WSLL @ Your Service December 2025
Contents
Service Animals - Courtney Baillod, Legal Studies, Madison College Paralegal Program
At the library, we field many calls about service and support animals. As explained in the Service and Support Animals IssueBrief from the Wisconsin Legislative Council, the difference between a service animal and an emotional support animal is that a service animal is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the person with a disability. While an emotional support animal is not trained to do work or perform tasks, it provides support, comfort, or companionship to a person with a disability.
Disability Rights Wisconsin's Service Animals guide outlines the differences between federal acts that are frequently referenced when researching service and support animals. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulates public accommodations regarding service animals while the Fair Housing Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 applies to service animals in housing. While the definition of service animal may be broader regarding housing, businesses choose whether to ban or allow emotional support animals inside their stores. The City of Madison Civil Rights program includes more guidance about animals in public places and housing.
Under the ADA, state and local governments, businesses, and nonprofit organizations that serve the public generally must allow service animals to accompany customers with disabilities. Recently enrolled legislation, 2025 Assembly Bill 366, creates a penalty in Wisconsin for falsely claiming that an animal is a service animal relating to housing.
Disabilities that may qualify for a service dog include (see generally 28 CFR 35.108):
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- ALS
- Deafness (partial or complete)
- Blindness (partial or complete)
- Parkinson's disease
- Spinal cord injury
- Stroke
- Paralysis
- Muscular dystrophy
- Arthritis
- Cerebral palsy
- Scoliosis
- Chronic pain
- Vertigo
- Seizures
- Osteoporosis
- Epilepsy
- Asthma (or other breathing problems)
- Diabetes
- Autism
- Allergies
- Fibromyalgia
- Cardiac-related disabilities
- Dizziness/balance problems
Miniature Horses Provision
The ADA has a separate provision regarding miniature horses acting as service animals. Miniature horses generally range in height from 24 to 34 inches, measured to the shoulders, and weigh between 70 and 100 pounds. Entities covered by the ADA have to modify their policies to permit the miniature horses, where reasonable.
Small Claims Court Display - Noelle Brasch
This month’s display features books related to small claims court. Small claims cases include personal injury, evictions, replevins (return of property), and claims for money. Whether representing yourself or a client, check out these resources to aid in your small claims litigation.
In this display
- Everybody's guide to small claims court
KF 8769 .O54 2024
- How to win your personal injury claim
KF 1257 .M38 2024
- Personal injury from A to Z
KFW 2939 .P4 P377 2018
- Personal injury 101
KFW 2939 .P4 P47 2014
- What's it worth?: a guide to personal injury awards and settlements
KF 1257 .W67 2025
- Settle your small claims dispute without going to court
KF 8769 .W37 S4 2001
- Wisconsin landlord & tenant manual
KFW 2517 .W57 2023
- The landlord's companion: a comprehensive handbook of residential landlord-tenant law in Wisconsin
KFW 2517 .P4 2024
- Represent yourself in court: prepare & try a winning civil case
KF 8841 .B47 2025
Renew After Hours Subscriptions
It's time to renew your After Hours access for 2026! The Wisconsin State Law Library offers After Hours subscription access to the Lavinia Goodell State Law Library to any attorney licensed to practice in this state. After Hours Service includes the hours of 7:00 to 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 to 10:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, including holidays.
Subscribers have access to the library's print and microform materials, public access computer stations, and Wi-Fi. Subscribers may make photocopies, use the public scanner to email documents, and check out library materials after hours.
After Hours Service is offered on a calendar year subscription basis. Each attorney must maintain their own individual subscription. A fee of $100 is charged to renew your subscription now, or sign up for a new subscription. Sign up in December to get started right away! New subscriptions may take up to 2 weeks to process before your access begins.
Renew or subscribe online, or complete an After Hours Service first-time subscription or renewal application form and mail it with a check or money order payable to Wisconsin State Law Library, to:
After Hours Service
Wisconsin State Law Library
P.O. Box 7881
Madison, WI 53707-7881
For more information, contact Jaden Henneman at 608-261-7553 or at Jaden.Henneman@wicourts.gov.
New Books - Noelle Brasch
New Book! Artificial Intelligence: Law & Litigation, by Mark Davies
Call number: KF 390.5 .C6 A15236 2025
The 2025 edition of Artificial Intelligence: Law & Litigation covers judicial opinions that discuss artificial intelligence. Davies breaks down relevant terminology, as well as statutes and precedent to give readers confidence when approaching AI litigation. Broken down by subject area, this treatise is a helpful guide to navigating AI and the law.
Topics include:
- Trade secrets and AI
- Copyright
- Privacy litigation
- Antitrust
New Book! The Law of Digital Content, edited by Jon Garon
Call number: KF 390.5 .C6 L38 2025
Tackling the broad nature of digital content, this book discusses how new technologies are impacting the legal field. Garon focuses on providing an overview as well as a framework for establishing best practices when operating in various industries. Legal analysis for new opportunities and new risks is covered in this timely publication.
Topics include:
- Privacy and data protection
- AI regulation
- Defamation law
- Digital money and NFTs
- International perspectives
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
Photo Tip - Fast Background Clean up
Many website services offer photo background removal. One favorite is remove.bg. This website is fast and easy to use. The primary function is to remove the background of a photo, but there's also an option to replace the background and add some light editing. To use this website, upload a photo, click remove, make any edits you need, and then download the finished photo. The site allows limited free use with lower resolution photos (up to .25 MegaPixels), or fee-based plans for larger images or commercial use. An example is included below:
Library News - Carol Hassler
New library staff
Please join us in welcoming Katie Huntley to the Lavinia Goodell State Law Library. Katie joins our staff as a library assistant, with a background in public library work and software development. Welcome, Katie!
Holiday closures
As winter sets in, please remember that our libraries are closed on the following state and county holidays this month: December 24, 25, and 31, and January 1. To ask a question while we're closed, please leave a message at our reference phone line (608) 267-9696, or send an email to wsll.ref@wicourts.gov.
Free OLR webinar to explore engagement and organizational culture
This month, Attorney Laurie Lyte leads a free Office of Lawyer Regulation webinar, Leading with Engagement: Connection as the key to success in the legal profession. This webinar looks at how small, everyday interactions can shape workplace culture in the legal field. Attorney Lyte will discuss ways to build genuine connections in fast-paced environments and how simple habits can support clear communication, trust, and shared purpose. The Office of Lawyer Regulation-sponsored webinar will take place on December 8 from noon to 1 p.m.
The session will highlight approaches for fostering everyday connections in legal settings, emphasizing how short, intentional interactions can encourage growth and strengthen trust. Attorney Lyte will discuss strategies for creating environments where people feel motivated to contribute, engaged in shared goals, and supported in their work. Participants can earn 1 LPM credit for attending.
Registration is available through OLR's LinkedIn page.
December Snapshot
Bucky Badger loves to read! The playful, curious badger recently visited the annual judicial conference for state judges and stopped by the library's booth to check out the books. Take this brief quiz to learn more about Bucky.
- True or False: Bucky's birthday is officially 1-8-48. (For 1848, when Wisconsin became a state.)
- How heavy is the Bucky Badger costume head?
A) Seven pounds B) 10 pounds C) 15 pounds D) 35 pounds - True or False: The College Mascot National Championships are held each year in New York City as a companion event to the Heisman Trophy award ceremony.
- True or False: it was once proposed to replace Bucky Badger with a Holstein named Henrietta.
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.
Answers
- False, Bucky's birthday is 10-2-1940
- D - Bucky's head is reportedly 35 pounds!
- False - the mascot competition is held at Walt Disney World
- 4) True - the idea was proposed in 1979
