Wisconsin State Law Library

AALL Annual Conference: Access to Justice - Amy Crowder

Law librarians excel at locating and providing information that can help people navigate government services, the law, and the court system. Reaching people that need help is a common issue that all libraries work toward solving. Access to Justice was the focus of this year’s American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) annual conference. I had the opportunity to attend and learn about new and emerging legal access programs in other states.

Collaborations between libraries and legal service organizations have proven to be successful in helping people. Programs from the past few decades have focused on family law legal assistance clinics and Talk to a Lawyer programs.

New efforts in legal assistance are underway. Indiana is introducing a statewide network of computer kiosks in community locations, such as libraries. These kiosks will help people gain access to legal information and resources, talk to a remote legal housing navigator, and apply for rental assistance. The hope is that these kiosks will eventually cover more types of legal assistance such as divorce, child support, fee waivers, and more. The Minnesota Legal Kiosk Project, in collaboration with libraries and community organizations, is working to solve technology and geographic barriers to justice. More than 250 kiosks have been deployed statewide providing access to legal aid services and information. A second type of kiosk (“Model B”) is set up in locations that offer more privacy so people may attend court hearings or meetings with legal aid attorneys.

In Wisconsin, frequently people are far from a law library. As technology and information hubs, public libraries are natural partners to help connect people to legal information. The following sources will help public librarians better understand how they may help their patrons:

• AALL maintains, along with partner libraries, a Public Library Toolkit meant to help public librarians better understand legal research. The toolkit includes guides such as How to Research a Legal Problem: A Guide for Non-Lawyers, guidelines for public library legal research collections, and state-specific resource guides.
• The State Law Library, in partnership with the University of Wisconsin Law Library and Wisconsin Valley Library System, recently introduced a five-part Digital Byte series on legal reference, research, and access to justice. The first video is on Navigating the Legal Reference Interview.
• The State Law Library’s Legal Research page offers resources for librarians.
  
• Continuing education programs and on-demand training opportunities from the South Central Library System, Wisconsin Valley Library Service, WebJunction, and professional organizations such as the American Association of Law Librarians.

Sometimes the best service you can offer a patron is knowing when to reach out for help. The State Law Library encourages librarians to contact our staff for help at any time. We can help library staff or patrons navigate to the resources they need over the phone or by email. Our library is open to the public Monday through Friday from 8:30-4:30.

How does your library bridge the access to justice gap? We are interested in hearing from public libraries. Tell us about your library collections, services, and partnerships. Email Amy Crowder to connect and share your successes and challenges.

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Learn about the Law in Nolo Books - Abby Hartenbower

Our latest book display features a colorful array of Nolo-published books. Nolo is a well-known legal publisher of plain English law books. These are great books for self-represented individuals or others who just need an overview of major issues in particular areas of law. Helpful books include divorce, managing rental properties, bankruptcy, and dealing with neighboring property owners and tree disputes.

In this display:

• Consultant and independent contractor agreements
• Criminal law
• Encyclopedia of everyday law
• Essential guide to divorce
• Every dog’s legal guide
• Every landlord’s legal guide
• Lawsuit survival guide
• Legal guide for starting and running a small business
• Lesbian and gay couples
• Neighbor law: fences, trees, boundaries & noise

Check out one of these books today, or check for them at your local library!

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New Books - Kari Zelinka

New Edition! Your Limited Liability Company: an Operating Manual, by Anthony Mancuso
Call Number: KF 1380 .M3643 2022

If you need a refresher on LLCs or are thinking about starting a small business, you may want to peruse the 10th edition of Your Limited Liability Company: an Operating Manual. The book includes sample forms such as a waiver of notice of meeting, approval of LLC minutes, or written consents for single-member LLC’s. The author guides readers through the steps to create essential documentation to keep your business in good legal standing. 

Chapters include:

• Using Meetings, Minutes, and Written Consents
• How to Take Action by Written Consent Without an LLC Meeting
• Standard LLC Business Resolutions
• Loans to the LLC
• Loans by the LLC
• Self-Interested Business Dealings Between the LLC and Its Members or Managers

New Edition! What's it Worth? a Guide to Personal Injury Awards and Settlements, 2022 edition
Call Number: KF 1257 .W67 2022

If you need a reliable source for personal injury damage awards, the annual edition of What's it Worth has just been released. This book is useful in determining the value of a plaintiff's case or for use by a defense attorney in estimating the extent of a client's potential exposure. It is organized by type of injury and subdivided into the following categories:

• Adequate, inadequate, or excessive on appeal
• Location of court
• Settlement or jury verdict

Each entry contains the award amount, location, judge, attorneys, specific injury and a brief synopsis of the event. Other pertinent information, such as a breakdown of general and special damages, structured settlements, hospitalizations, and contributory or comparative negligence is included as well. If you are looking to put a monetary value on a personal injury case, this is a good resource to consult first.

 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

Pump up the volume? No thanks!

These days, it seems like everyone is plugged in or decked out with headphones. Headphones are big business. Unfortunately, so is hearing loss which is expected to increase in the years ahead. Safe use of headphones is one way to protect hearing. Here are some tips and resources.

Volume and duration

Volume is a concern when using headphones but did you know that how long you use them is also an important factor? Playing sound less then 70 dB is recommended. The louder the sound and longer the duration, the more damage is possible. This chart from a Penn State course provides a guide.

Headphone style

What about noise canceling headphones or earbuds? Users tend to increase headphone volume when background noise competes with the media being played. Noise canceling products shut out background noises which can allow for lower volume listening. According to some experts, earbuds are not more damaging to hearing. Volume remains the biggest factor, regardless of headphone style. Noise-canceling headphones, it should be noted, are not hearing protection equipment. 

Smartphones can help you regulate your personal noise level. iPhone users can check headphone usage and decibel level using the Health App, preloaded on iPhones. Open the app, click browse and choose "Hearing" to see a report of decibels and duration of use.

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Library News - Carol Hassler

Legislative research classes this fall

It’s time for fall learning! Registration is open for the following webinars. Registrations will be approved daily by the moderator. Once your registration is approved, you will get an email confirmation with connection information. Please reach out to Abigail Case with questions.

Basic Knowledge for Legislative Research in Wisconsin
Wednesday, September 21, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Location: Live webinar - Register for Basic Knowledge for Legislative Research in Wisconsin
FREE

Get an introduction to the basic tools for understanding the legislative process: the format of legislative documents, the vocabulary, tips on reading statutes, and using information associated with the statutes to better understand and more easily research state law. This class is a great prequel to drafting file research and is appropriate for any legal researcher interested in the Wisconsin legislative process.

Introduction to Wisconsin Legislative History
Wednesday October 19, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Location: Live webinar - Register for Introduction to Wisconsin Legislative History
FREE

I need the legislative history of a Wisconsin statute. Where do I start? What do I do? Participants will look at the primary resources used to research Wisconsin legislative history, learn about the online Wisconsin legislative drafting files, and learn some helpful tips and tricks along the way. This introductory class covers basic research strategies and sources. 

New! Pay for forms online

In August the library rolled out a new ePayments feature through the Court System website, allowing our website visitors to pay for forms and other library fees online. Find this ePayments page linked throughout our library services informational pages. Quickly order rental and basic will forms online, or sign up for a year's worth of After Hours library access. For custom orders and payments, first contact a law librarian with your request to verify the amount due. Check it out, and let us know what you think!

Library card signup month

A free Wisconsin State Law Library card opens doors to legal researchers throughout the state. Cardholders have access to ebooks and legal databases like HeinOnline from any device. Check out practice materials from any of our three libraries, or through the mail. Learn more on our Library Card page and find out what a Wisconsin State Law Library card can do for you.

Public library tutorials

We recently contributed to the Wisconsin Valley Library Service’s Digital Bytes series, with a session on Navigating the Legal Reference Interview. Get a fifteen minute overview of how to handle legal reference questions at your library. This is part one of a five-part series.

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September Snapshot

Rijksmuseum Library
Photo by Pat Reichert

Toured on a recent trip, the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam was designed by architect Pierre Joseph Cuypers in the Dutch Neo-Renaissance style. The gorgeous library was completed in 1880 and the Museum opened July 13, 1885. It is the largest art history library in the Netherlands.

We are accepting snapshots! Do you have a photo highlighting libraries, attractions or points of historical interest? Send your photo to the editor at carol.hassler@wicourts.gov to be included in a future issue.

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