Evaluating Legal Information Retrieval Systems: How Do the Ranked-Retrieval Methods of WESTLAW and LEXIS Measure Up?

Abstract

This article contends that the relative effectiveness of Lexis and Westlaw should be measured by their ability to find and rank relevant documents. It contains an evaluation of Boolean systems and includes discussion of the Blair and Maron and the Dabney studies in which high recall was the goal of online searches. It then suggests that when other means of discovering relevant cases are available, the need for high recall is diminished. Finally, the article examines and presents performance test results of Lexis' Freestyle and Westlaw's Win natural language search engines.     

Improving Communication Between Postgraduate Researchers and the University Library: A Case Study at De Montfort University Library and Learning Services

ABSTRACT

A well-established postgraduate researcher development program has existed at De Montfort University for many years. Library and Learning Services include modules on literature searching skills and critical appraisal. However, we recognized that researchers seemed to be disengaged with the services on offer. This concern informed a research project that considered the ways we could communicate better with researchers based on their needs. This paper explores the essential components of successful communication, such as context, timeliness and communication channels. An action-research approach was taken including focus groups and online surveys. The outcomes highlighted three significant crisis points, emphasizing the key times when researchers might need some intervention. The findings of this research identified the distinct needs of Postgraduate Researchers (PGRs) and how relevant and timely communication from the library can meet these needs. It also considers the impact of how communication has improved with researchers as a result of some of our interventions.     

Should We Care If the Case Digest Disappears?: A Retrospective Analysis and the Future of Legal Research Instruction

ABSTRACT

This article begins with a brief history of the West key number digest system. Next, it reviews some of the prominent literature discussing the shift from case digests to full-text searching (including the sole user study on this topic). Then, this article examines how the paradigm shift is reflected in law library collections and current trends in legal research instruction. Finally, the author presents four lessons gleaned from this discussion that may help shape future legal research instruction and proposes a user study to better inform future discussion.     

中文自然语言理解技术与智能检索

本文论述什么是中文自然语言理解技术，详细说明如何理解，智能搜索引擎如何应用中文自然语言理解技术进行检索。     

美国两大法律数据库检索技术与功能比较分析

Lexis.com和Westlaw International是美国两个著名的法律数据库,其文献收录覆盖范围广、文献类型多样、检索技术复杂,从内容到功能上十分类似。对两者收录内容、检索方式、检索技术、检索功能等进行比较和分析,可使用户对其结构和检索技巧有更深刻的了解,方便学习者和研究者有效利用这两大法律数据库。     

美国两大法律数据库检索技术与功能比较分析

Lexis.com和Westlaw International是美国两个著名的法律数据库,其文献收录覆盖范围广、文献类型多样、检索技术复杂,从内容到功能上十分类似。对两者收录内容、检索方式、检索技术、检索功能等进行比较和分析,可使用户对其结构和检索技巧有更深刻的了解,方便学习者和研究者有效利用这两大法律数据库。     

“Unknown Symbols”: Online Legal Research in the Age of Emoji

Abstract

Over the last decade, emoji and emoticons have made the leap from text messaging and social media to legal filings, court opinions, and law review articles. However, emoji and emoticons’ growth in popularity has tested the capability of online legal research systems to properly display and retrieve them in search results, posing challenges for future researchers of primary and secondary sources. This article examines current display practices on several of the most popular online legal research services (including Westlaw Edge, Lexis Advance, Bloomberg Law, Fastcase, HeinOnline, and Gale OneFile LegalTrac) and suggests effective workarounds for researchers.     

Library-Specific Uses of the Dialog Databases Through Westlaw Academic Passwords

Academic law libraries now have access to many Dialog databases through the transparent interface of Westlaw. This is available at a moderate charge under the academic contract with West. Many of these databases are of special interest to librarians, and are being underutilized. This paper surveys some available databases with special library uses, and notes special aspects of searching the Dialog databases through the Westlaw interface.     

Powers Reserved to the People: A Guide for Researching Initiatives and Referendums in North Dakota

SUMMARY

The right of the people in North Dakota to initiate or refer laws is guaranteed by Article III of the North Dakota Constitution. This guide provides a short history of the initiative and referendum process in North Dakota; continues with the current petition process and recall practice; includes selected statutes and case law; provides annotations for selected secondary materials; provides selected LexisNexis and Westlaw database identifiers; and concludes with selected Web sites useful for researching initiatives and referendums in North Dakota.     

A Review of the OvidSP Platform

ABSTRACT

As part of its mission to advance the technological capabilities of its products, Ovid introduced a redesign of its database platform in fall 2007. The platform redesign brought new features and enhancements to an already robust system. The transition between Ovid Gateway and the OvidSP platform was orchestrated seamlessly. With the OvidSP platform came innovative changes such as the incorporation of Natural Language Processing associated with the new Basic Search mode. Discussed are OvidSP features, advantages and disadvantages of the new platform, customizable settings, and future direction.     

Putting Students in the Driver's Seat

Abstract

Library Web pages are increasingly designed to be the initial entry point for research, whether used from the library or off campus. But the pages must be intuitive and easy to use or students may bypass them completely, in favor of more familiar Web resources. This article presents the process, results, and evaluation of a Web usability study conducted at Linfield College with undergraduate participants. Web usability testing was a relatively quick and inexpensive way to find out how students used the library Web pages, information that proved invaluable in making effective modifications to them. In the process, researchers gained insights into student online searching and research patterns that have informed reference and teaching activities as well.     

Electronic Research Beyond LEXIS-NEXIS and Westlaw

ABSTRACT

Lower-cost alternatives to LEXIS-NEXIS and Westlaw have entered the scene to give users without deep pockets access to electronic legal and congressional research. Loislaw.com, V., Congressional Universe and CQ.com on Congress may open up electronic research to new users and lure away some of the big legal research services' customers as well.     

Going the Distance (and Back Again): A Distance Education Course Comes Home

Summary

University 300, a course on research and Internet skills, was originally developed at Washington State University for the distance education program. Using a critical thinking approach to the contemporary information environment, the course has grown, evolved, and been transformed into a general education course for the main campus at the university. The course's history shows how strong administrative support and beneficial collaborations across the university transformed the course into an emerging key component of the university curriculum.     

Availability of Works Cited in Recent Law Review Articles on LEXIS,Westlaw, the Internet,and Other Databases

SUMMARY

In this study, a group of recent law articles was examined to determine the proportion of cited resources that are easily findable online. Searches were conducted in databases such as LEXIS and Westlaw, and on the Internet, for full-text versions of every source cited in seven articles. The results have been broken down into 13 categories, including “federal cases,” “books,” “foreign law,” and “legal periodicals pre-1990.” Not surprisingly, coverage differs widely between the categories. Overall, the study found that 77% of the 1,984 citations in the articles reviewed are available online. The article concludes with a general discussion of why the percentage is likely to increase in the future.     

The Quest for Client Savings in Legal Research: WestlawNext v. Westlaw Classic

The cost to the client of Westlaw versus WestlawNext was assessed using two research methodologies. One methodology reflected real-world questions over time across categories. The other methodology had artificially generated questions broken down by category and evenly numbered across platforms. In both experiments, WestlawNext cost the client roughly double the cost of Westlaw Classic. Simplified pricing plans were cheaper for primary law and expert materials but were more expensive for other categories.     

The Economic Logic of Copyright

Summary

Current efforts in Congress to strengthen the copyright protection afforded databases should seriously concern all librarians but especially those in legal reference. The reliance on databases, primarily those of Lexis-Nexis and Westlaw, make the users of such services particularly vulnerable to the exercise of monopoly power that copyright grants. An understanding of the unique economic characteristics of “information” and its relation to the public domain is essential to evaluating the economic, let alone social-democratic, impact of current proposals. This paper argues “economic logic” in and of itself does not necessarily support the provision of stronger copyright in general and for databases in particular.     

Using focus groups to evaluate a multiyear consumer health outreach collaboration

Objectives:Academic health sciences librarians sought to evaluate the efficacy and future of the Health Information Specialists Program, a five-year consumer health information outreach collaboration with public libraries across the state.Methods:Five focus groups were held with participants from all five years of the program. Thirty-four participants from the program attended. Facilitators used structured interview guides consisting of eleven questions regarding the impact of the collaboration on participants'' abilities to connect themselves or others to health information; the usefulness of materials or knowledge gained and its applications; any consumer health outreach projects that arose from the program; and suggestions for future topics, formats, or modifications. Data was hand-coded and analyzed using the framework analysis methodology for qualitative research.Results:Participants reported feeling improved confidence and comfort in providing health information services to their patrons. Numerous instances of knowledge transfer—in their personal lives, with their colleagues, and for their patrons—were described. Participants reported improved abilities to both find and evaluate consumer health information, and many adapted class materials for their own programming or teaching. Suggestions were provided for future class topics as well as a program website.Conclusion:Based on data from the five focus groups, the Health Information Specialists Program has positively impacted participants in a number of ways. Primary among these were self-reported improvement in both health information retrieval skills and the ability to evaluate the reliability of health information online, as well as in the confidence to help patrons with their health information needs.