Author: Maryanne Daly Doran

National Library Week: Ready, Set, Library & The Game of Life

National Library Week (April 7-13, 2024) is a celebration of libraries and library workers. The theme for this year’s library week is “Ready, Set, Library” which “illustrates the idea that in our always-online world, libraries give us a green light to something truly special: a place to connect with others, learn new skills, and focus on what matters most…. no matter where you find yourself on the roadmap through life’s journey—preparing for a new career, launching a business, or raising a family—the library provides an inclusive and supportive community where everyone belongs.”  

The same is true for our law library, no matter where you find yourself on your legal journey, the UConn Law Library has resources to assist as well as provide an inclusive and supportive community. Much like the iconic board game of life, the journey is an adventure filled with discovery, knowledge, and endless opportunities for growth. 

Ready: Legal Research Help

The law library is here to offer everyone legal research assistance. Every member of the Connecticut community, alumni, law students, students of all ages, are encouraged to ask us reference questions. If you are experienced or new to legal research, or someone in between, contact us via phone (860-570-5200), email (refdesk.lawlib@uconn.edu) or visit us in person and we will help you.  

If we are not available, our Research Guides are a great place to consult and provide information on many topics including on Connecticut Law, Free Online Legal Research and a Student Toolkit.  

Set: Navigating the Legal Landscape 

As we set foot in the library, amidst the shelves lined with books, online resources, and digital archives, we have the power to expand our horizons, deepen our understanding, and transform in profound ways. Even though you will face unexpected twists and turns, we can assist you overcome those obstacles with specialized resources and knowledge.  

For all researchers we have specialized legal databases. These include HeinOnline, which has many resources including bar journals, complications of state laws, and government documents as well as Westlaw, which is a comprehensive full-text legal database that includes primary and secondary legal materials, legal news, and law related documents. We will help you find the right resource for your question.  

Library: The Heartbeat of Community  

Much like the game of life, the practice of law is an ever-evolving adventure, filled with twists and turns, challenges and triumphs. Our library serves as a hub of community engagement and information exchange. Like gathering around the game of life board with friends and family, we come together in the library to connect and exchange ideas. 

Join us this week in celebration of Library Week. Check out our Game of Life Book display for the variety of resources available to you at any stage of your journey! Play the game, ‘UConn Law Library: How Do we Help You?’ and come to the main desk to collect your prize!  

April Fools’ Day! When Media Mischief Means Litigation!

Next Monday is April 1st, a.k.a. April Fool’s Day! If you are thinking about pulling a prank or see something suspicious in a media outlet, remember what starts out as a practical joke sometimes ends up with legal trouble.  

In Connecticut, a joke went too far when April Fools’ Day story published by a local newspaper parodying a commercial developer struck a nerve and led to a lawsuit. The case,  Victoria Square, LLC v. Glastonbury, brought forth claims of defamation, invasion of privacy by false light and violation of the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA). The Superior court held that the newspaper article discussing a planned development with a huge Wal-Mart, a Hooters facing a church and school, and a helicopter launching pad, was clearly a parody of the newspaper’s usual content and not defamatory. 

Other media outlets such as radio stations should remember that broadcasters need to be careful with any practical jokes or pranks prepared especially for the day.  The FCC’s rule against broadcast hoaxes, Section 73.1217, prevents stations from running any information about a “crime or catastrophe” on the air, if the broadcaster (1) knows the information to be false, (2) it is foreseeable that the broadcast of the material will cause substantial public harm and (3) substantial public harm is in fact caused.  

Bottom line: think before you prank and if a story sounds too good to be true, take a deeper dive!

Database Spotlight! Women and the Law (Peggy) from Hein

March is Women’s History Month and UConn Law Library is celebrating by highlighting some of its resources focusing on women and the law.

Women and the Law (Peggy), is a collection on HeinOnline that brings together more than 3,600 fully searchable books, biographies, and periodicals dedicated to the role of women in society and the law.

This collection provides a platform for users to research the progression of women’s roles and rights in society over the past 200 years.  It also includes titles from Emory University Law School’s Feminism and Legal Theory Project which provide a platform to view the effect of law and culture on the female gender.

HeinOnline has created a LibGuide with more information on the collection.

And if you are wondering why the collection is also called Peggy, take a look at the collection’s homepage for the story!

How do I access Women and the Law (Peggy)?

  1. Go to the Library website
  2. Click on Databases A-Z under the Top Library Tools section on lower right
  3. Scroll down to  HeinOnline Women and the Law (Peggy)

Leap Year and the Law

2024 is a Leap Year, where an additional day (the 29th!) is added to February every four years.  

For leapers, born on February 29th, there are annoyances and medical challenges in their lives. On the legal front, complications caused by that extra day affect areas such as age determination disputes, statutes of limitation, and criminal sentencing.  

In the Nutmeg state, a quick search resulted in several cases that reflect the myriad of logistical and legal problems associated with this extra day. In Lorusso v. McClain the plaintiff argued that she commenced her action in a timely manner due to the definition of the word “year” which is not limited to 365 calendar days during a leap year (2016), thus permitting the plaintiff to deliver the writ, summons and complaint to the marshal on the 366th calendar day. The court determined that in the context of computing the statute of limitations and unless expressed otherwise, the 29th day in the month of February during a leap year is to be counted with the 28th day of February of the same leap year. 

To learn more about the leap year and the law, check out this blog post from Thomson-Reuters: 

Clear that Snow From Your Car! Laws from New Year’s Past and Present

Last week’s ice storm prompted a reminder of Connecticut's law which requires drivers to clear snow and ice from the roofs of their vehicles.  Connecticut is one of a handful of Northeast states with a law regarding snow and ice removal from vehicles. 

Although this law has been on the books for over 10 years, news outlets and police departments note that it bears repeating. Public Act 13-102 states that failure to remove accumulated ice/snow from a vehicle may result in fines that range from $75 to $1,250.  This should be deterrent enough to allocate the necessary time deicing and removing snow from cars.  

Speaking of....there are a number of laws that became active January 1st, 2024. Law are passed throughout the year at the state capital, but only a handful of the bills signed went into effect immediately.  Many kicked in Oct. 1, and more still become active on the first day of 2024. This year, new state statutes affect a wide variety of issues including early voting, minimum wage, online dating and healthcare records. 

Here are just a few summaries, and if you are interested in what happened before these were passed, check out our research guide which provides step-by-step guide on how to locate legislative history in Connecticut (nifty result, legislative history for PA 13-102 – see how it came to be!).  

Connecticut State Capitol Building at night in snow
Connecticut State Capitol Building, Hartford, Connecticut

Minimum Wage 

Connecticut's minimum wage will  increase effective January 1 from $15.00 to $15.69.  Made possible through legislation passed in 2019, which implemented five incremental increases in the minimum wage followed by future adjustments that are tied to the percentage change in the federal employment cost index. 

Artificial Intelligence (PA-23-16) 

This act concerning AI, automated decision-making and personal data privacy requires creation of an Office of Artificial Intelligence, and establishment of an AI task force and bill of rights. The law also requires Connecticut to examine the technology’s role and impact on state agencies. 

Under the same measure, the state will also work to protect the data privacy of individuals, including the case of targeted advertising. 

EARLY VOTING(PA 23-5)

Public Act 23-5 creates a framework for early, in-person voting requiring a 14-day early voting period for general elections, a seven-day period for most primaries, and a four-day early voting period for special elections and presidential preference primaries. Check out this Issue Brief from the Office of Legislative Research which explains Connecticut's Early Voting Law.

ONLINE PRIVACY, DATA AND SAFETY PROTECTIONS(PA 23-56)

Makes various changes to laws on data privacy and related issues, including provisions on consumer health data, minors’ social media accounts and online services, online dating operators, and a task force on internet crimes against children. 

RESOURCES FOR PERSONS WITH AN INTELLECTUAL OR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY(PA 23-137)

This act contains many supportive measures, including the creation of a plan to establish a Transitional Life Skills College program to support certain people with IDD who are transitioning out of high school or to independent living.

WORKERS' COMPENSATION FOR POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS INJURIES(PA 23-35)

Expands eligibility for workers’ compensation benefits for post-traumatic stress injuries to all employees covered by the workers’ compensation law. 

The Connecticut General Assembly site list all Acts effective January 1, 2024 with a nifty tool for filtering by date.  Check them out and don’t forget to remove ice from your vehicle! Drive safely! 

Martin Luther King Jr. Day – Connecticut’s Connection

Martin Luther King Day is observed this Monday, January 15, 2024. The holiday commemorates the holiday serves as a time for reflection, community service, and the celebration of Dr. King’s contributions to the civil rights movement.

Although now a paid federal holiday, the path towards recognition took fifteen long years. On November 2, 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed H.R. 3706, a bill that established Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a federal public holiday on the third Monday of January. On January 18, 1986, President Reagan signed Proclamation 5431 (100 Stat. 4396), marking the first observance of his birthday a national holiday. Each president since President Reagan has issued a proclamation recognizing MLK Day as a day to acknowledge and celebrate the visionary work of Dr. King.

Connecticut was one of the first states to recognize MLK day in 1973 on Sundays (P.A. 73-648). In 1977, it switched to January 15 (P.A. 76-267). In 1986, it changed MLK day to the first Monday on or after January 15 annually (P.A. 84-56). Individual municipalities could opt to recognize it or not.

Connecticut’s role in Martin Luther King Jr.’s formative years, where he spent summer working on a tobacco farm in Simsbury, Ct is little known, as this experience opened a teenage Martin Luther King Jr's eyes to a world beyond the Jim Crow South.  Years later, his autobiography noted his experiences in Connecticut which helped heighten his awareness of the cruel injustice of segregation.  Simsbury will celebrate MLK's legacy this on Monday, January 15, 2024.

UConn Law Library will be open on Martin Luther King Day.  As future attorneys, legislators, judges and community activists, you will have the responsibility to uphold the law, provide access to justice and ensure that the justice system is equitable.  Take time to contemplate Dr. King’s legacy and how your future practice will advance the principles he stood for.

 

Public Domain Day 2024

“Public Domain Day” is celebrated on first day of the year. Although copyright laws vary by country, in the United States, works registered or first published in 1928 enter the public domain, as are sound recordings from 1923.

Much fanfare has accompanied the arrival of the first versions of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, the iconic cartoon character seen in the animated short films “Steamboat Willie” and silent film ‘Plane Crazy” as they enter the public domain in the U.S. January 1, 2024.  Duke University notes that Walt Disney Company still retains the copyrights to later versions.

Beloved childhood favorites such as the Millions of Cats (oldest picture book in print), House at Pooh Corner (introducing the Tigger character; the original Winnie-the-Pooh (1926) was opened up to free use in 2022.) and Peter Pan or the Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up have also entered the public domain.  The class of 2024 represents both famous and obscure works that both evoke our earliest childhood memories and explore gripping social issues that remain significant today.

Examples are Virginia Woolf’s Orlando: A Biography (a groundbreaking novel known for its exploration of gender fluidity and sexuality), Coming of Age in Samoa: A Psychological Study of Primitive Youth for Western Civilisation by Margaret Mead (an influential work in anthropology which challenged Western perceptions of sexuality and influenced the nature vs. nurture debate that raged in the beginning of the 20th century and still rages today ), and Radclyffe Hall’s The Well of Loneliness (a pioneering exploration of gender identity and lesbian love). Also noteworthy is W.E.B. Du Bois’s Dark Princess which explores themes of racism and international politics, and D.H. Lawrence’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover which was banned for obscenity in the United States, Canada, Australia, India and Japan. Fun Fact, the movie on Netflix is based on this novel (talk about relevance…).

The University of Pennsylvania maintains a digital catalog of U.S. copyright entries to verify if material is available for public use.  Popular places to find digitized items in the public domain  include repositories like HathiTrust.  Groundbreaking social issues are explored in these works from 1928, after revisiting them, you may feel that little has changed since 1928.

Happy Holidays from UConn Law Library!

Happy Holidays from UConn Law library!

The library will be closed from Saturday, December 23rd, 2023 through Monday, January 1st, 2024.

The library hours for January Interterm are as follows:

January Interterm

Tuesday, January 2nd, 2024 - Friday, January 12th, 2024

Monday - Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday Closed

Looking forward to seeing you all in 2024!!

Christmas Carols, Cocktails and Copyright

Last year’s holiday blog post featured the beloved film,  It’s a Wonderful Life, a movie that has fallen in and out of copyright several times. The elements of Christmas and copyright appear to be connected often, leading to more curiosity about all things copyright Christmas.  

Done with finals and care to go caroling? Want to bottle your own Christmas spirits with the image of Santa?  Planning to use holiday songs in some holiday-themed bingo? If caroling or holiday music bingo (holiday spirits optional) are on your agenda, know that not all festive tunes performed at Christmas are all free use for us to enjoy. While it is true that a neighborly sing along or family gathering doesn’t rise to the level of a public performance, requiring permission to use, it is interesting to note the songs which have entered the public domain, and which are under copyright and require permission.  

Perennial favorites such as Deck the Halls, The Twelve Days of Christmas, and Jingle Bells are all in the public domain. However, songs such as Frosty the Snowman, created in 1950 by Steve Nelson and Jack Rollins remains protected by copyright.  

For a list of Christmas songs in the public domain, check out the list from PD Info or ChoralWiki. The United States Copyright Office Public Catalog shows all the copyrights registered with the US copyright office from 1978 onwards. 

Santa giving thumbs up

Although some festive songs are covered by copyright, it’s not widely known that the character of Santa himself is not copyrighted at all! The image of Santa Claus was designed for Coca Cola in 1931 by illustrator Haddon Sundblom and although Coca Cola owns the rights to the images produced by Sundblom, the character of Santa himself remains copyright free. While Coca-Cola played a role in making that version of Santa the one everyone recognizes, it did not invent it and holds no rights to it. 

Speaking of Santa images, if you are interested in crafting your own brew, with Santa Claus’ image, in both Ohio and D.C., it’s illegal to use Santa Claus’ image in advertising for alcohol, so keep the distribution amongst friends.  

If you are interested in more interesting facts and laws about Christmas, check out HeinOnline Blog for the Holidays with their blog post: The 12 Bizarre Laws of Christmas and Happy Holidays from UConn Law! 

Unwind with Crochet!

Many law students have commented on the adorable, crocheted animals on display at the reference desk.  Created by librarians and staff at UConn Law through the library’s inaugural Crafting Club, we have fielded many questions on these creations and requests to learn to do the same!

Want to make one of your own? Did you know that in addition to being fun, that crocheting promotes mindfulness and wellbeing?  Crocheting promotes a sense of calm and relaxation, mindfulness, encourages creativity and self-expression and is a form of self-care.

UConn Law's Office of Student Affairs and UConn Law Library are partnering up to offer a mindfulness activity where you can learn to crochet, create and relax!


Crochet Workshop for UConn Law Students

Monday, 12/11

12:30-2pm

4th floor Lounge, Library (room 413)



Come join us to learn how to crochet an mini octopus ( adorably coined "Octopup" by librarian extraordinaire and newly minted crocheter,  Tanya Johnson) to take home with you!

Check out the image below of the two crocheted “Octopups”.  All supplies will be provided and no experience necessary! Stop by during Reading Period on December 11, and enjoy the therapeutic benefits of crocheting!

crocheted maroon and purple tiny octopuses