Research Tips: GLBT Literature, Election Day Survey, New Offerings of Electronic Journals
Scroll down to learn about a GLBT literature index, use of "metadata" in electronic documents, the legacy of the Nuremberg trials, and more. For more information about other legal research topics, please visit the Library's blog.
GLBT Database
The Ohio State University Libraries and the Moritz Law Library have recently acquired access to the GLBT Life database. GLBT Life is an index to the world's literature regarding gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues. Many of the articles are available in full-text from the database. GLBT Life provides comprehensive coverage of traditional academic, lifestyle, and regional publications, including The Advocate, Lesbian News, Washington Blade, Bay Area Reporter, etc. GLBT Life also indexes & abstracts the full run of many historically significant titles such as ONE (1953 - 1967), The Ladder (1956 - 1972), Mattachine Review (1955 - 1964), Christopher Street (1976 - 1995) and Body Politic (1971 - 1987). In addition, other source-types such as monographs and reference books as well as grey literature, including newsletters, case studies, speeches, etc. are represented. On campus, the database can be accessed here. The database can be accessed away from the College here, using the "Off-campus sign-in."
U.S. Election Assistance Commission Survey
From the Commission's website:
This is a report by Election Data Services, Inc. of the Election Day Survey for November 2, 2004, administered by the United States Election Assistance Commission (EAC) as mandated by the Help America Vote Act of 2002. The Election Day Survey represents the largest and most comprehensive survey of voting and election administration practices ever conducted by a U.S. government organization. Questions on the Election Day Survey covered voting statistics on voter registration; total ballots cast by mode of voting; specific statistics on absentee and provisional voting; votes for federal offices; the number overvotes and undervotes cast for each federal office; and the number of precinct, polling places, and poll workers. Questions covered election administration of voting equipment, reported equipment failures, disability accesses to polling places, and sufficient number of poll workers.
The full report and additional information can be viewed here.
Institute for the Study of the Judiciary, Politics, and the Media
Syracuse University has launched the Institute for the Study of the Judiciary, Politics, and the Media. The Institute is "devoted to the interdisciplinary study of issues at the intersection of law, politics, and the media." The Institute sponsors lectures, conferences and symposia, and also provides research fellowships and grants.
Use of Metadata OK Says ABA
In a recent ethics opinion, ABA Formal Op. 06-442, the ABA says that lawyers receiving electronic documents are free to examine "hidden" metadata which might be contained in the document. "The ABA committee noted metadata is ubiquitous in electronic documents, and includes such information as the last date and time that a document was saved and by whom, data on when it was accessed, the name of the owner of the computer that created the document and the date and time it was created, and a record of any changes made to the document or comments written into it." This ethics ruling is contrary to what other legal ethics authorities have said about this issue.
ABA members may download copies of ethics opinions, for a period of one year after they are released, at the Center for Professional Responsibility's website. The ethics opinion is also available through LexisNexis (password required).
The Nuremberg Trials and Their Legacy
"In the immediate aftermath of the Holocaust, the world was faced with a challenge--how to seek justice for an almost unimaginable scale of criminal behavior." The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum has created a website, The Nuremberg Trials and Their Legacy, that focuses on the The International Military Tribunal, held at Nuremberg, Germany at the end of World War II. The exhibit features a photo collection, images of artifacts, audio clips relating to testimony, and related material.
New Electronic Journals Available Through OSU Libraries
OSU Libraries has just added the Journal of International Commercial Law and Technology to its electronic journal collection. Other recently added e-journal titles include the Journal of Crime, Conflict and Media Culture, the Journal of Women, Politics & Policy, and Canadian Public Policy.
Reverse Dictionary
Sometimes you know there is a word to describe something, but you don't remember what that word is. A thesaurus is only helpful when you can specify an equivalent word - sometimes you can't. In situations like these, Onelook.com's Reverse Dictionary might be helpful. The Reverse Dictionary allows users to "describe a concept and get back a list of words and phrases related to that concept."
Research tips courtesy of the Moritz Law Library's October and November issues of Opinio Juris, a newsletter for Moritz Law faculty
