Friday 30 September 2011

Follow a Library Day - 1 October 2011

Today I learnt that tomorrow (1 October 2011)  is Follow a Library Day on Twitter.

The Follow a Library initiative encourages as many people as possible to tweet about their favourite library (and presumably also to follow this library) in order to generate an "enormous amount of positive attention to this great industry".*

On Follow a Library Day you are encouraged tweet your favourite book followed by the hashtags #followalibrary and #myfavouritebook

* http://followalibrary.blogspot.com/

http://www.twitter.com/followalibrary

Thursday 29 September 2011

FTSE 350 Constituent Companies - Current and Historical Lists

Today I learnt where to find current and historical lists of FTSE 350 constituent companies.

First I tried the London Stock Exchange website and the Financial Times. Both have good data but not exactly what I needed today. The FTSE itself provides a current list, but for historical data you need to contact the sales team. That was no good, as I didn't want to incur a large cost.

So then I looked at BIALL's How Do I? Wiki which had an entry on the exact same thing I needed, called "FTSE indices - lists of constituent companies". From this I learnt that there is a quarterly publication called Company Guide (from Charterhouse Communications) which includes FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 companies. Hurray!

Finally I contacted City Business Library, which holds the last 3 years of Company Guide, and I was kindly informed that their neighbour, the Guildhall Library, holds even longer runs that you can photocopy from. Job done. Whether or not my enquirer will make the trip up to Guildhall is another matter...

LSE's Historical Statistics:
http://www.londonstockexchange.com/statistics/historic/historic.htm

FT's Market Data Archive:
http://markets.ft.com/research/Markets/Data-Archive
FTSE's Current Constituents:

BIALL's How Do I? Wiki. Page on FTSE Indices:
http://biallpr.pbworks.com/w/page/5259177/FTSE%20indices%20-%20lists%20of%20constituent%20companies

City of London Libraries:
http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Leisure_and_culture/Libraries/City_of_London_libraries/

Wednesday 28 September 2011

Kate Follen's 50 States in 50 Weeks US Legislation Challenge

Today I learnt about Kate Follen's US State legislation project.

Kate Follen, President of Monroe Information Services, has set herself the challenge of creating links to legislation for all 50 US states in just 50 weeks. Week by week she will provide the links in her blog:
http://monroeinfoblog.typepad.com/my_weblog/

There's a link to this on the US Legislation page of BIALL's excellent How Do I? Wiki:
http://biallpr.pbworks.com/w/page/5259246/US%20legislation

This nugget comes from the latest BIALL newsletter:
http://www.biall.org.uk/data/files/Publications/Newsletter/11_09_Newsletter.pdf

Tuesday 27 September 2011

Country Research - FCO Country Profiles

Today I learnt that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) produces country profiles, which could be used as an alternative to the CIA's World Factbook.
Compiled by "knowledgeable experts" (sounds good so far) the FCO's country profiles include an overview (giving key facts like population, area, currency, etc) and sections on the economy, history, international relations, geography, trade & investment and politics.
There's also a link to the FCO's "travel advice" pages for each country.

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/country-profile/

Friday 23 September 2011

FLARE Index to Treaties Extended

Today I learnt that the FLARE Index to Treaties has been extended.

The FLARE index to treaties has been extended to cover a third more treaties and conventions than it did at its launch in March 2009.

The database now contains “2,000 of the most significant multilateral treaties concluded from 1353 onwards and a number of significant bilateral treaties signed between 1353 and 1815”.* It is fully searchable and indexed.

Access FLARE on the IALS website:


Read more about the extension project on LLRX.com:

Thursday 22 September 2011

EDGAR Forms and Filings Guide

Today I learnt how to navigate the complex labyrinth of EDGAR forms.

The SEC publishes an forms index on its website so you can check to see what on Earth the difference is between a form S-8 and S-8 POS:

http://www.sec.gov/info/edgar/forms/edgform.pdf

Further information guides are given on the Filings and Forms page of the SEC website:

http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml

Wednesday 21 September 2011

IWR Information Professional of the Year - Time to Nominate

Today I learnt that nominations have opened for the IWR Information Professional of the Year 2011. The winner will be announced at the Online Information Conference 2011, which will be held in London in November.

According to the IWR website, the award "recognises an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession in the last 12 months".

Previous winners include Dave Pattern, library systems manager at the University of Huddersfield, and Dr Hazel Hall, director of the Centre for Social Informatics at Edinburgh Napier University and executive secretary of the Library and Information Science Coalition.

http://www.iwr.co.uk/professional-and-library/3011105/Search-starts-for-Info-Pro-of-the-Year

Monday 19 September 2011

CLA's Title Search Beta Tool

Today I learnt that the Copyright Licensing Agency has launched a Title Search Beta Tool on its website, so you can more easily check to see what is covered by your licence:

http://www.cla.co.uk/licences/titlesearch

Send your feedback on the beta tool to PR@cla.co.uk

Friday 16 September 2011

National Libraries Day

Today I learnt that about National Libraries Day.

CILIP has posted on its website that next year National Libraries Day is on 4 February 2012 and describes it as a "nation-wide celebration of libraries, librarians and library staff in all sectors". Is it wrong to admit I have never heard of it?

A range of events and activities in libraries will be advertised nearer the time, and a membership campaign will lead up to the day.

http://www.cilip.org.uk/news-media/Pages/news110909.aspx

Thursday 15 September 2011

Private Members' Bills

Today I learnt that only a minority of Private Members’ Bills become law because little time is allocated to them.

Private Members’ Bills are Public Bills introduced by MPs and Lords who aren not government ministers. They follow the same stages through Parliament as other Public Bills but because less time is allocated to them they are less likely to go through all stages.

There are three ways to introduce a Private Members' Bills in the House of Commons:

The Ballot
Ballot Bills have the best chance of becoming law, as they normally get a day of debate each. The names of Members applying for a Bill are drawn from a ballot at the beginning of the parliamentary year.

Ten Minute Rule
Members make 10 minute speeches outlining their proposal. Ten Minute Rule Bills are “are often an opportunity for Members to voice an opinion on a subject or aspect of existing legislation, rather than a serious attempt to get a Bill passed”.*

Presentation
Members “formally introduce a title of the Bill but do not speak in support of it”.*

All of this information is taken from the Parliament website:

Tuesday 13 September 2011

Inner Temple Library's Guide to Sourcing Transcripts of Judicial Proceedings

Today I learnt how to get hold of transcripts of court proceedings in England and Wales.

The Inner Temple Library produces an extremely useful guide called Transcripts of Judicial Proceedings in England and Wales: A Guide to Sources.

For each court it tells you the name of the library or court reporter that can provide transcripts, as well as the charges involved, formats available, opening hours etc. I just found out today that it has recently been updated to 2011. I haven’t seen the new version yet, but I can’t emphasize enough how useful the old one is! You can buy it from the Inner Temple Library website:


http://www.innertemplelibrary.org.uk/Transcripts/TranscriptsGuide.htm

Monday 12 September 2011

"Cliff's Law" - Copyright of Music Recordings Extended to 70 Years

Today I learnt about "Cliff's Law".

The EU has today adopted a directive to extend the copyright on music recordings from 50 to 70 years after the death of the performer. The legislation is nicknamed "Cliff's Law" after Cliff Richard, who campaigned hard for the extension. The Directive is expected to be implemented by Member States in 2014. According to the Guardian website, 8 EU Member States voted against the legislation, namely Belgium, Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden.

Article from the Guardian:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/sep/12/musicians-copyright-extension?INTCMP=SRCH

Link to the Directive on the European Commission website:
http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/copyright/term-protection/term-protection_en.htm

Friday 9 September 2011

WI's Love Your Libraries Campaign and Petition In Support of Public Libraries

Today I learnt that the Women's Institute has launched a Love Your Libraries campaign, which includes a petition in support of public libraries.

The WI invites its members to:
  • carry their library card with pride
  • join the national day of action for libraries
  • embroider their favourite literary quotation
  • tell the government why they love libraries
  • write to their councillors
  • sign the petition in support of public libraries
Of course you don't have to be a WI member to do any of these suggested activities! Sign the E-Petition here:
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/1269

Further information about the campaign is available on the WI website:
http://www.thewi.org.uk/standard.aspx?id=24427

Thursday 8 September 2011

Law Commission Publications Available on BAILII and TSO websites

Today I learnt how to get hold of Law Commission Publications.

Pre-1996 publications are not available on the Law Commission website. You can either get them from the Law Commission's very own page on BAILII (from 1965 onwards) or from the TSO Official Documents website (from 2005 onwards).

http://www.bailii.org/ew/other/EWLC/

http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/
If you still can't find what you need you can contact the Law Commission and they'll email the files to you.

http://www.justice.gov.uk/lawcommission/publications.htm

Wednesday 7 September 2011

New Cross People's Library

Today I learnt about New Cross People's Library. New Cross is a deprived area of South East London with high levels of illiteracy - exactly the kind of area that needs a decent public library. On 28th May, despite the protests and campaigns organized by local residents, Lewisham Council closed New Cross public library, making it another victim of budget cuts.

Volunteers, working with community group Bold Vision, have re-opened the library and renamed it New Cross People's Library, after winning a six week temporary licence from Lewisham Council. After the six week tenancy, it is hoped that Lewisham Council will grant the library a tenancy at will for a further nine months, and with any luck the library can remain open permanently.

The library styles itself as a "a community run library, writing, arts, and IT centre". It currently opens on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with librarians present to issue books. As well as book loans, the library has organized a wide range of events, including Manga drawing classes, activities for the under 5s, a knitting club and book making workshops. The library calls on local residents to get involved to help shape the programme of activities they would like to see available in their local, community run library.

Donations of books and periodicals are welcome, and a fundraising campaign is under way. You can make donations by PayPal on the New Cross People's Library website.

About New Cross People's Library:
http://nxpl.org.uk/

What's On:
http://nxpl.org.uk/whats-on/

Get Involved:
http://nxpl.org.uk/volunteer/

Bold Vision:
http://www.boldvision.org.uk/

Tuesday 6 September 2011

Index of Legal Terms on Westlaw UK

Today I learnt there's a "new way to start your legal research" on Westlaw UK. Westlaw has launched an Index of Legal Terms, that provides the full text of the following legal dictionaries:
  • Jowitt's Dictionary of English Law
  • Stoud's Judicial Dictionary of Words and Phrases
  • Osborn's Concise Law Dictionary
This is in addition to the Statutory Definition search on the legislation tab, launched a couple of months ago, that allows you - no surprises here! - to search for statutory definitions in UK legislation.

http://westlaw.co.uk/books/index_of_legal_terms.shtm

Monday 5 September 2011

Tracking the Passage of Bills Through Parliament

Today I learnt that the UK Parliament website publishes guides explaining the passage of Bills through Parliament. There are two guides; one for Bills starting in the House of Commons and one for Bills starting in the House of Lords. Each stage of the process is described, from First Reading to Royal Assent:

http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/laws/passage-bill/

Friday 2 September 2011

Daily Prayers in the Houses of Parliament

Today I learnt that sittings in both Houses begin with daily prayers. The prayers follow the Christian faith, and attendance is voluntary. In the Commons the Speaker's Chaplain reads the prayers and in the Lords it's a senior Bishop (Lord Spiritual). The practice is thought to have started in 1558. According to the UK Parliament website:
MPs and Peers stand for prayers facing the wall behind them. It is thought this practice developed due to the difficulty Members would historically have faced of kneeling to pray while wearing a sword.
http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/business/prayers/

Thursday 1 September 2011

Authoritative Legal Dictionaries for English Law

Today I learnt which are the most authoritative legal dictionaries for English law. I was asked whether Black's Law Dictionary was the best resource for English law, so I got it off the shelf to take a look. A quick flick established that it was published in the US, but it wasn't clear whether it covered US law, English law or both. I could see no explanation of which jurisdictions were covered in the book itself or on the publisher's website. Needing to confirm coverage from a reputable source, I once again turned to IALS' online Research Guides (by jurisdiction) which told me that Black's is indeed American, so should be used with caution. So for English law I think I'll stick to Stroud's, Jowett's and Words and Phrases Legally Defined:

http://ials.sas.ac.uk/library/guides/research/res_uk.htm#dictionaries

http://www.blackslawdictionary.com/