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Training Sessions.

Training Sessions at the Interior Library

The U.S. Department of the Interior Library offers regular training sessions for U.S. Department of the Interior employees. Because of limited space, each training session is limited to a maximum of six people. Please RSVP by e-mail at library@nbc.gov at least one week before the program if you are interested in attending any of the sessions listed below.

Additional training sessions will be posted as they are scheduled. Please check this page regularly for changes or updates.

Electronic Resources on the DOI Library Website

NEW -- Every third Thursday of the month, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

(April 16, May 21, June 18, July 16, August 20, September 17, October 15, November 19 and December 17, 2009)

Please join the DOI Library Staff for a new, regular training series teaching patrons about the many electronic and online resources available through the DOI Library's website. Every third Thursday of the month from 1 to 2 pm, the Library staff will review facets of the website, including features and basic search techniques for online databases available to DOI employees at their desktops. Databases such as HeinOnline, Westlaw, JSTOR, LexisNexis Congressional, and ProQuest National Newspapers will be examined at the request of attendees. The Reference Staff will also be available to answer other specific online research related questions you may have.

Name and Description of Program Date and Time

Compiling a Federal Legislative History: A Step-by-Step Example

Those interested in learning the process involved in compiling an official federal legislative history will find this program invaluable. A specific Public Law will be the focus of a step-by-step piecing together of a legislative history, using print resources such as the U.S. Statutes at Large, Congressional Record, and U.S. Congressional Serial Set. Online sources of federal legislative history information will also be highlighted. This program will be conducted by DOI Law Librarian Maureen Booth and Reference Librarian Shyamalika Ghoshal.

Wednesday,
December 2, 2009,
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

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Introduction to the LexisNexis Congressional Database

Learn how to access and use digitized collections offered by LexisNexis that feature searchable access to Congressional reports dating back to 1789, Congressional hearings dating back to 1824, Congressional Research Service (and earlier Legislative Reference Service) reports back to 1916, as well as congressional Committee Prints back to 1830. These collections are now fully searchable through one online search screen. Attendees will learn search techniques that can be used to locate digitized copies of these materials essential in conducting thorough legislative history research. This program will be conducted by a LexisNexis trainer.

Wednesday,
December 16, 2009,
10:00 am - 12:00 pm

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LexisNexis: Introduction and New Features

For the beginner (or as a refresher), learn how to access the LexisNexis online legal database via the Internet. Researchers will be taught basic search techniques used to obtain supporting caselaw, statutes, law review and newspaper articles, as well as federal and state administrative materials. Attendees will also be shown how to validate research using the Shepard's Citator Service in addition to other newly implemented features on this useful database. This program will be conducted by a LexisNexis trainer.

Tuesday,
January 5, 2010,
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

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Legislative History Research on Westlaw

Attendees to this training program will learn how to use the Westlaw legal and legislative database to find materials needed to complete a legislative history. These include materials like Congressional debate in the Congressional Record, House and Senate Reports, Presidential Documents, and Congressional Hearings, all used to find the intent behind a piece of legislation. This class will be taught by a Westlaw representative.

Tuesday,
February 2, 2010,
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

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DOI Library Tour

Join us for a tour of the many resources of the Department of the Interior Library. Included in the tour will be a description of legal and legislative resources on Deck 4 of the Library, including the Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Code, U.S. Statutes at Large, and case reporters. Also included will be a look at the U.S. Congressional Serial Set, dating back to 1789, and the Library's Rare Book Collection. This tour, conducted by DOI Law Librarian Maureen Booth, will be valuable for anyone intending to do research at the DOI Library.

Wednesday,
February 17,
2010, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

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Advanced Legal Research on LexisNexis

This training program builds on techniques presented in the "LexisNexis: Introduction and New Features" class, emphasizing time efficient and cost effective searching. Attendees will learn how to bypass menu screens using short cuts, narrow searching with segments, focus on specific word(s) within your original search, and refine searches with advanced connectors. This program will be conducted by a LexisNexis trainer.

Tuesday,
March 2, 2010,
10:00 am - 12:00 pm

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CongressDaily: Introduction and New Features

Learn about this definitive source for nonpartisan news and analysis on Congress. Its two daily editions take readers inside the corridors of the Capitol, providing access to the conversations, strategies, and alliances that drive congressional action. CongressDaily does more than just report on what's happening in Congress today, forward-looking analysis is also included. It gives readers insight into the people and politics behind key debates, unparalleled coverage of the budget process, important news from K Street and the Administration, and critical reporting on how off-the-Hill developments will impact legislative issues. This program will be conducted by a CongressDaily trainer.

Monday,
March 15, 2010,
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

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Westlaw: Introduction and New Features

Thomson/West's Westlaw legal and legislative online database provides access to state and federal statutes, case law materials, public records, and other legal resources. The West Key Number System, provided on Westlaw, is the master classification system of U.S. law, claimed to be "the only recognized legal taxonomy". Its 16,000 databases not only contain legal information, but access to hundreds of full-text newspaper and magazine articles as well. In this session, a Westlaw training professional will teach you how to utilize Westlaw for your reference and research needs, introducing you to these databases and highlighting newly added features that make Westlaw an even more user-friendly research tool.

Tuesday,
March 30, 2010,
10:00 am - 12:00 pm

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The National Technical Reports Library: Introduction and New Features

The National Technical Information Service's new National Technical Reports Library (NTRL) offers online access to hundreds of thousands of technical reports collected by the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) from a wide variety of federal government agencies over the past 60 years. The NTRL currently offers searchable access to 2.5 million official, federal government scientific and technical reports, with over 500,000 of these available in full-text as PDF files. Attendees will learn how to effectively search through this database to locate official government reports, including many published by Interior Department bureaus and offices. This program will be conducted by a National Technical Information Service trainer.

Thursday,
April 8, 2010,
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

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Federal Legislative History Research Using Library Resources

Those interested in learning the process involved in compiling an official federal legislative history will find this particular training program invaluable. Attendees will learn how to use print and electronic resources available in the DOI Library to conduct legislative history research. Included will be a look at how to put together an "official" legislative history using Library resources such as the Congressional Information Service indexes, U.S. Congressional Serial Set (print and online editions), Congressional Record, HeinOnline, and the LexisNexis Congressional Hearings and Research Digital Collections. This program will be conducted by Reference Librarian Jennifer Klang.

Wednesday,
April 28, 2010,
10:00 am - 12:00 pm

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Matthew Bender Treatises on LexisNexis

Matthew Bender is a leading provider of analytical content such as treatises and practice guides with collections covering every legal practice area. Matthew Bender content is renowned for the expertise of its authors and is updated frequently to ensure currency and accuracy. This class will show attendees how to access and search through Matthew Bender treatises on subjects such as bankruptcy, evidence, federal civil procedure, electronic discovery, and real property via LexisNexis. This program will be conducted by a LexisNexis trainer.

Wednesday,
May 12, 2010,
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

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HeinOnline: Introduction and New Features

HeinOnline is the world's largest image-based collection of law and law-related material with more than 75 million pages of material stored digitally. HeinOnline is bringing previously unavailable content to the online research community in a fully-searchable, image-based format. In this session, you will learn how to use HeinOnline to search for materials in their Law Journal Library, Federal Register Library, U.S. Supreme Court Library, Statutes at Large Library, and the Department of the Interior Library, just to name some of the sources available. Each library contains documents dating from the inception of publications contained in the library, many dating as far back as the mid-19th century, fully searchable and available in PDF format. This program will be taught by a William S. Hein Company trainer.

Wednesday,
May 26, 2010,
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

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Advanced Legal Research on Westlaw

Attendees will learn how to take research skills learned in introductory Westlaw courses to the next level. Learn how to find cases by attorney or judge's name, date, and jurisdiction. Explore statutory materials and learn how to combine the best of book and online research with Westlaw's online Table of Contents. Delve into KeyCite's unique features that allow researchers to fine-tune their result by legal issue, jurisdiction, and other selected criteria. And learn how to personalize Westlaw to meet your unique research needs. This program will be conducted by a Westlaw trainer.

Tuesday,
June 8, 2010,
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

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ProQuest's National Newspapers Collection: Introduction and New Features

ProQuest's National Newspapers provides the Department of the Interior with online access to the most respected national and regional newspapers from across the U.S. The titles in ProQuest National Newspapers offer researchers thorough coverage of local, national, and international events with journalistic balance and perspective. Attendees will learn how to browse and search through ProQuest's collection of full-text articles from the Christian Science Monitor, Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and Washington Post dating back to the 1980's, using helpful browsing and searching tips offered by a Proquest trainer.

Wednesday,
June 23, 2010,
10:00 am - 12:00 pm

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U.S. Department of the Interior

The Interior Library

library@nbc.gov

Last Updated on 11/20/09

NBC Administrative Operations Directorate