Reference at Newman Library

Year: 2011

2010 Census Redistricting Data

The Census Bureau has finished releasing the 2010 Census Redistricting Data (P.L. 94-171) to each of the 50 states, DC, and PR. The Census is required by law to provide this dataset to each state within one year of the count so that states can redraw their legislative district boundaries based on population change.

The redistricting dataset provides basic population data broken down by race, Latino / Hispanic origin, and adult population (18 years and older) and basic housing data by occupancy status (total units occupied and vacant). Data is provided for most geographic summary levels (states, counties, places, census tracts, census block groups) but not all (no PUMAs, ZCTA/ZIP Codes or metro areas).

The easiest place to get basic data for each state, with summaries by counties and the largest cities, is via the Redistricting Data Press Kits. On the state pages you can download an Excel file for the state, along with static maps showing population and population change by county. A link to an interactive population map for the state is also provided

To access the full datasets for all the different geographies in the state, you’ll have to visit the new version of the American Factfinder. Since the interface is a little daunting, they’ve created a video tutorial that shows you how to get the data. For more info about the dataset, visit the 2010 Redistricting Data site.

A large bulk of the 2010 Census will be released in Summary File 1 (SF1) between June and August of 2011. For many of the census or demographic questions we receive (particularly concerning neighborhood data in NYC), you’ll still want to continue to send people to the most current release of the American Community Survey via the original version of the American Factfinder.

Green Consumerism -new book and proposed new FTC guidelines

Tuesday night the Robert Zicklin Center for Corporate Integrity hosted the third panel discussion of the year of the Sustainability Practice Network.  It was taped so it will be added to the digital collection.

It was a most interesting discussion, moderated by Jacquelyn A. Ottman, who also signed copies of her new book: The New Rules of Green Marketing: Strategies, Tools and Inspiration for Sustainable Branding.  A copy of the book was donated to the library, and it will be added to the collection. Ms. Ottman has written extensively and consulted on “green marketing.”  (We have her first book, from 1993.)

The panelists agreed that it is often difficult to know what questions one should ask about “green” goods.  There are more than 400 separate certifications  as to different products and goods. One panelist, a lawyer, works with the Better Business Bureau’s Advertising Review and  Monitoring Services, which was a new service to me.

Also, I learned that the Federal Trade Commission  has proposed new green guidelines.

Many Baruch students attended the program.

Interesting 9th Circuit ruling re trademark infringement lawsuit involving Internet keywords

Findlaw.com has a recent finding by the 9th Circuit court regarding a case in which a company purchased keywords including a competitor’s trademark for Internet searches.  Here’s a summary, based on the information found on Findlaw.com

“Network Automation (“Network”) and Advanced Systems Concepts (“Systems”) are both in the business of selling job scheduling and management software, and both advertise on the Internet. Network sells its software under the mark AutoMate, while Systems’ product is sold under the registered trademark ActiveBatch. Network decided to advertise its product by purchasing certain keywords, such as “ActiveBatch,” which when keyed into various search engines, most prominently Google and Microsoft Bing, produce a results page showing “www.NetworkAutomation.com” as a sponsored link. Systems’ objection to Network’s use of its trademark to interest viewers in Network’s website gave rise to this trademark infringement action.”

“The district court was confronted with the question whether Network’s use of ActiveBatch to advertise its products was a clever and legitimate use of readily available technology, such as Google’s AdWords, or a likely violation of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1114. The court found a likelihood of initial interest confusion by applying the eight factors  established more than three decades ago in AMF Inc. v. Sleekcraft Boats, 599 F.2d 341 (9th Cir.1979), and reasoning that the three most important factors in “cases involving the Internet” are (1) the similarity of the marks; (2) the relatedness of the goods; and (3) the marketing channel used. The court therefore issued a preliminary injunction against Network’s use of the mark ActiveBatch.

Mindful that the sine qua non of trademark infringement is consumer confusion, and that the Sleekcraft factors are but a nonexhaustive list of factors relevant to determining the likelihood of consumer confusion, the 9th Circuit “concludes that Systems’ showing of a likelihood of confusion was insufficient to support injunctive relief. ” Therefore, the 9th Circuit vacated the injunction and reverse and remand (sent it back to the lower court.)

NY Times to Toll Gate Access after 20th Article

Beginning in a few weeks, The New York Times is no longer going to allow visitors to its website to see more than 20 articles for free. Here’s the gist of the change, as reported in the Times today:

Beginning March 28, visitors to NYTimes.com will be able to read 20 articles a month without paying, a limit that company executives said was intended to draw in subscription revenue from the most loyal readers while not driving away the casual visitors who make up the vast majority of the site’s traffic.
Once readers click on their 21st article, they will have the option of buying one of three digital news packages — $15 for a month of access to the Web site and a mobile phone app; $20 for Web access and an iPad app; and $35 for an all-access plan.

Trial to APABI Digital Library

The APABI Digital Library contains a collection of books, newspapers and reference material in Chinese.

If you can search in Chinese, please select “IP” under the account registration box.

You can search in English: select English from the top right corner. Then login using “IP Sign in”

This trial is valid on-campus only and will last until April 14, 2011.

Please comment below or let me know what your thoughts are on this database.

For BPL5100 Students

Students in one of the BPL5100 classes I met with last week asked for industry-specific guides. Until I can develop some, I have added a page of industry resources to the BPL5100 Guide. These are the industries that are included: automobiles, oil and gas, lodging, restaurants, freight & logistics, pharmaceuticals, retailing and telecommunications.