Back in October 2019, we announced the launch of a new database, Business and Legal Aspects of Sports and Entertainment (BLASE). We are thrilled to announce this new database is the recipient of the 2020 Joseph L. Andrews Award. This news comes shortly after AALL amended its requirement to allow the submission of online products. We’ll explore this unique database that provides one-step access to business and legal aspects of sports and entertainment in more than 1.3 million pages of critical information!
Joseph L. Andrews Legal Literature Award
The Joseph L. Andrews Legal Literature Award recognizes a significant textual contribution to legal literature. The textual work may be a book, pamphlet, periodical contribution, website, database, or publication in some other format. Nominations for the Andrews Award shall be measured by the creative, evaluative elements and the extent to which originality and judgment were factors in the formation of the work. The term ‘legal literature’ is meant to be broadly defined, and includes works that: 1) are bibliographical in nature, listing the works of a particular author, printer, or country, or a particular theme; or 2) contribute to the body of legal literature and that also contribute to advancing legal research or law librarianship.
To be eligible for consideration the work must have been published or made accessible to users during the calendar year prior to the year for which it is being nominated for the Andrews Award. The Award is not limited to publications prepared by law librarians or AALL members.
About the Database
Edited by Frank Houdek and Ed Edmonds, HeinOnline’s Business and Legal Aspects of Sports and Entertainment (BLASE) is designed to assist researchers in locating sources relevant to the many issues surrounding the critically important subject areas of sports and entertainment, both of which have now attained global prominence. The database builds upon HeinOnline’s historical strengths in legal periodical literature, case law, and U.S. federal and state materials by providing a unique topical arrangement for the documents within each tab, while also adding many important resources not previously available in HeinOnline. The editors also provide carefully selected lists of court decisions important to both issues, along with citations and brief annotations describing the significance of each case.
Subcollections Included:
- All Titles – Topic coded
- Books – Topic coded
- Congressional Documents – Topic coded
- Other Government Documents – Topic coded
- Legislative Histories – Topic coded
- National Sports Law Institute
- Periodicals
- Bibliography – Topic coded
- Scholarly Sports Articles – Topic coded
- Important Sports Cases – Topic coded
- External Sports Links – Topic coded
- Scholarly Entertainment Articles – Topic coded
- Important Entertainment Cases – Topic coded
- External Entertainment Links – Topic coded
- Athlete Agents Act (NCCUSL)
- Reference Sources
Exploring the Database
Topics
The backbone of this database is the topical arrangement created by the editors after analyzing more than 8,000 scholarly articles. A topic has been assigned to every title in BLASE, further organizing the content within each tab. This provides easy access to users who are researching specific topics.
There are more than 50 topics relating to sports, including:
There are more than 50 topics relating to entertainment, including:
Scope Notes
Each topic listed under Scholarly Sports Articles and Scholarly Entertainment Articles is given a scope note, which explains the focus of a given topic and, by extension, areas that a topic does not cover. Users can click the question mark in front of any topic to display its scope note. Some topics also include Related Topics in the scope note when applicable.
Important Cases
There are two case law tabs within BLASE, one for sports and one for entertainment. More than 120 Important Sports Cases and more than 65 Important Entertainment Cases are listed alphabetically by topic. Scope notes are available for each topic. Not familiar with a specific case? Click the question mark next each case to view an annotation. To view a case, click the case citation to be taken to the full text.
About the Editors
Frank G. Houdek holds B.A., J.D., and M.L.S. degrees from the University of California. Houdek has previously served as a librarian at Lawler, Felix, and Hall (an LA law firm), Associate Director of the Law Library and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Law at USC Law Center, and Law Library Director and Professor of Law at Southern Illinois University. Most recently, Houdek served as the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at Southern Illinois University School of Law until he retired in 2014.
Ed Edmonds holds A.B., M.L.S., and J.D. degrees from the University of Notre Dame, the University of Maryland, and the University of Toledo, respectively. He previously served as the law library director at the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at William & Mary, the Loyola University New Orleans School of Law, and the Law Library of the University of St. Thomas School of Law in Minneapolis. Edmonds served as the director of the Kresge Law Library at Notre Dame from 2006 until his retirement in 2016.
BLASE LibGuide
To explore more features of the BLASE database, check out our LibGuide. Get a more in depth look at the interface functionality and learn how to utilize the tools and features provided to assist you in all your research needs!
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