Keeping It Brief!

News and information from the Dickinson Law Library

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Chromebooks Available at the Law Library

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The Law Library has two Chromebooks available for checkout to our Law School community.

Lightweight and uncomplicated to use, these computers are excellent for internet browsing, sharing documents in collaborative study sessions, and creating documents on the go. If you need to do internet research in class and you don’t have your laptop handy, check out a Chromebook. It is optimal to use Chromebooks connected to the internet with Google Chrome OS. The Chromebooks applications and documents live in the cloud and use Google’s apps such as Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Drive.

Chromebooks automatically update when opened which helps ensure current updates and security. They do not store your settings or documents locally. In fact, it is recommended NOT to save any personal settings on the Chromebook you borrow.

The Law Library’s Chromebooks check out for 4 hours at a time and may be renewed to extend the lending time. Included with each Chromebook is a 2-piece power cord and instructions for getting onto the Penn State wireless network.

When the Chromebook first boots up, you will see the welcome screen. Click “Let’s Go” to begin and follow the provided instructions.

To access the wireless network, select the PSU Wi-Fi network from the available list and enter the credentials included with the Chromebook under PSU wireless setup. If you do not have a Google account, select “more options”.

To protect your account using the Chromebook, follow these tips:

  • Choose “guest wireless” mode when setting up the wireless.
  • Do not save your logon credentials if you use your PSU user id and password.
  • Please deselect “Save my password”.

When logging out, click on your profile and select “sign out” or “exit guest”. Remember, your previous settings and applications will not remain on the Chromebook after it is returned. For further tips on Chromebook usage, see this link provided by Penn State University.

The Law Library is Here for You

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Our doors are open!  During the first weeks of law school the library can be most helpful in providing support until school settles into a routine.

It is the place to sign onto computers to read your syllabus and even print materials for class. The printers are located on all 3 levels of the Library.

You can also scan or copy that chapter of the textbook you borrowed from a friend because your book has not yet arrived through the mail.

It is the location of the physical/print reserves that your Professor has mentioned or are listed on your syllabus.  It is also where the desk staff can show you where the articles are found in The CAT electronic reserves link.

The Library is the place where you can reserve a study room and begin to shape your study group for the semester.  Or just read on your own in a smaller study room on the 2nd floor.  There are now spacious carrels on the lower level of the Library.

The Library is where you can borrow a board game and create your own stress-busting game night to take a break from reading.

The circulation desk is staffed by students who are happy to assist you with locating books through The CAT, checking out materials and other access services assistance.

The Library is also where our Law Library Faculty is available to answer your questions.  Please feel free to stop by!

Study Spaces in the Law Library

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As the end of the fall semester is fast approaching, more intensive studying begins.  Tucked away there are spots to study in the library, if you haven’t discovered them already.

If you are part of a study group and need a centralized placed to work together, there are three group study rooms available for use.  You may refer to the Law library webpage under Student Resources, or see the student library assistants at the circulation desk to reserve a room. We ask you use two names of members of your group to reserve the rooms for a 2 hour block of time. If no one else has reserved the same room for the following 2 hours, you may reserve the next 2 hour block as well.

For quieter studying, the two corner rooms, 207 and 208 on the 2nd level, are suitable.  These study rooms are equipped with deep study carrels and a small table and chairs.  They are not subject to reserving for collaborative group study, but more for those whole prefer quiet, solitary study spaces.

The lower level of the law library is another excellent area for exam preparation. Outfitted with some soft seating, low tables and public computers, it is a fine compromise between the solitude of a quiet study room and the openness of group study.

Please remember to remove all of your personal belongings when you are finished using the room, so fellow students feel comfortable using the vacated space.

Coming soon! Stay tuned for information regarding Solstice, a wireless projection client powered by Mersive, a visual computing software provider. This technology is installed in group study rooms 202, 203, 209.

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