President’s Day Weekend

In observance of Presidents Day, our schedule for the weekend is:

• Saturday, February 18 — 9:00AM to 11:45PM
• Sunday, February 19 — 9:00AM to 6:45PM
• Monday, February 20 — Closed

Counterfeit Goods

Fashion Week showcases new trends and styles from creative designers.  However, each year Customs and Border Enforcement confiscates knock-off designer goods at points of entry.  Knock-offs of any type represent theft of American intellectual property, harming the designers and their creative companies. 

In FY 2011, CBE confiscated counterfeit goods at ports of entry with a market value exceeding $1 billion.  For FY 2011, footwear accounted for 14% of all goods seized and wearing apparel accounted for 8% of all goods seized.    In FY 2011, CBE reported that it seized $51 M of fake designer perfume, representing 5% of all goods seized.  Fake perfumes are not only a theft from the brand owner, but the perfumes occasionally may contain dangerous chemicals.   According to Customs and Border Enforcement, the most commonly misappropriated label for perfume is “Sex and the City.”

For more information about brand integrity and counterfeit goods, see for example, Brand Integrity:  Strategies for Fighting Contraband and Counterfeit Goods.

Researching Multinational Protection of Intellectual Property, Feb. 15 @ 2-3pm in S304

This library research skills training session will focus on tools and strategies for researching the ways that countries and international organizations provide protection for intellectual property.  The IP librarian will discuss the World Intellectual Property Organization, IP treaties, current awareness resources, and more.

For more information, contact Ken Rodriguez, Reference/Intellectual Property Librarian, krodriguez@law.gwu.edu.

Women & Family Law Research, Feb. 8 @ 2-3pm in S305

Explore and review important sources and research tools to help you in your women in the law and family law research. 

For more information, contact Karen Wahl, Reference/Legal History and Rare Books Librarian, at kwahl@law.gwu.edu.

Researching National Security Law, Feb. 7 @ 1:30-2:30pm in E112

Bring your laptop and explore key sources for conducting national security law-related research for your scholarly writing assignments.

For more information, contact Lori Fossum, Reference/National Security & U.S. Foreign Relations Librarian at lfossum@law.gwu.edu.

Researching the FAR – It’s FARtastic!, Feb. 9 @ 4:30-5:30 in L201

This library research skills session focuses on the basics of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and the various databases/websites that provide access to the FAR.  Some topics that will be covered include FAR numbering, Federal Acquisition Circulars, FAR organization, and locating historic regulations.

For more information, contact Mary Kate Hunter, Reference/Government Contracts Librarian, mhunter@law.gwu.edu.

Updating Print Drivers for Pharos Printing

The Student Computing Help Desk recently switched its preferred print driver preference for Pharos student printing to an updated Xerox Global PCL Driver.

Many student notebooks are currently configured to use the Xerox Postscript Driver or an older Xerox Global PCL Driver.

It is recommended that all student notebooks are configured to use the new preferred Xerox Global PCL print driver to optimize Pharos printing capabilities.  Switching to the preferred Xerox Global PCL Driver requires an update to the Pharos Printing configuration on your notebook.  The Student Computing Help Desk can assist students with updating their Pharos printing configuration.  Instructions are also posted on the Computing for Students: Virtual Help Desk.

 All computers in Burns 203, Stuart 203, and Library LL1 labs are configured to use the new preferred Xerox Global PCL Driver for Pharos printing.  We have implemented this change because of  its capability to print secure PDFs at Pharos print stations.  Additionally, this change ensures consistency when printing on  3-hole punch paper at the Stuart 203 Pharos station from both lab computers and notebooks using the new Xerox Global PCL Driver.

Laptop Check-Ups and Print Driver Updates

Starting Friday, February 3, the Student Computing Help Desk is offering laptop check-ups for law students.  Laptop check-ups will be conducted during designated hours at the first floor Info Desk.  Please see the Virtual Help Desk for a complete schedule.

Laptop check-ups are intended to improve laptop performance and update print drivers for improved Pharos printing. Help Desk staff will install latest print drivers, check that windows updates are set for automatic installation, run Mac OS software update, remove unnecessary internet and program temp files, and disable unnecessary start-up entries.

Post check-up, students should expect an improvement in computer start time, faster general computing, and the ability to print both “secure” and “unsecure” PDFs.

E Squared: Researching Energy and the Environment, Tues. Feb. 7, 2:30-3:30pm in S304

Explore sources important in researching environmental issues in domestic and international energy law.  Use a hands-on exercise while the librarian reviews selected research tools for locating commentary and analysis as well as laws, regulations, legislative history and agency documents.

Bring your laptop and Westlaw password to access a TWEN research page!

For more information, contact Germaine Leahy, Head of Reference/Environmental Librarian, at gleahy@law.gwu.edu.

Floor Debate in Congress….Now there’s an app for that…

Download a free app for your iPad for the Congressional Record.   For information about the app from the Library of Congress, click here.  The app is available from the iTunes App Store.

• Browse daily editions of the Congressional Record from 104th Congress (1995) to date.
• Keyword search within an issue or section of the Record.
• Share documents via email.

We also have complete coverage of the Congressional Record, through HeinOnline, starting with 1st Cong., 1st Sess. on March 4, 1789.