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The Peter Rodino
Law Library

Reference

Almost everything in a library could be considered a "reference" work, but this page collects a variety of sources that provide critical information quickly. These reference works range include Words (which includes, dictionaries, thesauri, usage and grammar works, and quotations) and Directories.

 

REFERENCE CONTACT INFORMATION
Reference Desk
973-642-8861
Reference E-mail

 

WORDS


Black's Law Dictionary(available via Westlaw)
Provides legal definitions, explanations of legal terms, and citations of authority.
Print version also available: Fourth Floor Reserve  KF156 .B53

Bluebook
Provides instruction on how to structure legal citations.
Print version also available: Fourth Floor Reserve KF245 .B58

Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law Online
The leading authority on the theory and practice of public international law.  Terms are defined and accompanied by citation to treatises and international case law. 

Oxford English Dictionary
The definitive dictionary of the English language.
Print version also available: Fourth Floor Reference PE1625 .O87

Oxford International Encyclopedia of Legal History
Provides both historical and contemporary comparisons of the world legal systems.  Approximately 1,000 articles explore the traditions of Ancient Greek Law, Ancient Roman Law, Medieval Roman Law, Chinese Law, English Common Law, Islamic Law, United States Law, and the laws of such other regions as Africa, Latin America, and South Asia.
Print version also available:  Fourth Floor Reference K50 .O94

Oxford Reference Online
Provides online, full text access to over 100 subject dictionaries and reference books published by Oxford University Press.  Also contains articles from Oxford journals and quotations from the Oxford Dictionary of Quotations.

Prince's Bieber Dictionary of Legal Abbreviations
Provides a comprehensive list of abbreviations used in legal encyclopedias, law reporters, loose-lear services, law reviews, legal treatises, legal reference books and citators in American legal literature.
Print version only: Fourth Floor Reserve KF246 .B46 2009

West's Encyclopedia of American Law
Provides current information on more than 5,000 legal topics and includes articles, biographies, and definitions of legal terms.
Print version only: Fifth Floor KF154 .W47  

World Dictionary of Legal Abbreviations
Provides abbreviations and acronyms for foreign law and legal literature.
Print version only: Fourth Floor Reference K85 .W67 1991

 


DIRECTORIES

Congressional Staff Directory
Includes comprehensive contact information for members of Congress.

Federal Staff Directory
Pinpoints senior officials and top aides working directly with the U.S. President and Vice President.  Executive branch department listings from Agriculture to Veterans Affairs are provided, along with telephone, departmental fax numbers, e-mail addresses and websites.

Homeland Security Staff Directory
Includes key personnel in every DHS office and agency nationwide, staff on every congressional committee dealing with homeland security and the courts and judicial agencies handling terrorism and related issues. 

Judicial Staff Directory
Provides judge and staff contact information and biographies for the federal and state courts; the national courts; federal circuit, district, and bankruptcy courts; and court administration. The directory also includes a special guide to the federal court system and county and city data for circuit and judicial districts.

Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory
Contains biographical information on practicing attorneys and brief profiles of U>S. and international law firms.

Marquis Who's Who
Includes professional and personal profiles of key U.S. and international figures. Combines every biography on nearly 850,000 people included in eighteen print volumes since 1985.

Ulrich's International Periodicals Directory
Provides data, including purchasing and contact information, on published serials from over 200 countries since 1979.