Code Surfing

USCodeSurf is a website that supports natural language searching of the Legal Information Institute's version of the United States Code. While searching the U.S. Code with natural language technology does not rival browsing its index or Popular Name Table (if you do not know what the popular name table is, click on the link--seriously, you really should know what it is), USCodeSurf may be on to something with how it displays its search results. It displays search results in a grid with three columns, rather than a top-to-bottom list. Will this be a feature that more well-known search engines and databases will adopt in the future?




Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

2006 United States Code

You can stop holding your breath. The 2006 United States Code has been completed. It is up-to-date through the end of 2006. What is nice about it is that you can now download PDF copies of individual sections of the U.S. Code from the Government Printing Office website.

Of course, if you don't need a PDF of the official version of the U.S. Code, the Legal Information Institute still provides a good free version that is more up-to-date.



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

U.S. Code on HeinOnline

You can now access and download PDF images of the United States Code on HeinOnline! This should relieve many law journal members of carrying 30-40 pounds of books back and forth between the library and their offices a few times each year. (It may not immediately improve life for anyone else.)

To access Hein, click here, or click on the HeinOnline link on our library's homepage.



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat