WSLL @ Your Service November 2015

What's New - Carol Hassler
This Just In - Pete Boll
Tech Tip - Heidi Yelk
WSLL Recommends: Federal Habeas Corpus Practice & Procedure
Odds 'n' Endings - Carol Hassler

What's New - Carol Hassler

Staff News

The Dane County Law Library welcomes Zachary Fannin as the new library assistant. Zachary is a graduate student in the School of Library and Information Science at UW-Madison and is a member of the Jail Library Group. Welcome, Zachary!

New WestlawNext Classes

Sign up for free WestlawNext classes through February. Classes are held in the Wisconsin State Law Library training room.

In Milwaukee on November 11, attend a free class on Searching Google Scholar and Google Books for Legal Research. Join Beverly Butula, Manager of Library Services at Davis & Kuelthau, s.c., for this informative class which examines several useful Google tools including Google Scholar and Google Books. Locate case law, statutes, secondary sources, periodicals, and archival materials relevant to your search.

Get more information and sign up on our Classes page.

Holiday Closings

The Wisconsin State Law Library (WSLL) as well as the Milwaukee and Dane County Law Libraries will be closed Thursday, November 26 in observance of the Thanksgiving Day state holiday. On Friday, November 27, the Dane County Law Library will remain closed but WSLL and MCLL will be open regular hours.

To submit a question or request while the libraries are closed, you may call the State Law Library Reference Desk at (608) 267-9696 or use the Ask a Librarian online form. We will respond as soon as possible on November 27. For regular hours, please visit our Locations page.

Up to Top

This Just In - Pete Boll

New Title! Municipal Law Deskbook, edited by William J. Scheiderich
American Bar Association, 2015
Call Number: KF 5305 .S34 2015

Municipal Law Deskbook covers common legal issues that may come up in local government law practice. Chapters include an analysis of intergovernmental agreements, current legal and administrative issues at the state and federal level relevant to municipal finance powers, municipal bankruptcy, public sector employee issues, open records, and more.

New Title! Cybersecurity: A Practical Guide to the Law of Cyber Risk, by Edward R. McNicholas and Vivek K. Mohan
Practising Law Institute, 2015
Call Number: KF1263 .C65 C95 2015

Cybersecurity: A Practical Guide to the Law of Cyber Risk examines this rapidly evolving area of law with a focus on demystifying the web of federal and state statutes, Executive Orders, regulations, contracts, and tort issues that arise. The authors examine traditional sources of law as well as industry standards to deliver a comprehensive look at cyber risk.

This book includes a discussion of:

Guidance from consultants about steps to prepare for cybersecurity incidents
Best practices for victim response and reporting of cyber incidents
The Federal Trade Commission’s role in regulating unfair or deceptive trade practices
SEC disclosure rules
An explanation of National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) cybersecurity framework
The impact of preexisting statutes, such as the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, on current cybersecurity issues

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.

Up to Top

Tech Tip - Heidi Yelk

Data gobbling apps

Are you wondering why or how your smartphone is using so much data? It might be the apps you are using. Know My App from CTIA, The Wireless Association, may help you make sense of which apps are data hogs. Use the browse or search feature to find apps and see typical data usage.

Learn more about controlling the data on your phone with the following articles:

3 Tips to Reduce High Cellular Data Usage on iPhone with iOS 9 (OS X Daily)
Monitor your data usage in Windows 10 (CNET)
Which Smartphone Apps are the Biggest Data Hogs? (PC World)

Diagnosing website problems

Are you having problems accessing a website? The issue could be your device or it could be that the website is down. The service Down for Everyone or Just Me lets you enter a website address and see whether the site is down or if the problem is within your device or network.

Up to Top

WSLL Recommends: Federal Habeas Corpus Practice & Procedure

Federal Habeas Corpus Practice and Procedure helps attorneys navigate post conviction procedure. Organized according to the steps that a petitioner typically would take in a habeas corpus case, the book is easy to follow. It begins with post-conviction remedies and subject-matter jurisdiction, and then continues with the filing of the petition, pre-filing and post-filing stays, various pleadings that may be filed, proceedings that may be held, procedural defenses, post-judgment proceedings, and appeals.

Written from the "procedural perspective" of prisoners and detainees, it discusses complications that may arise for the applicant of federal habeas corpus. The book is well indexed allowing readers to jump to specific sections and find the answer to a particular issue quickly.

Now in its 6th edition, the treatise and accompanying annual supplement provide analysis of the latest habeas corpus statutory and case law. Extensive footnotes appear throughout and tables of cases and authorities are included. Appendices point to relevant statutes, rules, and legislative materials.

Federal Habeas Corpus Practice and Procedure is available to check out at the State Law Library.

Up to Top

Odds 'n' Endings - Carol Hassler

Staying safe on Cyber Monday

November means the start of holiday shopping season for many people. Cyber Monday, the first Monday after Thanksgiving, has earned a reputation for online shopping deals. Most tips for staying safe on Cyber Monday are relevant all year long. Visit our Internet Shopping page for links to agencies, complaint resources, and tips.

Watch the WiFi
Free WiFi is a wonderful thing, but not necessarily the most secure way to do business. Do online shopping at home or another trusted connection to minimize third-party snooping on your online transactions.
Look for https
Check for https or the padlock image in your browser. Any site that asks for your financial information should be secured by https.
Read product reviews
Read reviews online or check your local library for access to specialized websites like Consumer Reports. Learn about rules for online reviews and recommendations at the FTC website.
Watch for scams
Be wary of products or gift cards offered for substantially less than you can find anywhere else. Avoid clicking on links in emails or on social media. If the offer is from a trusted retailer, go directly to that website instead of clicking on a link. Search the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center or other social forums for warnings. Visit eConsumer.gov to complain about international scams and online consumer problems that cross national borders.