WSLL @ Your Service July 2025
Contents
Fireworks Law and Safety in Wisconsin - Daphne Goldfinch
As the Fourth of July approaches, it is important to read up on Wisconsin fireworks law. State law can be found in Wisconsin Statute 167.10, but it is also helpful to check your local ordinances and code to make sure you are complying with all applicable regulations. The League of Wisconsin Municipalities provides further information about the regulation of fireworks by municipal governments.
If you plan to purchase fireworks, you may need a fireworks permit first - these can typically be issued by your local government. In 2019, the Wisconsin Legislative Council published a handy IssueBrief that succinctly explains each part of WI Statute 167.10 - including the definition of fireworks and who can issue and receive fireworks permits.
If you are intending to purchase display fireworks, the U.S. ATF Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has a Q&A page that may prove useful. The answers to these commonly asked questions cite relevant federal law.
Before setting off any fireworks this holiday, check U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and WI Department of Health Services safety tips! Fireworks can be dangerous - limit that danger by staying informed.
Image source: Adobe Stock
Borrowing Books through the Mail - Carol Hassler
Legal treatises and practice materials are trusted sources for quick, reliable information, forms, and blueprints to litigation. At the State Law Library, we understand how difficult these books are to find throughout the entire state of Wisconsin. For our cardholders who aren't able to make it to one of our libraries in Madison or Milwaukee, we offer a way to borrow books through the mail.
It's easy to make a request!
- Search the library catalog for the books you want to check out, or ask a librarian for help picking out some helpful books.
- Send an email to wsll.ref@wicourts.gov or call us at 608-267-9696. Tell us your name, phone number, business shipping address, library card number, and the books you want to check out.
- We charge a $12 fee per larger book or bundle of smaller books, and ship books out through FedEx. We'll work with you on either online or invoiced payment.
- Return books on your own through your preferred shipping method, or in person at one of our libraries.
New Books - Noelle Brasch
New Edition! Building a Parenting Agreement That Works: child custody agreements step by step, by Mimi Lee
Call number: KF 547 .L97 2025
Building a Parenting Agreement That Works is a comprehensive guide on how to facilitate custody agreements and divorce settlements. The 11th edition includes sample forms, addresses how to handle serious situations, and discusses special challenges such as international travel. With a practical step-by-step approach, this book aims to help divorcing parents work out a fair and realistic custody agreement that centers the child's best interests.
Topics include:
- Basic elements of a parenting agreement
- State and federal laws affecting child custody
- Mediation and arbitration
- Modify or renegotiate an existing agreement
New Edition! Immigration Law and the Family, by Sarah Ignatius and Elizabeth Stickney
Call number: KF 4802 .I46457 2025
This latest edition from the nonprofit National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild is meant to help those navigating the complex labyrinth that is immigration law. Moving from a general overview into chapters on specific topics, Immigration Law and the Family gives detailed descriptions and documents how to fill out key forms. This new edition includes a discussion of recent court rulings and actions by the Trump administration. Altogether, this resource will shed light on the best ways to wade through America's immigration court today.
Topics include:
- Immigration based on marriage
- Adoption and orphan cases
- Citizenship and naturalization
- Preference system
- Conditional residents
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.
Tech Tip - Heidi Yelk
A Treasure Trove of Scanned Reporters - Fast and Free
The Case Law Access Project by Harvard Law School Library Innovation Lab is invaluable for anyone who needs to quickly access case law in scanned, official reporter format. With just a few clicks, users can easily display or download cases from Wisconsin Reports, as well as dozens of similar sources from each and every state.
For quick and simple access, start here at: https://case.law/caselaw/
Scroll or drill down to Wisconsin https://case.law/caselaw/#wisconsin
Select the time period and reporter, then select the volume you need. Readers have the option of viewing just a single case or downloading the entire volume.
Users will notice some redaction of text throughout the volumes. Project creators needed to remove certain content to avoid any claims of copyright violation from publishers. The project and the rationale for redaction is described in an article on LawNext. Unfortunately, the redaction includes many parts of Wisconsin Supreme Court orders, which are difficult to find in online sources.
Tech Tip Extra - More on RECAP...
A quick follow up to last month's tech tip on the PACER alternative RECAP. Alerts are now available on the RECAP database, making it possible to be notified of new content in the database. Check out this blog post explaining how to use the new alert feature.
Image source: Adobe Stock
Library News - Carol Hassler
Sign up for summer classes
Legal Research on Westlaw
Wednesday, July 16, noon-1:00 p.m.
Location: Live webinar - Register for Legal Research on Westlaw
This course provides an overview of legal research on Westlaw, from navigating the site to exploring content available. Also covered will be some more in-depth discussion on the kinds of search functionality within Westlaw: finding documents by citation, plain language searching and use of terms and connectors.
What's New on Westlaw
Wednesday, August 6, noon- 1:00 p.m.
Location: Live webinar - Register for What's New on Westlaw
This course will discuss the evolution of legal research engines to incorporate more advanced tools, such as more in-depth editorial tagging of caselaw, Artificial Intelligence and other things. We'll talk about how technology is being used to increase efficiency in legal research, specifically with a focus on the Westlaw Precision platform and CoCounsel.
Libraries closed for holidays
All three libraries will be closed on Friday, July 4th in observance of the Fourth of July. Send questions and requests to wsll.ref@wicourts.gov or leave a message at 608-267-9696. We'll get back to you on Monday, July 7th.July Snapshot
Waterfall at Wehr Nature Center
Photo by Melissa Hernandez-Steier
A waterfall cascades down to Mallard Lake along the 1.5 mile Lake Loop trail at the Wehr Nature Center, in Franklin, Wisconsin. At the Wehr Nature Center, people of all abilities can enjoy the beauty of nature. Visitors can tour a 1-mile All Abilities loop trail with a hard surface boardwalk, an accessible pier, and an observation blind, plus visitor center exhibits. Wehr is also a host site for an all-terrain chair provided in partnership with Access Ability Wisconsin (AAW). Wehr Nature Center provides a wide variety of programming, special events, accommodations, and opportunities to become involved.
We are accepting snapshots! Do you have a photo highlighting libraries, attractions or points of historical interest? Send your photo the editor at carol.hassler@wicourts.gov to be included in a future issue.
