Author: S Miller

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Accessing the Law Library Collection

This academic year access to the Law Library collection (and the library collection generally) is a bit different.  Below is an overview of how to access the electronic and print collections.

Accessing the physical collection

While the Law Library is not open for browsing, print books can be borrowed via the Re:Quest service, and picked up at the Mearns Centre for Learning – McPherson Library.

Searching the Library catalogue, Summon and using Re:Quest

Accessing the library’s online collections

Evidence Based Acquisition

The University has negotiated EBA (Evidence Based Acquisition) plans with Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, Taylor & Francis, and Wiley Publishers, which has given students and faculty access to over 200,000 ebooks. This guide provides more information on Evidence Based Acquisitions.  https://libguides.uvic.ca/eba

 Refined database List

The Refined Database list  page provides you with the main law databases divided into topic area. For an exhaustive list of law databases please see our complete A-Z list.

The “Articles and books” tab lists the main journal article and ebook databases.

Journal article databases including:

Ebook collections including:

Law Reserve Room

Books in the reserve room are currently not available for circulation. The law library staff are able to scan a book chapter or a short excerpt, as per fair dealing guidelines. Requests for scans are done through the Re:Quest service.

McGill Guide

We are negotiating access to the McGill guide online. In the meantime, Queen’s University has a guide for the basics of McGill style citation. The law librarians are also available to answer citation questions at lawref@uvic.ca .

Borrowing laptops and AV equipment

UVic students and faculty can borrow laptops and other AV equipment. Items must be booked in advance and picked up and returned to the main entrance of the Mearns Centre for Learning— McPherson library

If you have questions on how to find resources, please reach out to the law librarians at lawref@uvic.ca.

For a complete list of Fall 2020 services visit our website: https://www.uvic.ca/library/home/covid-19/index.php

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Welcome 2020-2021 students

Welcome UVic law students! While our library buildings remain closed, we’re committed to supporting you this Fall 2020 semester.

We are excited to work with you to facilitate your learning and research in the new academic year.  Here are some of the library services that we are offering:

 Fall 2020 Services:

    • Borrowing items / scanning items (ReQuest service – see a demo of this in the video below)
      • Print items can be requested via the ReQuest service, checked out to students, and picked up outside McPherson library
      • Book chapters and journal articles not available online can be scanned and emailed to students
    • Laptop and equipment bookings (by emailing request@uvic.ca)
    • Bookable study space on campus (including in the Law Library and Bibliocafe at McPherson Library)
    • See Fall 2020 Services for detailed information and updates on all of the above.

 Research Help:

Law librarians are available Monday – Friday from 9am-5pm for help accessing resources and  doing research and citations – contact us at lawref@uvic.ca for assistance via email or Zoom.

 Videos:

Get started with a few quick videos from us:

    • Law Library virtual tour – for an introduction to us and access to key online online resources
    • Searching the library catalogue and Summon and using ReQuest

For full details on Law’s orientation for new students, visit UVic Law’s orientation for new students page.

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Professor John Borrows recipient of the 2020 Governor General’s Innovation Award

 

A headshot of John Borrows

Congratulations to Professor John Borrows for receiving the 2020 Governor General’s Innovation Award for his work with Indigenous law.  The award is given to recognize innovations that are transformative, exceptional and have a positive impact on quality of life.

The award recognizes John’s dedication to Indigenous law and innovation of the law, through his extensive teaching, research and writing, his work with communities to revitalize Indigenous laws, and his work as co-founder of the dual JD/JID program at UVic.

John’s newest work, “Indigenous Peoples and International Trade: Building Equitable and Inclusive International Trade and Investments Agreements“, edited by Professor Borrows and Risa Schwartz is available online.

Check out some more of Professor Borrows scholarship held in UVic Libraries Collections:

  • John Borrows, Drawing Out Law: A Spirit’s Guide (Toronto, University of Toronto Press, 2010). Call number KIB190 B677 2010.
  • John Borrows. Canada’s Indigenous Constitution (Toronto, University of Toronto Press, 2010). Call number KIB190 B673 2010.
  • John Borrows, Freedom and Indigenous Constitutionalism (Toronto, University of Toronto Press, 2016). Call number KIA20 C66B6738 2016.
  • John Borrows, Indigenous Law and Governance: Challenging Pre-contact and Post-contact Distinctions in Canadian Law (Montreal, Les Éditions Thémis, 2017). Call number KI270 B67 2017.
  • John Borrows, Recovering Canada: The Resurgence of Indigenous Law (Toronto, University of Toronto Press, 2002). Call number KE7709 B68 2002
  • Michael Asch, John Borrows, & James Tully, eds, Resurgence and Reconciliation: Indigenous-Settler Relations and Earth Teachings (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2018). Call number KIB530 R47 2018
  • John Borrows & Michael Coyle, eds, The Right Relationship: Reimagining the Implementation of Historical Treaties (Toronto, University of Toronto Press, 2017). Call number KIB129 R54 2017
  • John Borrows, Seven Generations, Seven Teachings: Ending the Indian Act (West Vancouver, BC: National Centre for First Nations Governance, 2008). Electronic

Congratulations John!

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2020 Research-a-thon: Plastics

This Friday (February 28), is the all-day Plastics Research-a-thon event.  The Environmental Law Club has partnered with the Environmental Law Centre, as well as the UBC Environmental Law Group  and Thompson Rivers University  to research plastic waste policy in 34 countries and 2 international organizations around the world.

The law librarians have created a comprehensive website for this year’s research-a-thon to help  students identify and work with valuable resources in the law library collection, including library resource guides, websites, reports, books, and journal articles.   There is also a country specific resource document, which links to the legislation, policy, and case law as well as secondary sources related to plastic waste for each country.

The law librarians will be on hand throughout the day, to help with process of researching foreign and international law.

The event runs from 9am-5pm in room 265 of the law library, with a lunchtime panel in room 150 with Calvin Sandborn, Q.C., the Legal Director of the Environmental Law Centre, and Daniel Brendle-Moczuk, the subject librarian for geography, environmental studies, maps and GIS, economics, sociology and data (social sciences and humanities).

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Marginalia: Happy Valentine’s Day (Now and Forever)

Happy Valentine’s Day

(Now and Forever)

 

By all accounts Diana M. Priestly was a charming, resourceful and dedicated professional.  She may have officially retired from the University of Victoria on June 30, 1987, but her spirit resonates throughout the building to this very day.

Diana’s academic journey started at the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Law in 1946 (following a three year stint in the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service). Between the years of 1964 and 1974 she perfected her craft with stops at the University of Toronto, Osgoode Hall, and the University of Western Ontario. However, it was her tenure at UVic, starting in 1974, that secured an international reputation for her contributions to the science of library administration.

In the early days of its existence the Faculty of Law did not have a collection of its own. Once she was hired Diana was asked to build one from scratch. In response, she relied on her experience and ingenuity to establish a law library that has passed the test of time.

Personally, I never had the opportunity to meet her, but judging by the smile her name brings to anyone who knew her, she was something special. So with that in mind, let’s take this opportunity to send Diana (and her lingering spirit) a perpetual valentine from everyone who has worked at the circulation desk in the law library that is named after her. After all, it’s the least we can do for someone who has done so much for us.

 

For more on Diana M. Priestly please see: The Advocate, 45 (1987)- print or online.

 

Written by David Eugene Everard

Art direction by Paul Totzke

Editorial assistance by Alex Burdett and Sarah Miller

 

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Legal Research Refresher Sessions

Do the LRW research tutorials seem like a distant memory? Are you staring at your open memo not knowing where to start?

Then come to one of our lunch hour research refresher sessions presented by the law librarians in the Law Library computer lab!  No preregistration required.

Week 1 : Emphasis on secondary sources and resources 

Monday Jan 27:   12:30-1:30 – Canadian state law

Wednesday Jan 29: 12:30-1:30 – Indigenous law

Thursday Jan 30 12:30-1: 30 – Canadian state law (repeat of Monday’s session)

Week 2: emphasis on citation

Monday Feb 3: 12:30-1:30 – Legal citation

Thursday Feb 6: 12:30-1:30 –  Legal citation (repeat of Monday’s session)

The law library also has a legal research and writing guide: https://libguides.uvic.ca/lrw that you may find helpful as you are working on your open memo assignment. There you can find a research strategy overview, links to a sample research plan, and primary and secondary legal research starting points.

If you have any questions … remember, we’re here to help you. Ask us!

Regards,

Alex, Emily, and Sarah

 

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Well Wishes and Library exam period reminders

The Law Library would like to wish all the students good luck on their exams!

We would also like to remind students of the extended study hours and research help options, as well as the supports offered by Amicus and the relaxation station available during library hours.

Extended Library Hours over Exam Period (Dec 2-18):
Mon-Thurs: 8am-10pm
Fri: 8am-8pm
Sat-Sun: 10am-10pm

Supports, Relaxation Station and the Ultimate Exam Playlist
Remember that Amicus Team support remains available to law students throughout the year and that the law library’s Relaxation Station is available whenever the library is open.

Above the Law published an “Ultimate Law School Finals Playlist” which has songs for any and all of the emotions brought on by exams.

Citation and Research Help:
You may have noticed that the research help desk in the law library is unattended during the December exam period.

Though the desk is quiet, research and citation help will remain available until December 24.

Students, you’re encouraged to email or phone the usual research help contacts. The librarians receive email and phone messages at those contacts and will respond as quickly as possible, Monday through Friday. You may also make an appointment with a librarian for research help via the staff at the library circulation desk.

Our regular Research Help Desk hours will recommence in the new year.