Great tools from Virtual Chase

The Virtual Chase ('Teaching Legal Professionals How To Do Research') has, in the last couple months, put videos demonstrating how to use research resources online. Unfortunately, since I have only dialup (although that will change soon), I haven't been able to view the files, so hesitated to link them without seeing.

I've heard from a journalist friend, though, who leads a newsroom of young reporters; she's posted links to the research training videos on her intranet, and praises the videos highly.

Today the Virtual Chase's newsletter announces a new one: learning to use BRB's guide to online public records databases. BRB has been on my list of useful public record guides for several years now.

The others are available on Virtual Chase's website, on this Internet Research Presentations and Teaching Webs page. Note the videos listed here are demonstrating How To Search the SEC's EDGAR Database, and Using the U.S. Party/Case Index.

Virtual Chase has been one of the best sources around for guidance on finding research materials online, particulary in the area of People Finders and Public Records. The videos should be an essential part of any newsroom's tool kit. I'm looking forward to seeing them soon: the fiber optic cable is nearing our house.