Interesting News in Library Land........

March 28, 2007

Information from a Colleague in Law Librarianship:
Someone at Washington and Lee Law Library set up a "Google CustomSearch" page that limits its searching to all accredited U.S. Law Schools.Unless you are interested in material from non-law programs, this isa much more convenient way to search for syllabi, faculty handbooks,clinical information, research guides, etc., than a regular, oradvanced, Google search.The url is: http://lawlib.wlu.edu/searchlawschools.htm

If you use this resource, please be aware that "Custom Search"results are displayed differently than the results of a regular, oradvanced, Google search.Unlike a regular, or advanced, Google search, the "Custom Search"does not automatically display the "total number of results" for yoursearch. You can still figure out the "total number of results," butit takes a couple simple (and slightly inconvenient) steps.Nevertheless, in most circumstances you are unlikely to care what the"total number of results" actually is. So, hopefully this minorinconvenience will not discourage you from using the "Custom Search" page.If you want to know how to figure out the total number of results, read on !The first page of results for a regular, or advanced, Google search says:
"Results 1 - 10 of about [total number of results]" and the second page says:
"Results 11-20 of about [total number of results]."In contrast, the "Google Custom Search" does not tell you the total number of results. Instead, the first page of results says:"Results 1 - 10"and the second page of results says: "Results 11 - 20."So, if you want to know the total number of results for a search, youwill have to scroll down to the bottom of the screen and manuallyskip to the last page of results (e.g. The 46th and final page ofresults for "elder law" informs me that it includes "Results451-52." Since there are no more pages of results, I know that thereare "452" results for my query).

Cannibals in the Workplace (Someone in library land has a sense of humor!):
Recently, a large corporation hired several cannibals to increase their diversity. "You are all part of our team now," said the Human Resources rep during the welcoming briefing. "You get all the usual benefits and you can go to the cafeteria for something to eat, but please don't eat any employees." The cannibals promised they would not.

Four weeks later their boss remarked, You're all working very hard and I'm satisfied with your work. We have noticed a marked increase in thewhole company's performance. However, one of our secretaries hasdisappeared. Do any of you know what happened to her?"

The cannibals all shook their heads, "No." After the boss left, the leader of the cannibals said to the others, "Which one of you idiots ate the secretary?" A hand rose hesitantly. "You fool!" the leader continued. "For four weeks we've been eating managers and no one noticed anything. But NOOOooo, you had to go and eat someone who actually does something around here!"