Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009

A few minutes ago, President Obama signed the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 into law. For the actual act, click here. More information to come later.



Sonnet Erin Brown
Federal Documents Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research/Political Science

Meet the Press with Sen. John McCain and Sec. Tim Geithner (3/29/2009)

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Sonnet Erin Brown
Federal Documents Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research/Political Science

Face the Nation with President Obama (3/29/2009)

Watch CBS Videos Online



Sonnet Erin Brown
Federal Documents Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research/Political Science

President Obama's Weekly Address (3/28/2009)

Sonnet Erin Brown
Federal Documents Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research/Political Science

President John Tyler's Birthday

Today marks the 219th birthday of our 10th president, John Tyler. President Tyler served from 1841-1845 and was dubbed "His Accidency" by his opponents. He was the first Vice President to become President by the death of his predecessor (President William Henry Harrison). To learn more, click on these links:


White House: Biography of John Tyler


Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress: John Tyler


Sonnet Erin Brown
Federal Documents Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research/Political Science

"John Tyler."Dictionary of American Biography Base Set. American Council of Learned Societies, 1928-1936. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, 2009. http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC

Frontline: Ten Trillion and Counting (3/24/2009)

For those of you interested in the deficit, this episode of Frontline (Ten Trillion and Counting) aired last night.






Sonnet Erin Brown
Federal Documents Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research/Political Science

President Obama's Press Conference (3/24/2009)

Read the transcript here.



Sonnet Erin Brown
Federal Documents Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research/Political Science

World Tuberculosis Day, March 24th

Today marks World Tuberculosis Day. For more information, visit the Stop TB Partnership or Dipnote, the U.S. Department of State Blog.





Sonnet Erin Brown

Federal Documents Librarian

Subject Specialist: Legal Research/Political Science

President Obama's Weekly Address (3/21/2009)

Sonnet Erin Brown
Federal Documents Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research/Political Science

World Water Day, March 22nd

World Water Day is an international observance that grew out of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environtment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro. This year's theme is tranboundary waters: sharing water, sharing opportunities. The lead UN agencies this year are UNECE and UNESCO.

Check out the UM Booklet Water for Life Decade.


Sonnet Erin Brown
Federal Documents Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research/Political Science

Violence Against Women Database

The UN Secretary-General's database on violence against women was launched on March 5, 2009. Check out General Assembly Resolution 61/143, the resolution that called for the Secretary-General to establish this database.

(Kudos to Law Librarian Blog for the links.)


Sonnet Erin Brown
Federal Documents Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research/Political Science

Women's Rights Around the World

In honor of National Women's History Month, I'm posting some government documents on women's rights around the world.

U.N. Security Council Resolution 1325 : recognizing women’s vital roles in achieving peace and security (2008)


Iraq, women’s empowerment, and public policy (2006)


Holding up half the sky : women’s rights in China’s changing economy (2003)



Recognizing the importance of inheritance rights of women in Africa (2002)


International efforts to end discrimination against women (2000)


Sonnet Erin Brown
Federal Documents Librarian
Subject Specialist: Political Science/Paralegal Studies

President Grover Cleveland's Birthday

Today marks the 172nd birthday of our 22nd/24th president, Grover Cleveland. He took office from 1885-1889 and again from 1893-1897. He was the first Democrat elected after the Civil War, and he was the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms. For more information, check out these links:


White House: Biography of Grover Cleveland

Grover Cleveland Library


Sonnet Erin Brown
Federal Documents Librarian
Subject Specialist: Political Science/Paralegal Studies

"Stephen Grover Cleveland." Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2nd ed. 17 Vols. Gale Research, 1998. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, 2009. http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC

Famous Irish Women

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, I'm offering some fun links about famous Irish women.


Famous Irish Women



Irish Women Poets


Quotes by Famous Irish Women


Sonnet Erin Brown
Federal Documents Librarian
Subject Specialist: Political Science/Paralegal Studies

United States v. Bernard L. Madoff

For those of you following the Madoff case and interested in the documents, check them out here.

(Kudos to Josh Kantor, The Harvard Law School Library Blog Et Seq. for the link.)


Sonnet Erin Brown
Federal Documents Librarian
Subject Specialist: Political Science/Paralegal Studies

President Obama's Weekly Address (3/14/2009)

Sonnet Erin Brown
Federal Documents Librarian
Subject Specialist: Political Science/Paralegal Studies

President James Madison's Birthday

Today is the 258th birthday of James Madison, our 4th president. Known as the "Father of the Constitution," this president was a Founding Father of both the United States and the Republican Party. He served as president from 1809-1817. The War of 1812 was often referred to as "Mr. Madison's War."

To learn more, check out these links...


White House: Biography of James Madison


The Papers of James Madison
(University of Virginia)


Sonnet Erin Brown
Federal Documents Librarian
Subject Specialist: Political Science/Paralegal Studies

"James Madison." American Eras, Volume 4: Development of a Nation, 1783-1815. Gale Research, 1997. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, 2009. http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC

President Andrew Jackson's Birthday

Today marks the 242nd birthday of our 7th president, Andrew Jackson. He served as president from 1829 to 1837. Some interesting facts and some links if you want to learn more.

Andrew Jackson was known as "Old Hickory." He came to fame when he led the Americans in the Battle of New Orleans. He also founded the Democratic party. In fact, the people of New Orleans were so loyal to Andrew Jackson after the Battle of New Orleans that they became Democrats because it was his party.

He was not kind to the Native Americans, however. Responsible for the decimation of the Creek Nation in Mississippi in the War of 1812, he was also responsible for the Cherokee Trail of Tears.


White House: Biography of Andrew Jackson


Andrew Jackson (American President: an Online Reference Resource)
Brought to you by the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia.


Sonnet Erin Brown
Federal Documents Librarian
Subject Specialist: Political Science/Paralegal Studies


"Andrew Jackson." American Eras, Volume 6: Westward Expansion, 1800-1860. Gale Research, 1999. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, 2009. http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC

New Orleans International Human Rights Film Festival

The 6th annual New Orleans International Human Rights Film Festival kicks off on March 26th and ends April 5th. For more information, visit their site: http://www.nolahumanrights.org.


Sonnet Erin Brown
Federal Documents Librarian
Subject Specialist: Political Science/Paralegal Studies

Proposition 8 goes before the California Supreme Court

Some of you may or may not be aware of the notorious Proposition 8 that is now before the California Supreme Court. Proposition 8 is a piece of legislature that eliminates the rights of same-sex couples to marry. This is a big news, and everyone is waiting with bated breath to see if the court says yes or no to Prop. 8.



The Proposition was originally voted on by the public. Here is the description of it in the California voter's guide. It passed with only 52.3% of the vote on November 4, 2008. Immediately following the election, three lawsuits were filed, seeking to overturn Prop. 8. On November 19th, the California Supreme Court agreed to consider the lawsuits. Oral arguments were heard on March 5, 2009.



Now, we anxiously await the results.





For both sides of the argument, check out these sites:



No On 8





Protect Marriage - Yes on 8


Sonnet Erin Brown
Federal Documents Librarian
Subject Specialist: Political Science/Paralegal Studies

President Obama Lifts Stem Cell Research Ban

Yesterday, March 9th, President Obama signed an executive order (PDF from NY Times), lifting the strict limitations placed on human embryonic stem cell research by the Bush administration. Find the memorandum here. You can also check out the White House blog entry on this event here.


Sonnet Erin Brown
Federal Documents Librarian
Subject Specialist: Political Science/Paralegal Studies

President Obama's Weekly Address (3/7/2009)

Sonnet Erin Brown
Federal Documents Librarian
Subject Specialist: Political Science/Paralegal Studies

International Women's Day 2009

March 8th is International Women's Day. To celebrate, check out this video of women world leaders:






Sonnet Erin Brown
Federal Documents Librarian
Subject Specialist: Political Science/Paralegal Studies

National Women's History Month: Fun Links

In honor of National Women's History Month, I'll be posting links to web sites and documents that are interesting! Here are some links:


Seneca Fall Convention Collection, American Treasures of the Library of Congress

19th Amendement of the Constitution, National Archives & Records Administration

Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, Division for the Advancement of Women (Dept of Economic and Social Affairs)


(Kudos to Dr. Day, Chair of the Political Science Department at UNO, for the wonderful links.)

Sonnet Erin Brown
Federal Documents Librarian
Subject Specialist: Political Science/Paralegal Studies

President Obama's Weekly Address (2/28/2009)

2/28/09: Your Weekly Address from White House on Vimeo.


Sonnet Erin Brown
Federal Documents Librarian
Subject Specialist: Political Science/Paralegal Studies

National Women's History Month

Yesterday marked the beginning of National Women's History Month! This year's theme is Women Taking the Lead to Save Our Planet.



This year's National Women's History Month is very important. On January 29, 2009 (just nine days after taking office), President Barack Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act into law. This piece of legislation is meant to fight pay discrimination and to ensure fundamental fiarness to American workers, regardless of gender.



So, for the next few weeks, I'll post links to documents and sites concerning Women's issues and rights. Also, be sure to check out our display on the 3rd floor and grab one of our handouts!

Sonnet Erin Brown
Federal Documents Librarian
Subject Specialist: Political Science/Paralegal