scrolling to the top of the libraries list and choosing the “Law Libraries” option.  To make searching more comprehensive, you can always choose the “All” option, under “Library.”  This search will check all the IU libraries at once (the entire catalog).  Of course, if you want to know if any particular library owns the item, you can choose that specific library.  If you find the book you want in another IU Library, you can use “Request Delivery” to have it delivered to the Law Library.

If the title you are searching for does not appear in any IUCAT library, be sure to choose the “Continue Search” option, in either Google Books or WorldCat.  These options will find the item in any library where it has been catalogued.  You may then request the item through Inter Library Loan (ILL), using the ILLiad system (http://ill.ulib.iupui.edu/ILLiad/ILI/logon.html).   ILL’s requested from libraries outside the IU system may take a little longer, depending on the library’s location and their delivery schedule.  Always request items as early as possible in order to assure that they arrive before you need them.   Make sure to provide as much information as you have so that you will receive exactly the item needed.

Most of all, if you ever have any kind of problem finding the library resources you need, please be sure to ask a Reference Librarian for assistance.  We are here to help you get the materials you need for your research and to answer any other library related questions.

Spotlight on the Oxford Reports on International Law Online

Oxford Reports on International Law Online (http://www.oxfordlawreports.com) is a new online resource for international law research.  It brings together decisions on public international law from international courts and tribunals, domestic courts, and ad hoc tribunals. The full scope of international case law is available in one place, accompanied by expert analysis and good navigation tools.  It is published by an excellent and longstanding publisher, Oxford University Press.    

Five Categories of International Law Decisions

This resource groups international law decisions into five major categories (international courts, criminal law, human rights, domestic courts, and investment claims).  It has features like headnotes, case summaries, citators, search engines, subject search outlines, navigation tools, and delivery options.  Oxford Reports on International Law Online also has a current awareness page.   
  

Oxford Reports on International Law Online covers international law as applied in the domestic courts of 70 jurisdictions.  It has over 400 domestic cases since the year 2000.  It currently reports on countries from every continent in the world and continues to add new reporters and new jurisdictions.  It also translates key parts of all non-English decisions in the domestic module.

Translations of non-English Decisions

For decisions given in languages other than English, Oxford University Press (OUP) publishes any available official English-language translation at the same time as the full case report.  For non-English judgments where an official translation is not available, OUP will commission a translation of key paragraphs.  Therefore, the case report is published in advance of the available translation. The translations go through a thorough checking process, during which native speakers of the language review the work of the translator.  The reporter responsible for the case report is also given the opportunity to review the translation to ensure that they agree with the substance of the translation and none of the legal nuances of the original language decision are lost.  The case will then reappear on the “Newly reported and updated decisions” section (http://www.oxfordlawreports.com/home) of the home page with a note indicating that a translation is now available.

Added Commentaries and Search Capabilities

Commentaries are added to each case on Oxford Reports on International Law.  Although editors add commentary, it is not as voluminous as some of the treatise-level analysis that many are accustomed to when reading Anglo-American law treatises.  Rather, the commentary looks much like footnote commentary, which can be very useful to the direct meaning of the case.  OUP plans to add more scholarly commentary to the online publication in the future.  

A new edition the Max Planck Encyclopedia for Public International Law (MPEPIL) (http://www.mpepil.com) is cross-searchable and includes nearly 600 of an eventual 1,700 new articles will be available in print in 2011.  Upon its completion, the MPEPIL will be an updated, comprehensive work covering the central and essential topics in international law.  

The Oxford Reports on International Law includes the following features: a headnote, a summary of facts and judicial holding, a full-text of the opinion of the court (English translation if needed), a commentary from scholars, and key passages of non-English decisions.  All reported decisions are linked to the Oxford Law Citator.  

You can search the whole database with the Quick Search, Advanced Search, or Subject Search.  Alternatively, you can view reports by discrete subject area, date, or module by using a box on the left-hand side of the computer screen or with the links on the navigation bar.  OUP offers a PDF option for its International Reports.

Current Focus and Future Plans

OUP has focused on providing relevant cases from the year 2000 to the present for each jurisdiction.  It is working back to add decisions from earlier years.  Oxford Reports on International Law covers caselaw not only from nation states, but from certain territorial entities that are not generally classified as nation states.  This is done because judicial decisions of such territorial entities can be of interest to international lawyers, as recognized by the International Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights.  Some case law has been found as far back as 1900 in this database by one of our librarians.

The Oxford Reports on International Law is very current and provides good analysis.  It also has excellent navigation tools and a good Citator.  It is available from the list of our Law Library’s Electronic Resources, http://indylaw.indiana.edu/library/dataunannotated.htm or from Oxford University Press, at http://www.oxfordlawreports.com/.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q.  Are there any materials in the Law Library that can help me in my Law School classes?

A.  Hornbooks and nutshells can be useful supplements to your course textbooks.

Hornbooks are subject specific legal texts generally written by professors for students.  They provide explanation and clarification of  an area of law and reference  the leading cases for that area.  There are sometimes hornbooks that are keyed to a particular casebook.

Nutshells are concise paperback volumes written for law students that give an overview of an area of law.  Nutshells do not give detailed explanation or case references.

To find nutshells and hornbooks,  try searching IUCat using the keywords nutshell  or hornbook  and  your subject.  Example: nutshell and torts.  The Library also has a number of hornbooks and nutshells on Reserve.   Click here for a list of selected hornbooks and nutshells on reserve.   

Q.  How can I find a municipal codes?

A.  The Law Library has the Revised Code of the Consolidated City and County, Indianapolis, Marion County on reserve. 

 A few municipal codes are available on Lexis and Westlaw.  Look under the Municipal Government topic in Lexis (you can add this as a tab if you are doing a lot of research in this area), or Municipal Law in Westlaw (there is a Municipal Practitioner tab in Westlaw that you can add).  

There is not one master website containing charters, ordinances, or codes but many code publishers make their codes available online for free.  If you do not find your particular code through one site, be sure and search the additional publisher websites.   You can find links to code publishers here: http://delicious.com/indylawlib/ordincances.

Librarian and Staff News

Several of the law librarians on the Ruth Lilly Law Library staff have made significant contributions to the profession or attended conferences.  Below is a summary of contributions made by several of them, or attendance at meetings:

Judith Ford Anspach, Professor of Law and Director, was recently elected to the Executive Board of the Society of American Law Library Directors, an organization that represents the interests of academic law libraries.  She recently gave a presentation “Law Firm Libraries in the 21st Century” to the Indiana Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators.

Susan Boland, Head of Information Services, attended the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association of Law Libraries in Washington, D.C., held July 26-29.  She also authored an article for the MidAmerica Association of Law Libraries' newsletter, Beyond PowerPoint, MAALL Markings, Apr. 2009, at 5, http://www.aallnet.org/chapter/Maall/April2009a.pdf.

Debra Denslaw, Reference Librarian and Circulation Supervisor, attended the Institute for Law Teaching & Learning Summer Conference, “Implementing Best Practices and Educating Lawyers:  Teaching Skills and Professionalism across the Curriculum” in Spokane, Washington.  The program featured practical advice and tips for active learning instruction methodologies which are being implemented in the Legal Analysis Research and Communication classes this fall.

Kiyoshi Otsu, Automated Services and Media Librarian, attended the Microsoft: Configuring, Managing and Maintaining Windows Server 2008 Workshop in July at IUPUI.

Chris Long, Catalog Librarian, attended the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association of Law Libraries in Washington, D.C., held July 26-29.  At the end of this conference, Chris Long assumed the duties of Chair of the Technical Services Special Interest Section of the Association for the coming year.

Steve Miller, Reference Librarian, wrote two articles, “Beyond the Walls of the United Nations: Exploring U.N. Databases at AALL,” The ALL-SIS Newsletter, 29(1): 10-14, Fall 2009, available at http://www.aallnet.org/sis/allsis/newsletter/29_1/UNDatabases.htm, and  “Library Internship Opportunities at Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis,” The ALL-SIS Newsletter, 28(3): 21-27, Summer 2009, available at http://www.aallnet.org/sis/allsis/newsletter/28_3/IndianaInterns.htm.   He also attended the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association of Law Libraries in Washington, D.C., held July 26-29.

Miriam Murphy, Associate Director, attended the Institute for Law Teaching & Learning Summer Conference, “Implementing Best Practices and Educating Lawyers:  Teaching Skills and Professionalism across the Curriculum” in Spokane, Washington.  The program featured practical advice and tips for active learning instruction methodologies which are being implemented in the Legal Analysis Research and Communication classes this fall.

Ruth Lilly Law Library
 Lawrence W. Inlow Hall
 530 West New York Street
 Indianapolis, Indiana  46202-3325
Reference Desk - (317) 274-4026
Circulation Desk - (317) 274-4028

Hours are posted on the website and in the library.

Library hours - http://indylaw.indiana.edu/library/hours.htm
Reference hours - http://indylaw.indiana.edu/library/libservices.htm#RefHours