Wisconsin State Law Library

What's New - Kristina Martinez

Celebrate National Library Week April 11-15, 2016

"Libraries Transform" is the American Library Association's public awareness campaign and WSLL's theme for this year's National Library Week. How do libraries transform? Check out Library Highlights and join us for our week of activities for National Library Week to learn more.

Class Bonanza: CLE and Other Offerings

Our class schedule is finalized for National Library Week and now is the time to sign up! Classes offered are:

• Wisconsin Legislature Website (April 11)
• Introduction to Westlaw (April 13)
• Productivity Apps Explained (April 14)
• Power Search (April 15, Webinar, $)

Check our Classes page for more information about each class and to register.

Wisconsin Courts and More: Crossword Available Online and at the Circulation Desk

Enter to win prizes by correctly filling out the "Wisconsin Courts and More" crossword. Stop by the circulation desk for your copy or find it online on Library Highlights starting Monday, April 11.

Law Day: Events at DCLL

The Dane County Law Library and the Dane County Bar Association are once again working together to provide Law Day activities in the Dane County Courthouse on April 29th. Keep an eye out for more information on Library Highlights.

CLE Classes at MCLL

Two Westlaw classes are being held at MCLL on April 14th, "Intermediate Research on Westlaw" and "Intellectual Property Law Research". Check our Classes page for more information about each class and to register.

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This Just In - Pete Boll

New Edition! Criminal Procedure, 4th edition, by Wayne R. LaFave and others
Thomson Reuters, 2015
Call Number: KF 9619 .L344

Updated in a new edition for the first time since 2007, LaFave's classic seven volume treatise continues to analyze the criminal justice process from investigation to post conviction appeal. The authors have included one thousand more pages than the earlier 3rd edition. The added pages cover not only new case law, but also more developed textual analysis and more extensive footnote documentation.

New Edition! Effectively Representing Your Client Before the IRS: A Practical Manual for the Tax Practitioner with Sample Correspondence and Forms, 6th edition, by Keith Fogg, Editor-in-Chief
American Bar Association 2015
Call Number: KF 6320 .E46 2015

This two volume practice guide is useful for both novice and seasoned attorneys representing clients in disputes with the IRS. Significantly updated since the 5th edition, the 6th edition covers developing areas of law with new chapters titled:

• Understanding the Intersection of Taxation and Immigration
• Understanding the Affordable Care Act and Its Impact on Low Income Taxpayers
• Resolving Identity Theft in Tax Administration

Especially worth mentioning is the DVD included with this new edition. Added materials and several video and audio recordings are included covering topics such as:

• Representing Pro Se Taxpayers at Tax Court Calendar Call
• Communicating with Clients Who Have Health, Learning, or Mental Disabilities or Trauma
• Tax and Immigration
• The Impact of U.S. v. Windsor on Civilian and Military Taxpayers
• Eliminating Tax Debt Through Offer in Compromise or Bankruptcy

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 - Heidi Yelk

PDF Conversion Made Easy

When it comes to free PDF conversion tools, the Internet is full of possibilities. One tool that's easy to use and includes many options is Smallpdf.

I first stumbled upon Smallpdf when I was looking for a tool to compress a large PDF file into something smaller. My colleague Carol and I tested the compression tool by comparing it to a well-known licensed PDF suite. We found the compression rates were generally comparable. I soon found that Smallpdf has many additional uses. The "Convert" option allows users to convert to and from many file formats.

In addition, Smallpdf can be used to merge several PDF documents into one and it can be used to apply passwords to PDF documents. The clean, easy-to-use homepage makes it simple to choose your task and get on with your project. Because it's cloud-based, there's no need to install any software on your computer.

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Selling Your House: a WSLL Recommends Guide

According to the Wisconsin Realtors Association, "sales of existing homes grew rapidly in January, which is putting strong upward pressure on prices." Whether you are searching for resources for a client or looking to sell your own home, the Wisconsin State Law Library can help you find information.

Articles about selling in this market

• State housing market off to strong start in 2016 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2/22/2016
• Wisconsin Housing Statistics Wisconsin Realtors Association
• Why home buying is (or isn't) like dating National Realtors Association, 2/8/2016

Helpful websites

• WSLL Legal Topics
• Real Property Law
• Contract Law
• Consumer Protection
• Multiple Listing Services (MLS)
• MLS Cloud, national network of MLS websites
• Wisconsin Homes, South Central Wisconsin covering Dane, Sauk, Columbia, Rock, Dodge, Iowa, Green, Lafayette, Grant, and Richland Counties. Includes portions of Jefferson, Crawford, Vernon, Juneau, Monroe, Adams, Marquette, Green Lake, and Waushara Counties
• WiHomes, Metro Milwaukee area
• Central Wisconsin Board of Realtors
• For Sale By Owner
• South Central MLS public record search
• Dane County example
• Wisconsin Realtors Association
• National Association of Realtors
• Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services
• Real Estate Broker, licensing and regulations
• Real estate contractual forms

Resources in the library

• Start Here Guide: Real Estate

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Odds 'n' Endings - Julie Tessmer

Voting on Tuesdays

With the April Primary Election upon us, do you ever wonder why we vote on Tuesdays? Looking back to the 1800s, the United States was primarily an agrarian economy. Farmers often had to travel long distances to vote. This was coupled by people attending church and worship services on Sundays and Market Days which often took place on Wednesdays. Tuesdays became the best days for voter turn-out. See 3 U.S.C. s.1. ("Why do we vote on a Tuesday in November?", History.com)

For more information about politics and voting, visit our Legal Topics page on Politics & Elections. You can find helpful information on where to vote and what you need to bring to the polling place for identification.

Lafayette County Courthouse

State Law Librarian Julie Tessmer and Deputy Law Librarian Amy Crowder were invited by Kitty McGowan, the Lafayette County Clerk of Courts to visit the Lafayette County Courthouse in March to assess their book collections. Upon their arrival, they were struck by the impressive classical revival architecture of the courthouse.

Built between 1905-1907, it is listed on both the State and National Register of Historic Places.

Movie fans will be interested to know that the Courthouse was featured in the 2009 Johnny Depp film Public Enemies about John Dillinger and J. Edgar Hoover. Some Court staff and many local residents donned period costumes to appear as extras in the courtroom scenes.

Inscription reads: This court house is a gift to the people of La Fayette County from the late Matt Murphy of Benton, one of its first settlers and most distinguished men. A.D. 1905.

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