CK - Law and Administration

1997

CK -- Law and Administration

97-3/4-386

Lexikon der europäischen Rechtsgeschichte [Dictionary of European Legal History]. Gerhard Köbler. München: Beck, 1997. xvi, 657 p. 25 cm. ISBN 3-406-42796-0: DM 98.00

The author, professor of the history of law at the University of Innsbruck, has published a good number of legal dictionaries. Here he is attempting to describe the complete legal history of Europe "since the earliest recognizable beginnings" in one handy volume. The 6,000-plus articles are often supplemented by citations taken from Köbler's 1990 bibliography, Einfache Bibliographie europäisch-deutscher Rechtsgeschichte. For broad concepts, the space allotted is sometimes too slight (compared, for example, with Adalbert Erler's Handwörterbuch zur deutschen Rechtsgeschichte [1971- ]); a more precise description of the central themes of legal history would not have made the book too much longer and would have improved the reader's understanding of the cited literature, which for its part appears to be appropriately selected. Nevertheless, the lexicon is a must for every library with an interest in legal history: it offers a good introduction to concepts, geographical terms, and well-known legal personalities, all at a reasonable price. [kkf/vh]

97-3/4-387

Fundstellenverzeichnis veröffentlichter Entscheidungen deutscher Gerichte 1980-1995 [Index to Sources of Published German Court Decisions, 1980-1995]. Ed. Carsten Schütz and Christoph Möllers. Köln: RWS-Verlag Kommunikationsforum. ISBN 3-8145-8600-X: DM 248.00

Vol. 1. Chronologisches Entscheidungsregister [Chronological Decision Index]. 1996. xxx, 1771 p.

Vol. 2. Zeitschriftenregister [Periodicals Index]. 1996. x, 1510 p.

Next to laws and commentaries, collections of case law are the most important sources for the study and practice of law. Although designated "official," German case law collections are far from complete, so that researchers must also look in periodicals for case law. Searching will be made easier by this new index, which is really a super-index and concordance for most published decisions for the period covered. Eighty-one periodicals and collections of case law were analyzed. Decisions of European courts as well as those of the German Democratic Republic are also included. The first volume is arranged by court type and jurisdictional level; all decisions are listed chronologically. The second volume is organized by source, year, and page. The index of decisions in the first volume is especially helpful; if a cited periodical is not available, the index may point to another locally available title containing the same decision. A subject index, however, is not included. This publication is sure to become an indispensable reference tool in the search for legal sources. [krb/vh]

97-3/4-388

Taschenbuch des öffentlichen Lebens: Europa und internationale Zusammenschlüsse [Handook of Public Life: Europe and International Federations]. Ed. Albert Oeckl. Bonn: Festland-Verlag. 15 cm

2d ed. (1997). xxv, 1511 p. ISBN 3-87224-037-4: DM 126.00

When the "Europa-Oeckl" first appeared a year ago, it was reviewed in IFB and RREO (see also RREA 2:241). Two sections which were missing from the first edition of this directory to European names and addresses in the public sector have now been added: (N) "Education and Training" and (O) "Science and Research," which includes an extensive listing of bodies dealing with standardization. For (P), "Art and Culture," we are told once again to wait for the next edition. The concept of including the German sister organizations along with the European ones has been maintained in the new sections. Throughout, the English form of the name is now listed first, followed by French and German name forms. A separate index of acronyms has been added. [sah/vh]

97-3/4-389

The European Public Affairs Directory: The Comprehensive Guide to Opinion-Formers in the Capital of Europe. Brussels: Landmarks. 30 cm. ISSN 0777-5814 (Landmarks SA, av. de Tervuren 402, B-1150 Bruxelles, fax [32 2] 280 60 56)

8th ed. 1998 (1997). 416 p. FB 3,550.00

Intended for lobbyists in Brussels, this directory--the 5th edition [1996] was reviewed in IFB 95-1-118-- lists and provides information on international corporations with offices in Brussels, interest groups, media, EU institutions, much as in the previous edition. Changes and new information are added to section 5, which lists EU- related databases and CD-ROMs, EU information offices, documentation centers, Internet sources about Europe, and the addresses of EU libraries in Brussels. A list of abbreviations and acronyms and a selection of important phone numbers are new to this edition. More information about (and some extracts from) this directory are available at http://www.landmarks.be. [sah/mj]

97-3/4-390

Europahandbuch [Europe Handbook]. Ed. Gerhard Hitzler. Köln [et al.]: Heymann. 21 cm. English-language ed. published as Directory of European Institutions

1998 [1997]. xxiii, 381 p. 21 cm. ISBN 3-452-23258-1: DM 98.00

More than merely an address book, Europahandbuch provides considerable background information, e.g. an introduction and an overview of European Union institutions, an explanation of their legal mandates and responsibilities, as well as general information about these organizations and the way they operate. The three main sections feature EU institutions, other international organizations, and trade organizations. Name and subject indexes conclude the directory. Since the second edition, this directory, which unlike the Euroguide (below) is intended primarily for a German readership, has had a publication interval of four years between editions, which is totally inadequate for a directory. [sah/mj]

97-3/4-391

Euroguide: annuaire des institutions de l'Union Européenne et des autres organisations européennes; références européennes [Euroguide: Directory of the European Union and other European Organizations; European References]. Bruxelles: Ed. Delta. 31 cm. ISSN 0771-7962

15^th ed. (1997). 648 p. ISBN 2-8029-0130-3: FB 5,900.00

Beginning with a detailed table of contents and general information about the European Union, this trilingual guide devotes its entire first part (pp. 42-193) to the legal basis, structure, publications, etc., of the various components of the EU. The comprehensive listing of addresses (pp. 195-585) is divided into 17 sections, featuring in addition to EU institutions other Europe-wide governmental and non-governmental organizations, e.g. CERN and the European Parliament. Similar to the Europahandbuch, Euroguide also includes a directory of EU officials. The appendix contains a chronological listing of the history of European cooperation, a select bibliography of official EC publications and journals (including subscription addresses), a glossary of abbreviations and acronyms, and a name index.

Despite considerable overlap in coverage, each of the major EU directories serve distinct needs and interests: Europa-Oeckl is intended for German users and outlines European and German institutions; European Public Affairs Directory is targeted primarily at lobbyists in Brussels and Strasbourg, and, for libraries, is the most dispensable among the three; and Euroguide and Europahandbuch provide additional background information and the addresses of subordinate bodies, with the latter directed at a German audience. [sah/mj]

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