WEST LAUNCHES RESEARCH LIBRARY & COVERAGE OF UNPUBLISHED DECISIONS.

In related news, West Group (Eagan, MN) has released Municipal Library on Westlaw, an online information service for private--practice and government attorneys, and municipal officials.

West said the new library covers "virtually all" topics relevant to local government, including legal analysis, guidance, model forms and ordinances, and links to statutues, regulations, cases and rules. The new online research library also gives users access to "McQuillan Municipal Corporations," a reference for attorneys representing or opposing cities, counties, villages, towns, and other local governments. It covers a broad range of issues facing municipalities, including elections, boundary disputes, land use planning, purchasing, employment, public social services, works/safety, environmental liability and intergovernmental collaboration.

Also available on the Municipal Library is "Matthews Ordinances," a collection of more than 5500 pages of sample model ordinances and forms on over 65 topics. It includes guidance on municipalities' power to enact ordinances, ordinance construction and phraseology, the process of enacting, amending and repealing ordinances, and the expanding role of the municipal attorney. The Library also includes "Municipal Legal Forms."

Also, West has begun the publication of West's Federal Appendix, a collection of U.S. Court of Appeals unpublished opinions. The opinions include enhancements, such as case synopses, headnotes and assignment in the West Key Number System.

West said it began including editorial headnotes and key number classifications to selected unpublished opinions in January 2000. Starting with opinions issued Jan. 1, 2001, all U.S. Court of Appeals unpublished decisions will receive full editorial enhancements, be given a new citation and be made available in print, on CD-ROM and on Westlaw. West said that Federal Appendix will produce approximately 10-15 print volumes per year.

West said that citations for unpublished decisions will be clearly identified in the National Reporter System. West will include a caveat, both print and online, with each case to let customers know that these opinions were not selected for publication in the Federal Reporter.