Wisconsin State Law Library

What's New – Connie Von Der Heide

Looking for mining laws?

With possible revisions to Wisconsin mining laws on the horizon, we've added another topic to our ever-growing Legal Topics A-Z listings. Our new Mining (Metallic and Nonmetallic) Legal Topic page contains links to statutes, regulations and other information about iron ore mining, sand mining and fracking, permitting, mine safety, and environmental protection. We're continually updating this page as new information is released. Visit our website frequently to stay informed on this and over 400 other law-related topics.

Interview with the DCLRC librarian

Lisa Winkler, librarian at the Dane County Legal Resource Center, was recently interviewed by Karen McKenzie, RN, a paralegal with the law firm of Winner, Wixon & Pernitz and member of the Madison Area Paralegal Association (MAPA). The interview was published in the January 2012 issue of MAPA's monthly member newsletter, COMPASS.

WSLL librarian published in Inside Track

"Staying Current on Legal Ethics Issues," an article by Connie Von Der Heide, WSLL Director of Reference & Outreach Services, was published in the February 1 issue of Inside Track, the State Bar of Wisconsin's free biweekly e-newsletter. The article provides suggested sources and strategies for keeping up with new case law and other legal ethics developments.

Upcoming legal research classes

There is still space in – and time to sign up for – our February 15th legal research classes on Westlaw Fundamentals, and Ethics Research via Westlaw. For complete details and registration forms, please visit our Learning Center Classes page.

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Looking Back, Moving Forward – Julie Tessmer, Interim State Law Librarian

2011 was an extraordinary year for the State Law Library. Here's a quick look back:

• A staff committee led by Amy Crowder, Director of Web & Bibliographic Services, planned a full year of activities to mark the library's 175th Anniversary, culminating with an evening reception on September 14th.

Above: Julie Tessmer with Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson who presented a plaque signed by all seven justices.

• The Governor declared April 20th as Wisconsin State Law Library Day.
  (Proclamation)


Jane Colwin with her own "Lady Justice" statuette, a retirement gift from the library staff.

• In May we said farewell to Jane Colwin, State Law Librarian, as she retired after 26 years of exemplary service to the Wisconsin Court System and the citizens of Wisconsin - a truly outstanding achievement.
• In July, the library received the American Association of Law Libraries 2011 Excellence in Marketing Award for Best Use of Technology. The award recognized this newsletter, WSLL @ Your Service.
• In November we celebrated former State (Law) Librarian Gilson Glasier's posthumous induction into the Wisconsin Library Hall of Fame. Glasier directed the library from 1906-1956.
• 2011 saw a dramatic increase in the number of users who accessed the WSLL website on mobile devices. Thanks to our Webmaster/Cataloger, Carol Hassler, the majority of our site was already in mobile-friendly format, ready and waiting.
• Among the many legal reference and research questions our reference service received in 2011, standout topics included mortgage foreclosure, recall elections, concealed carry, and voter ID.
• A team of staff led by Heidi Yelk, Electronic Services Librarian, created a WSLL Wiki, which provides us with a more efficient way to capture, organize and share internal library information – because after all, organizing and sharing information are what librarians do best!
• Connie Von Der Heide, Director of Reference and Outreach Services, made several "road trips" to present legal research training sessions and programs for Wisconsin judges, the State Bar, and several county bar associations.
• As they are every year, the Milwaukee and Dane County Legal Resource Centers, led by Lynne Gehrke and Lisa Winkler respectively, were bustling points of service – providing assistance to judges, attorneys, and the many, many pro se litigants who come seeking court forms and procedural information.

After that incredibly eventful year, you might be wondering what's left to work on in 2012! Here are a few items from our annual plan:

• We're in the process of developing some new legal research training classes (all of which offer CLE credit), producing additional online tutorials, and preparing programs we'll present at conferences and workshops throughout the year.
• We're looking at ways to continue increasing our mobile user traffic, and to reach out to users via Facebook and Google+.
• As part of our ongoing Collection Development process, we'll be making some more tough decisions again this year regarding our print and online collections - in order to stay within our budget while remaining a thriving and useful law library.

And the most important thing we work on, this and every year, is providing excellent service to our library users. No matter how you contact us - in person, by phone, fax or email - we are always ready and willing to help.

On behalf of all our staff at the State Law Library, the Milwaukee Legal Resource Center and the Dane County Legal Resource Center, I invite you to use and enjoy our libraries.

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This Just In… – Pete Boll

New! Deposition Objections, 2010-2012 edition, by Joseph A. Ranney.
James Publishing Inc., 2010
WSLL Call Number: KF 8900 .R35

Deposition – the extracting of relevant information from witnesses - can make or break a lawsuit. Authored by respected Madison attorney Joseph Ranney, this single-volume treatise offers practical guidance for making, opposing, and defending deposition objections. Major topics include:

• Part I: Before The Deposition
  • Objecting to deposition notices and subpoenas, preparing witnesses, and motions to quash or limit depositions
• Part II: Grounds For Objecting to Deposition Questions
  • Objections based on privilege and confidentiality, objections based on other grounds such as relevance, vagueness, lack of foundation, or legal conclusions
• Part III: Procedure Issues During the Deposition
  • Court rulings and supervision, instructing the witness not to answer, coaching and communications with the witness, colloquies and stipulations, and motions to strike and clarification
• Part IV: Special Situations
  • Objections to expert witness depositions, objections to videotape depositions, Objections at depositions of non-English speaking witnesses, objections to attendance of unauthorized persons
• Part V: After the Deposition
  • Making and opposing motions to compel, reviewing and correcting the deposition transcript.

Also included are tables of cases and statutes, an aid to finding rules relating to depositions, and a CD-ROM with 80 helpful forms and checklists.

New Edition! Automobile Fraud: Odometer, Salvage, and Lemon Laundering Fraud, Title Abuses, and Yo-Yo Sales, 4th edition, by Carolyn Carter.
National Consumer Law Center, 2011
WSLL Call Number: KF 2036.A8 C37 2011

The complexities of titling, registration, trade-ins, financing, leasing, physical damage, service contracts, and other fees provide ample opportunity for confusion and deception in automobile purchase transactions. This new edition in the National Consumer Law Center's Deception and Warranties Library can aid in the investigation and proof of automobile fraud and help victims obtain relief. Chapters include:

• Investigatory techniques
• Yo-Yo (spot delivery) abuses and sublease scams
• Federal and state odometer requirements
• Common law fraud, deceit, and misrepresentation
• Warranty, mistake, unconscionability, and negligence claims
• Litigating automobile fraud cases

Several appendices provide sample documents, complaints, motions and briefs, class action pleadings, and attorney fee papers.

See our latest New Titles list for a list of new books and other resources.

For assistance in accessing these or other resources, please contact our Reference Desk.

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Tech Tip in Brief – Heidi Yelk

Mobility is a buzz word that's heard a lot these days - mobile employees, mobile payments, mobile computing. How about mobile scanning? Although not new, portable document scanners continue to improve with new technology. With more employees on the go and prices coming down, mobile scanning may be a new tool to incorporate into your office.

Xerox recently announced a battery powered scanner that is wi-fi compatible, and Epson is introducing a portable color scanner in March 2012. The Lawyerist's Sam Glover reviews an ultra portable scanner, Doxie Go, on his website.

In addition to reviewing products, you'll also want to consider how scanning fits with your technology plan. Here are a few articles that might help. Some are available online, and the others may be ordered through our reference and document delivery service. (Fees apply.)

• Edwards, John. "Scanners on the go." New Jersey Law Journal, April 4, 2011.
• Harmon, Daniel. "Paper in legal practice: offices still are papered, but advances are evident." Lawyer's PC, July 1, 2011.
• Kodner, Ross. "Learn to use your scanner effectively." Wisconsin Lawyer, April 2004.
• Kodner, Ross. "Why I still hate scanners: moving toward the paperless office," GP Solo, June 2008.
• Krause, Jeffrey. "Time for a tech audit?" Michigan Bar Journal, July 2011.
• Newton, Charles. "Nuts and bolts of a virtual law office," Texas Bar Journal, July 2009.
• Pedersen, Neil. "Staying competitive for the solo and small firm: the paperless law office." Orange County Lawyer, July 2008.
• Rosner, Daniel. "Make your office a paperless workspace." Trial, January 2009.
• Schlein, Carol. "Time for a scanner: prime essential for your ‘paperless' office," Lawyer's PC, March 1, 2004.

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