It’s a lot of fun watching the Oregon Encyclopedia grow (and see their What’s New page). Browse topics such as the Coin Machine Men, the Death Penalty, the Votex I Music Festival, and Bobby the Wonder Dog.
And, think about becoming a contributor if you have an Oregon History area of expertise.
You may be willing to give up security and confidentiality on your own behalf, but when you’re talking about your clients and other second and third parties, you have to do a little more research, and have a little more care.
This was interesting:
Law Firm Bans iPhone Due to Security Risks from Ride the Lightning:
Is it possible to visit iLibrarian and not find something useful for the online writer? Is it possible to visit Men With Pens and not learn something about — social media (and of course laugh at the great domain name).
I’m sure I’m not the only person who hears “social media” and thinks online social life and personal life. It shouldn’t, but that is what many people hear. The word “media” isn’t powerful enough (sorry, talking heads) to overcome that “social” word. And, like it or not, that word “social” has come to mean personal, not professional (as in the phrase “this is business, not personal” that we hate, love, and use).
I’m not sure we need a new term for our personal social mediating, which we love dearly, but for businesses and organizations looking to hire professionals to manage their “social media” (or for freelancers competing for work), I think a new term is called for, if only from a practical point of view: to reduce the number of job applications from people who think that being a consumer of personal-life social media qualifies them for a job as a professional public information creator, facilitator, and manager.
Blogs are great places to store notes that you might want to remember or share. I saw a link to this Mashable post while at the Law Librarian Blog:
26 Places to Find Free Multimedia for Your Blog, August 4th, 2009, by Barb Dybwad
Gallagher Blogs (from the University of Washington Law School Library) has a research tip that may come in handy one day, either around the dinner table or when writing a brief:
How Can You Compare Dollars (or Pounds or Yen) Over Time? (Sunday, December 6, 2009)
“Measuring Worth is a website by two economic historians — backed by an impressive advisory board — to help us make sense of monetary amounts at different times….” (link to full post)
A Criminal Waste of Space has a new address (aka URL), so if you’re a Justice “CWoS” Bedsworth fan, update your bookmarks. If you’re not a fan, well, what can I say? Take solace in the likelihood that the URL will change again and next time we might not be able to find it or get it free. Alas.
Thanks to the Orange County Bar Association, and the OC Lawyer Magazine, you can still read A Criminal Waste of Space online, free (hurrah!).
This month, December 2009 (wowsers!), our favorite off-beat appellate court justice who manages to “get it out of his system” and give us so many chuckles and guffaws, is still suffering from post-World-Series-Angst and we’re glad of it!
There might only be 6 (at most) among my readers who need this warning, but please tell your less internet-savvy family and friends to read the official CDC Alert on the Scam. They may need to be vaccinated against internet hoaxes and scams!
“Fraudulent emails referencing CDC-sponsored State Vaccination Program (December 1, 2009)
CDC has received reports of fraudulent emails (phishing) referencing a CDC sponsored State Vaccination Program…. “ (read full alert)
Thank you to the Lane County Law Librarian for her help in compiling this information. (And check out her great Oregon legal research guides, too.)
SCRIP and LOCAL CURRENCIES
Questions about scrip or local currencies vary. For example:
An upcoming workshop on “Local Treasures – Special Collections and Archives in the Portland Area” (presented by the Portland Area Library Association for Continuing Education), alerts us to these excellent research resources. I’ve reproduced the descriptions right from the program announcement:
1) “The Oregon Historical Society Research Library has gathered one of the most comprehensive collections of local, state, and regional history in the country, with holdings that chronicle the history of the Oregon Country from early exploration to the present day. Collection strengths include: European discovery, exploration, and settlement; Native Americans; local history, family history, and genealogy; the fur trade; agriculture, timber, mining, and fisheries; performing arts; business; architecture and building history; politics and government; religion; and transportation
2) The City of Portland Archives and Records Center is the official repository for records created by or for the City of Portland and its agencies. The collections provide important historical evidence of the development of city government since 1851. Research subjects documented by the collection include public policy, urban planning, parks, land use, public works, economic development, public safety and social issues. The collection includes reports and studies, correspondence and memoranda from city agencies, and elected officials, maps and plans, and nearly 750,000 photographic images of City projects and personnel.
3) The Multnomah County Archives contains records documenting county activities from its formation in 1854 until the present. The collection of records, maps and drawings, audio recordings and microfilm provide historical evidence of the Board of County Commissioners, Community Justice, Community Services, County Human Services, Health, Library Services, defunct agencies, and much more.
4) Central Library’s John Wilson Special Collections houses the rare book and other special collections of Multnomah County Library. Six core collections include those devoted to the book arts and the history of the book; children’s literature; natural history; Pacific Northwest history; literature with particular strengths of Charles Dickens and D. H. Lawrence; and Native American literature.
5) Oregon Jewish Museum: As the only Jewish museum in the Pacific Northwest, the Oregon Jewish Museum houses the largest collection of the documented and visual history of the Jewish people of Oregon in existence. The Special Collections Archives contains personal papers, institutional records, and ephemeral material dating from 1850 to the present, representing 450 individuals, families and organizations and businesses.
6) Oregon State Library: In addition to a strong collection of materials on Oregon history and culture, the Oregon State Library has an extensive collection of Oregon documents (documents published by State and Territorial governments) which include monographs, serials, audio-visual items and maps from 1851 to the present. The State Library also has manuscripts and photographs from the WPA Writers Project and a collection of 5000-plus photographs primarily of Oregon government officials and buildings, and the Salem area”
This isn’t a complete list, but it’s a good start. There are also special collections at just about every Oregon college and university library and museum, at county and tribal libraries and museums, at art museums, and beyond. Ask at your public library and at the Oregon Visitors Center.
State law school law reviews often ignore their own state’s laws and it drives me crazy. I can’t count the number of times an attorney has asked for an article on an interesting Oregon legal issue that is worthy of some attention, but alas.
Try searching Oregon law reviews and what do you find? Not much, at least not in the past 30 years. But on occasion, an Oregon law review does include an article about Oregon law, either in the making or after the fact, and I’m pleased to blog about it.
(You can also look for other Oregonians who do write about their state’s history: Oregon Authors and don’t miss their Readers and Writers Groups link):
Oregon Legal Research Blog