- Taking its cue from recent headlines about mass shootings in Colorado and Wisconsin, the feature article discusses steps employers can take to mitigate the risk of workplace mass homicides. See: Employers can take steps to mitigate risk of workplace mass homicides, experts say.
- Always a swiftly changing issue, a special report focuses on employee/employer use of social media and the National Labor Relations Act.
- Other articles examine flexible scheduling, sick leave, and the results of recent employment law cases.
August 29, 2012
BNA Bulletin to Management
With management bulletins from BNA, keep current on the latest legislation, regulations, and trends
relating to pay, benefits, employee relations, safety, and
more. Of interest in the latest issue:
August 28, 2012
Libraries Closed: September 3rd
The Wisconsin State Law Library, Milwaukee Legal Resource Center, and
Dane County Legal Resource Center will be closed on Monday, September 3rd in observance of Labor Day.
To submit a question to the Wisconsin State Law Library while we are closed, you may call us at 608-267-9696 or Ask a Librarian online. We will respond to questions and requests on Tuesday, September 4th.
To submit a question to the Wisconsin State Law Library while we are closed, you may call us at 608-267-9696 or Ask a Librarian online. We will respond to questions and requests on Tuesday, September 4th.
August 26, 2012
For Your Convenience: Legal E-Books
The books are available in DRM-free ePub format, which means they can be used on iPads, iPhones, Nooks, and any other device that supports ePub. Books can be downloaded by visiting the Institute's Federal Rules ebooks page from your handheld device and clicking on a link to download directly to your device, or downloading to a computer then transferring to your device.
In related news, be sure to read the latest WisBlawg post which highlights the new Bluebook mobile application, or this InsideTrack article on Mobile apps from the Federal government.
August 19, 2012
WSLL Recommends: BNA Human Resources Library
The Bloomberg BNA Human Resources Library is a one stop shop for information on many important human resource (HR) and employment law topics. The online database provides news, analysis, tools, and research aids to help find and understand the various and complex federal and state employment laws and regulations.
Examples of the types of information you'll find and how it is organized include:
Examples of the types of information you'll find and how it is organized include:
- HR Topic Navigator
- National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) Rights in the Nonunion Workplace
- State Law Summaries and Quick Reference Charts
- HR Policy Handbook
- Attorney Resources
- Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Compliance Analysis
August 10, 2012
Mars and Beyond
This week NASA tumbled back into international headlines with the recent triumphant landing of the latest Mars rover, Curiosity. Thinking about Curiosity (yes, you can follow it on Twitter and Facebook) set me to imagining again a teeming spaceport nestled in our own Wisconsin. Ever since I stumbled across the term "spaceport" in the Wisconsin Statutes, I can’t help but dream a little about the potential behind that word.
Video from
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology
I had expected to find the origins of "spaceport" as it appears in the WI Statutes, and the accompanying Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, to be rooted somewhere in the 70's – a bold legislative vision spurred by the moon landing. Instead, I was surprised to learn the originating act passed just a short time before I arrived in Wisconsin - with 2005 WI Act 335. The act was intended:
Researching the act further, I learned that the legislation was primarily intended to build a space science educational facility in Sheboygan – the Great Lakes Aerospace Science and Education Center.
With the facility now established the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority is currently unfunded. But it's still fun for space nerds like me to see those mentions of "spaceport" in the statutes – a little dream for the future scattered throughout our laws.
The Federal Aviation Administration has an interesting guide on their site for those who want to learn more about spaceport support in the United States: State support for commercial space activities. Their summary for Wisconsin says:
With commercial space vehicles in development, perhaps this will become relevant again someday soon. For more on the law and spaceports, see P.J. Blount's "If you legislate it, they will come: using incentive-based legislation to attract the commercial space industry" (Air and Space Lawyer. 22.3 (July 2009)) Sign in with your library card to read this article.
As others have mentioned, be sure to watch around 7:50 when the room erupts in cheers when the safe arrival has been confirmed and telemetry begins to come in.
Video from
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology
I had expected to find the origins of "spaceport" as it appears in the WI Statutes, and the accompanying Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, to be rooted somewhere in the 70's – a bold legislative vision spurred by the moon landing. Instead, I was surprised to learn the originating act passed just a short time before I arrived in Wisconsin - with 2005 WI Act 335. The act was intended:
[To create] the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority to develop and operate spaceports and related facilities and services and other aerospace facilities and services and providing the authority with the power of condemnation, authorizing municipalities to develop and operate spaceports, and making an appropriation.
Researching the act further, I learned that the legislation was primarily intended to build a space science educational facility in Sheboygan – the Great Lakes Aerospace Science and Education Center.
With the facility now established the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority is currently unfunded. But it's still fun for space nerds like me to see those mentions of "spaceport" in the statutes – a little dream for the future scattered throughout our laws.
The Federal Aviation Administration has an interesting guide on their site for those who want to learn more about spaceport support in the United States: State support for commercial space activities. Their summary for Wisconsin says:
Though not focused specifically on space transportation, Wisconsin offers a wide range of incentives geared specifically towards high technology business. Many of these incentives are accessible to space transportation companies who locate within Wisconsin.
With commercial space vehicles in development, perhaps this will become relevant again someday soon. For more on the law and spaceports, see P.J. Blount's "If you legislate it, they will come: using incentive-based legislation to attract the commercial space industry" (Air and Space Lawyer. 22.3 (July 2009)) Sign in with your library card to read this article.
As others have mentioned, be sure to watch around 7:50 when the room erupts in cheers when the safe arrival has been confirmed and telemetry begins to come in.
August 3, 2012
WSLL at Your Service: August 2012
Contents include:
- What's New - In the good ol' summertime...; Have program, will travel; Library staff news; Closed for holiday
- This Just In... - New and updated library materials
- Tech Tip in Brief - "How old is this web site?"
- WSLL Recommends: Bender's Forms of Discovery
- Odds 'n' Endings: Drought information sites; Books that shaped Wisconsin