The Snowed-in HLS Library
Bathroom Reader
Research Guide
of the Month
It’s a long, long wait
While I’m sitting in committee,
But I know I’ll be a law someday
At least I hope and pray that I will,
But today I am still just a bill.
–Schoolhouse Rock
What happened to that bill
while it was becoming a law,
anyway? Figuring it out is one of
the trickier tasks in the realm of
legal research, but you can make
it easier by consulting the HLS
Library research guide to federal
legislative history at http://bit.
ly/fedleghist.
Spotlight on Services:
Ask Us!
We recently launched a brand
new Ask a Librarian page at
http://bit.ly/askhlsl. In addition
to ways to get in touch with us,
we’re creating a knowledge base
of commonly asked questions
about research and HLS that you
can access anytime. Check it out!
Read the Bathroom Reader online at http://bit.ly/hlslbath. Send feedback and suggestions to mkribble@law.harvard.edu.
Volume 2 Issue 1: February 2011
Why Is It Called a Bug?
If you’ve ever wondered why
computer problems are called
bugs, here’s your answer:
In 1947, Navy Admiral and
computer pioneer Grace Hooper
found a moth in the relay of
a Mark II computer here at
Harvard. As it was removed, she
observed that the computer was
being “debugged.” The famous
bug, seen above, now resides
at the Smithsonian taped to a
page from Hooper’s notebook.
You can see the Mark II’s older
brother, Mark I, in the lobby of
the Science Center.
Digital Collections
Spotlight
Among the treasures in the HLSL
Historical & Special Collections
are 22 medieval legal scrolls from
Japan called komonjo. Komonjo
are remnants of day-to-day legal
transactions. Spanning the years
1158–1591, they often focus on
property issues, but also contain
edicts and judicial rulings. HLSL’s
komonjo collection, donated in
1936, is one of the finest collec-
tions of its type outside Japan.
Read more about them and view
them online at http://bit.ly/
hlslscrolls.
Training!
Take advantage of the following
info sessions and classes at the
library this month—many are just
15 minutes long. Sign up at
http://bit.ly/hlsltraining.
e–Research Workshop
Monday 2/07, 12:30-12:45pm
Langdell 233 (computer lab)
Choosing a Paper Topic
Friday 2/11 12:30–12:45pm
Langdell 403 (by the Refdesk)
Business & Law Quickie Research
Tuesday 2/15, 12:30–12:45pm
Langdell 403 (by the Refdesk)
HBS–style Company & Industry
Research
Wednesday 2/16, 12:30–12:45pm
Langdell 403 (by the Refdesk)
International & Comparative Quickie
Research
Thursday 2/17, 12:30–12:45pm
Langdell 403 (by the Refdesk)
Researching International Human
Rights
Sunday 2/20, 11:00–11:45am
Areeda 524 (above the Refdesk)
Law & Social Change Quickie Research
Friday 2/25, 12:30–12:45
Langdell 403 (by the Refdesk)
Law & Government Quickie Research
Monday 2/28, 12:30–12:45pm
Langdell 403 (by the Refdesk)
For More from
Your HLS Library:
Blog: etseq.law.harvard.edu
Facebook.com/hlslib
Twitter.com/hlslib