Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Westlaw Patron Access now available in the Library

We have just added a subscription to Westlaw Patron Access, a new online service for our non-law-school patrons doing legal research.

WHO can use it? Our West Patron Access subscription is intended for university patrons and public patrons – including alumni and attorneys – engaging in legal research.

WHERE is it? It’s only available on the 2 computers next to the Pharos printing station. Access is by IP address, so there are no passwords to learn.

HOW do patrons use it? All you do is sign patrons in to the computer as usual for a public patron. There is a desktop icon and a Start menu icon for the Westlaw service. When a user clicks on the icon they will first be taken to an agreement page that they must accept; then they are taken to the Westlaw research page.

WHAT does it offer? It contains many of the same databases as our Westlaw subscription, but there is a focus on Pennsylvania Federal primary law. Content includes:


Pennsylvania
  • PA cases

  • PA statutes

  • PA Administrative Code

  • PA forms

  • PA analytical materials and treatises

  • PA Jury verdicts and settlements

  • PA law reviews & journals

Federal

  • US Code Annotated

  • Federal caselaw

  • Regional Reporters

  • Code of Federal Regulations
    USCC&AN

  • 50 State Caselaw

  • 50 State Statutes

  • Keycite citator for all


It doesn’t have all of the secondary source materials, specialty materials, or international materials that Westlaw has. To see all of the databases included, click on the Directory at the top of the page.

BASIC INSTRUCTIONS:

I have set up 2 research tabs on the “home” page: Pennsylvania and Federal. The tabs are on the upper left of the screen. These tabs display the databases in that area of law. The Pennsylvania tab is the default, so when a patron signs on they will see a search box and a list of Pennsylvania law databases that they can search. You can instruct users to click on the Federal tab to see the federal databases.
The
Westlaw Patron Access Quick Reference Guide (4 page pdf) is a free download from the Westlaw site. We are going to save it on the desktop of the 2 computers and I will also get some glossies in print from our rep.

If anyone would like training in using Westlaw Patron Access, just let me know and we’ll set something up. Thanks!

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