Wisconsin State Law Library

What's New - Carol Hassler

Public Library Initiative

Julie Tessmer, State Law Librarian, was excited to participate in the re-launch of the Public Library Initiative on June 10th, 2014. The Wisconsin Court System and the South Central Library System co-sponsored a three hour training session for librarians at the Fitchburg Public Library titled: Serving the Legal Information Needs of the Public. The project's goal is to foster communication between local courts and public libraries in an effort to better meet the legal needs of self-represented litigants. These training sessions will continue to be offered at public libraries throughout the state.

The presenters are pictured above from left to right

Jean Anderson, Continuing Education/Multitype Consultant SCLS
Julie Tessmer, State Law Librarian, Wisconsin State Law Library
Bonnie MacRitche, Office of Court Operations
Carlo Esqueda, Clerk of Circuit Court, Dane County
Marsha Mansfield, Professor, UW-Madison Law School
Gail Richardson, District Court Administrator, 5th Judicial District
Honorable Shelley Gaylord, Circuit Court Judge, 5th Judicial District
Louis Mineau, Register in Probate, Rock County

Upcoming Classes

Six CLE classes in Madison and Milwaukee are now open for registration. This summer or fall make some time to brush up on your research skills and learn about new products and databases. Classes include WestlawNext, tablet and smartphone apps for lawyers, using Index to Legal Periodicals, and researching Wisconsin legislative history. These great classes fill up quickly so register now to reserve your seat. Check our Classes page for more information. You may want to bookmark that page as new CLE classes are added throughout the year.

Libraries Closed on July 4th

All three libraries will be closed in observance of Independence Day on July 4th. You can still email or call us while we are closed. We will return calls and emails on Monday, July 7th. Have a great holiday!

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New Mobile Version of Our Library Catalog - Amy Crowder

The library recently introduced a mobile version of our library catalog, http://mcat.wsll.state.wi.us. The new mobile catalog offers a streamlined interface, with one search box and a simple display for your smartphone.

While simplified, you still have direct access to law reviews in databases such as HeinOnline or Index to Legal Periodicals. You can also use the mobile catalog to renew books you have checked out. If you need to call one of our libraries, simply select the appropriate phone number within Library Information. If you want to switch to the full version of the catalog, you can do that by choosing Main Site.

Enjoy the ease of taking the mobile catalog into the library stacks with you. A quick check for a call number or the availability of a book can save you time. Feeling lost in the stacks? The book's location is a link to an explanation and map of where to find the book. A floor plan is available for the State Law Library; floor plans for our Milwaukee and Dane County courthouse resource centers will be appearing soon.

Smartphone users are automatically redirected to the new mobile catalog. You can also add an application shortcut to your smartphone's home screen.

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This Just In... - Pete Boll

New Edition! Wisconsin Attorney's Desk Reference, 5th edition, 2013-2014 revision
State Bar of Wisconsin, 2014
WSLL Call Number: KFW 2481.W57 A5

This concise, practice oriented two volume set presents a useful collection of the key elements of practice in 11 broad categories of law. Each chapter provides important considerations, practice strategies, and relevant case law and statutes including:

• Administrative law
• Appellate procedure
• Business law
• Civil litigation
• Creditor/Debtor
• Criminal law
• Estate planning and probate
• Family law
• Intellectual property
• Real estate and property
• And more topics, such as Animal law, Mental health, etc.

Updated! Wisconsin Limited Liability Company: Forms and Practice Manual, 2014 supplement, by Jeffrey J. Storch and Patrick P. Neuman
Data Trace Publishing, 2014
WSLL Call Number: KFW 2607.5.W5 W572

Wisconsin attorneys Storch and Neuman have updated this two volume treatise for 2014. Recent developments include:

• New section on cash flow distribution to fund tax liabilities
• Two new corresponding forms - Distributions to Pay Taxes, and Tax Payment Loans
• Sections on the uses of single-member LLCs
• New manager-managed operating agreement
• New information on Series LLCs

Also included is a CD containing all forms from the two volumes.

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

Index to Legal Periodicals - for current awareness

"Current awareness" is important in any line of work. Being aware of new developments and new perspectives helps people to do their jobs better.

The library now provides access to Index to Legal Periodicals. Alerts from this database are a great way to follow peer-reviewed journals and augment your current-awareness strategy. Setting up an alert or RSS feed is easy. First, if you are accessing the database off-site, log in via the Wisconsin State Law Library's database page. See our new tutorial to learn how to log in.

Step one: Create a search on the topic of choice.

Step two: Near the upper right corner of the results list, click the drop down arrow next to the word "share." The example below shows an alert created for the keywords "law firm marketing." Choose a preferred method for alert delivery: "Email Alert" or "RSS Feed." (Note: email alerts will prompt you to create an Ebsco account.)

Once the email alert or RSS feed is active, you will receive updates at the frequency you choose.

Online Tutorials

Watch our two new tutorials on using Index to Legal Periodicals, available below or on our YouTube and Vimeo channels.

Accessing Index to Legal Periodicals From Your Office or Home Computer from Wisconsin State Law Library on Vimeo.

Basic Search Features in Index to Legal Periodicals from Wisconsin State Law Library on Vimeo.

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Odds 'n' Endings - Carol Hassler

Online Law

We are excited to see that the Wisconsin Legislature's statutes and acts online archive now extends back even further. With some gaps, Wisconsin Statutes are available back to 1941/42 and Wisconsin Acts go back to 1849.

The American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) named Fastcase and William S. Hein & Co. joint winners in their 2014 New Product of the Year award. The Fastcase and HeinOnline partnership was recognized for its successful bridging of Fastcase's primary law and Hein's law journal and historical legal expertise.

HeinOnline is available to most Wisconsin State Law Library card holders outside of the library, and available to everyone within our three libraries. Attorneys can use their FastCase access through the State Bar of Wisconsin along with their State Law Library card to make full use of this partnership. Using it is as intuitive as selecting a link for a case in HeinOnline to read the opinion from FastCase. FastCase users can take note of citations pulled up in FastCase results, then log in to HeinOnline to get to the full text.

Getting a library card is easy. Fill out our online form or print and send in an application to get a card mailed to you.

July Notables

July 1, 1967 - Oleo sales (margarine) in Wisconsin become legal. Wisconsin was the last state to lift the ban on colored oleo. Source: This Day in History

July 4th - Happy Independence Day! All three libraries will be closed in observance of the holiday.

July 13, 1936 - Wisconsin hit its hottest temperature on record at 114 degrees in Wisconsin Dells. Source: Climate of Wisconsin

Lady Justice arrayed in patriotic garb can be found in the Wisconsin State Law Library's Reading Room. Happy Independence Day!

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