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

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

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/

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

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/

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/

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/