We will respond to questions and requests on the next business day. To send 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.
December 26, 2019
Libraries Closed on December 31 and January 1
The David T. Prosser Jr. Library, and Milwaukee and Dane County Law
Libraries will be closed on December 31 and January 1 for
state holidays.
We will respond to questions and requests on the next business day. To send 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 the next business day. To send 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.
December 20, 2019
Libraries Closed on December 24 and 25
The David T. Prosser Jr. Library, and Milwaukee and Dane County Law
Libraries will be closed on December 24, 25, and 31, and January 1 for
state holidays.
We will respond to questions and requests on the next business day. To send 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 the next business day. To send 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.
December 16, 2019
WSLL @ Your Service December 2019
The December issue of WSLL @ Your Service is online. Your comments are welcome! Please direct them to the editor, Carol Hassler.
In this issue:
HeinOnline's new collection is a tremendous resource for state
constitutional law and political history researchers. State
Constitutions Illustrated contains current and historic constitutions of
the fifty states of the United States along with an extensive
collection of documents and primary sources from before statehood. Read more
Schedule a breather in your busy schedule for our open house on
Wednesday, December 18. From 3:00 to 4:30 in the David T. Prosser Jr.
Library, enjoy refreshments in our beautiful reading room. Read more
This month's featured titles are The Foreclosure Survival Guide:
Keep Your House or Walk Away with Money in Your Pocket and Student Loan
Law. Our full new book list is also available to peruse! Read more
Google makes quick work of finding current and historical stock
prices. With just a few keystrokes you can access a wealth of
securities data as part of Google Finance. Read more
Wisconsin-licensed attorneys, you can become an After Hours
subscriber and enjoy a full year of library access at times convenient
for you. Read more
Read our 2018 annual report, get updates on the first of our 2020 CLE classes, and add our holiday closures to your calendar. Read more
Four of our library staff had the opportunity to tour the newly
finished State Archive Preservation Facility as part of a state agency
librarian meeting. Read more
December Open House
Schedule a breather in your busy schedule for our open house on Wednesday, December 18. From 3:00 to 4:30 in the David T. Prosser Jr. Library,
enjoy refreshments in our beautiful reading room. Back by popular
demand, we'll have card and party games on hand to pass the time and
break the ice. You can also try your estimation skills at our candy jar
guessing game for a chance to win a water bottle full of treats!
Wednesday, December 18
3:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Reading Room
David T. Prosser Jr. State Law Library
120 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
November 27, 2019
County Highway History
A recent article from WPR answers the question, Why are Wisconsin's county highways lettered and not numbered?
It's a great article, but we thought we'd add to it by linking to some other sources. Did you know you can read many of Wisconsin's historical laws online?
1911 Wisconsin Act 337 created the State Highway Commission, which is credited for creating a uniform system of highways in the state. In 1917, the legislature created the state trunk highway system with 1917 Wisconsin Act 175. A county trunk system was set up with 1925 Wisconsin Act 263, although according to various sources (e.g. this summary from Wisconsin Highways) a system was already established between counties prior to the legislature passing a law.
For a thorough historical overview, read A history of Wisconsin highway development, 1835-1945. This book has been digitized with the help of libraries and is available to read online.
This book provides a historical survey of roads from Wisconsin's territorial days up through 1945, and maps, photos, and figures complement the report. You can read more about the creation of the county trunk highway system as well.
It's a great article, but we thought we'd add to it by linking to some other sources. Did you know you can read many of Wisconsin's historical laws online?
1911 Wisconsin Act 337 created the State Highway Commission, which is credited for creating a uniform system of highways in the state. In 1917, the legislature created the state trunk highway system with 1917 Wisconsin Act 175. A county trunk system was set up with 1925 Wisconsin Act 263, although according to various sources (e.g. this summary from Wisconsin Highways) a system was already established between counties prior to the legislature passing a law.
For a thorough historical overview, read A history of Wisconsin highway development, 1835-1945. This book has been digitized with the help of libraries and is available to read online.
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| Read A history of Wisconsin highway development, 1835-1945 |
"In 1921, a movement developed wherin the county boards determined to restrict the improvement of the County Systems of Prospective State Highways to certain preferred roads, and many county boards laid out county Trunk Highway Systems without legislative authorization to establish such systems. In many cases the county boards determined to patrol only certain roads, and in other cases the boards assumed greater responsibility. Some roads designated county trunk highways by the county boards were not officially approved portions of the County Systems of Prospective State Highways. By 1924, every county in the state had laid out such a system, with the effect that each county had assumed responsibility for a system of preferred highways composed in general of portions of the County Systems of Prospective State Highways, which totaled approximately 11,000 miles." - page 58 (p. 90 of the file) of A history of Wisconsin highway development, 1835-1945
November 22, 2019
Thanksgiving holiday closures
All three library locations will be closed on Thanksgiving -
Thursday, November 28. The Dane County Law Library and the Milwaukee
County Law Library will remain closed on Friday, November 29. The David
T. Prosser Jr. State Law Library will be open on Friday, November
29th.
Call the Reference Desk at 608-267-9696 and leave a voicemail, or Ask a Librarian online while we are closed. We will respond to you the next business day.
Call the Reference Desk at 608-267-9696 and leave a voicemail, or Ask a Librarian online while we are closed. We will respond to you the next business day.
November 19, 2019
New Wisconsin Briefs Database
For several years, the University of Wisconsin-Madison has hosted an archive of Supreme Court and Court of Appeals briefs on their website. The Wisconsin Briefs database
houses more than 100,000 appellate briefs and appendices filed in
cases that were decided from around 1992-2009. The Wisconsin State Law
Library scanned and compiled the original database, and partners with
the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law Library which hosts this
database online.
This fall, the UW Law Library finished moving their briefs database to a new website, the UW Law Library Digital Repository collections. The new Wisconsin Briefs repository works similar to the old site.
Researchers can search by the case citation or docket number. Follow the format of the search examples when doing a search. Click on an item in the search results list to see more details, and select the image or "Click to View" text to read or download the brief.
Did you know that we maintain a Wisconsin appellate briefs archive that dates back to the inception of the Supreme Court in 1839? Learn more about the complete Wisconsin briefs archive on our website.
November 12, 2019
New Lavinia Goodell Site a Testament to Her Legacy
Lavinia Goodell became Wisconsin's first woman lawyer in 1879, but her legacy is often obscured in history books. Supreme Court Commissioner Nancy Kopp and Attorney Colleen Ball want to change that. They spent the last year researching the life of Goodell and have created a website to share Lavinia's history with the world. http://www.laviniagoodell.com is an online biography, accessible to all, which will chronicle Lavinia's life and her contribution to the practice of law in Wisconsin.
In their introduction, they note:
"The first woman lawyer admitted to the Wisconsin Supreme Court had to fight for that status, overcoming opposition from the most powerful legal figure in the state. Lavinia Goodell (1839-1880) was also one of the first female trial lawyers in the United States, a nationally-respected writer, a Vice President of the Association for the Advancement of Woman, a candidate for Janesville City Attorney, a successful lobbyist, a jail reformer, and a temperance advocate. "
Turn to this site for an introduction to Lavinia Goodell's history, and revisit often as more articles are added. Follow the blog, or keep up on Twitter or Facebook for updates.
In their introduction, they note:
"The first woman lawyer admitted to the Wisconsin Supreme Court had to fight for that status, overcoming opposition from the most powerful legal figure in the state. Lavinia Goodell (1839-1880) was also one of the first female trial lawyers in the United States, a nationally-respected writer, a Vice President of the Association for the Advancement of Woman, a candidate for Janesville City Attorney, a successful lobbyist, a jail reformer, and a temperance advocate. "
Turn to this site for an introduction to Lavinia Goodell's history, and revisit often as more articles are added. Follow the blog, or keep up on Twitter or Facebook for updates.
October 17, 2019
Free Information Sessions at Madison College
Madison College is hosting two free information sessions this fall. Both sessions will be held at the Goodman South Campus in Madison (2429 Perry Street, Madison WI 53713). Learn more on the Learning Opportunities section of their community resources page.
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Know Your Rights on Housing and Employment Discrimination
Saturday, October 26, 2019 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
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Know the Law on Immigration
Saturday, November 9, 2019 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
October 8, 2019
MCLL closed for 1 hour on Friday
The Milwaukee County Law Library will be closed for 1 hour from noon to 1 p.m. on Friday, October 11 for staff training. The MCLL will open for their regular hours after that.
While they're closed, send questions to the main library - call us at 608-267-9696 or email us at wsll.ref@wicourts.gov.
While they're closed, send questions to the main library - call us at 608-267-9696 or email us at wsll.ref@wicourts.gov.
October 7, 2019
WSLL @ Your Service October 2019
The October issue of WSLL @ Your Service is now online. Your comments are welcome! Please direct them to the editor, Carol Hassler.
In this issue:
Indigenous Law Portal
The Indigenous Law Portal is a valuable resource for researching indigenous law throughout the world. This year, the portal has moved to a new home, LLMC Digital, where researchers can continue to use it for free. Read more
New Books
Our featured titles this month are Environmental Litigation: Law and Strategy and The Lawyer's Guide to Increasing Revenue: Heighten Client Satisfaction, Improve Law Firm Morale, Enhance Revenue and Profitability. Our full October new book list is also available. Read more
Tech Tip
The "related" Google command is a useful way to discover industry competitors as well as like-minded associations. Read more
Library News
Rare books, classes and training opportunities, and more fill up this issue of library news. Read more
October Snapshot
At the David T. Prosser Jr. Library, we've moved some of our public computers into the bookstacks to create quiet workspaces throughout the library. Read more
In this issue:
Indigenous Law Portal
The Indigenous Law Portal is a valuable resource for researching indigenous law throughout the world. This year, the portal has moved to a new home, LLMC Digital, where researchers can continue to use it for free. Read more
New Books
Our featured titles this month are Environmental Litigation: Law and Strategy and The Lawyer's Guide to Increasing Revenue: Heighten Client Satisfaction, Improve Law Firm Morale, Enhance Revenue and Profitability. Our full October new book list is also available. Read more
Tech Tip
The "related" Google command is a useful way to discover industry competitors as well as like-minded associations. Read more
Library News
Rare books, classes and training opportunities, and more fill up this issue of library news. Read more
October Snapshot
At the David T. Prosser Jr. Library, we've moved some of our public computers into the bookstacks to create quiet workspaces throughout the library. Read more
September 30, 2019
Sports Gambling Research
Go Badgers! Go Packers! Go Brewers! It is that sweet time of year for certain sports fans when you have your choice of a variety of professional or amateur sports, along with the anticipation of upcoming seasons like basketball and hockey.
With sports viewing there enters the opportunity for gambling. Holy Cross economist Victor Matheson stated on the Freakonomics podcast titled “The Economics of Sports Gambling”:
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| image source |
“So the oldest organized sports that we have a good date on is the Olympics. The Olympics came about in 776 B.C. … We have fairly good evidence that the first gambling on the Olympics occurred in about 775 B.C. So as soon as they started playing games, someone started gambling on it.”
See this list of information on sports gambling for resources available from the Wisconsin State Law Library, compiled by Jaime Healy-Plotkin.
Wisconsin
- Is office gambling a safe bet? by Justin H. Lessner. Wisconsin Employment Law Letter 23 No. 3 Wis. Emp. L. Letter 3
- The predominate goliath: why pay-to-play daily fantasy sports are games of skill under the dominant factor test, by Jeffrey C. Meehan. 26 Marq. Sports L. Rev. 5. Marquette Sports Law Review. Available in the library and online in HeinOnline and Westlaw.
- Not just a fantasy: the real benefits of daily fantasy sports legislation for Wisconsin, by Brian C. Miller. 2017 Wis. L. Rev. 1273. Wisconsin Law Review. Available in the library and online in HeinOnline, Index to Legal Periodicals, and Westlaw.
- Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 945
General
- Prizes, awards, and gambling winnings. 47A C orpus Juris Secundum, Internal Revenue § 39.
KF 154 .C62 Vol. 47A - Law and amateur sports, edited by Ronald J. Waicukauski.
KF 3989.A75 L38 1982 - Law of professional and amateur sports, edited by Gary A. Uberstine and Richard J. Grad
KF 3989.L38 - National Survey of State Laws: Gambling. State by state analysis of types of gambling including horse and dog racing, casinos, and other kinds of permitted or prohibited activities. Available in HeinOnline.
- Sports law in a nutshell, by Walter T. Champion
KF 3989.Z9 C48 2009
Case Law
Online Resources
- Gambling Legal Topic page, Wisconsin State Law Library
- Sports Legal Topic page, Wisconsin State Law Library
- Fantasy Sport & Gaming Association
Advocate for the fantasy sports and gaming companies, based in Middleton, Wisconsin.
Articles
- Know when to fold 'em: the international effects of Murphy v. NCAA and why Antigua holds the cards, by Katie Berry. 8 Ariz. St. Sports & Ent. L.J. 93. Arizona State Sports & Entertainment Law Journal. Available in Westlaw
- Murphy v. NCAA, 138 S. Ct. 1461 (2018), Erica L. Bishop. 45 Ohio N.U. L. Rev. 239. Ohio Northern University Law Review. Available in HeinOnline and Westlaw.
- Passing the ball: the United States Supreme Court strikes down PASPA and throws sports gambling back to state legislatures, Hunter M. Haines. 78 Md. L. Rev. 604. Maryland Law Review. Available in HeinOnline and Westlaw.
- New Jersey beat the spread: Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association and the demise of PASPA allows for states to experiment in regulating the rapidly evolving sports gambling industry, by Matthew Melone. 80 U. Pitt. L. Rev. 315. University of Pittsburgh Law Review. Available in HeinOnline, Index to Legal Periodicals, and Westlaw.
- How is the integrity of sport protected in the United States? by Matthew J. Mitten. 19 TXRESL 89. Texas Review of Entertainment & Sports Law. Available in HeinOnline and Westlaw.
- Regulated sports betting: Ohio's chance to take a bet on itself, by Robert Porter. 67 Clev. St. L. Rev. 267. Cleveland State Law Review. Available in HeinOnline and Westlaw.
- Murphy v. Nat'l Collegiate Athletic Ass'n: the court legalizes sports gambling, but constitutional questions remain, by Joseph Stiers. 14 J. Bus. & Tech. L. 135. Journal of Business & Technology Law. Available in HeinOnline and Westlaw.
- Tenth amendment--constitutional remedies-- severability--Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association. 132 Harv. L. Rev. 387. Harvard Law Review. Available in HeinOnline and Westlaw.
- On the clock, best bet to draft cyberdefensive linemen: federal regulation of sports betting from a cybersecurity perspective, by William H. Williams. 13 Brook. J. Corp. Fin. & Com. L. 539. Brooklyn Journal of Corporate, Financial & Commercial Law. Available in HeinOnline and Westlaw.
- A comparative overview of eSports against traditional sports focused in the legal realm of monetary exploitation, cheating, and gambling, by Sok Min Yun. 37 Cardozo Arts & Ent. L.J. 513. Cardozo Arts and Entertainment Law Journal. Available in HeinOnline, Index to Legal Periodicals, and Westlaw.
September 27, 2019
Where to Find Landlord Tenant Forms
We're often asked for rental forms at the library and we're able to provide fillable or sample forms from a variety of sources.
Some counties have created landlord/tenant forms, such as eviction notices or checklists. We link to these on our County Legal Resources database under "Landlord/Tenant."
In each of our libraries, we re-sell forms created by the Wisconsin Legal Blank company. If you're looking for these forms near you, check with your local office supply store to see if they sell them. They can also be purchased online through the Wisconsin Legal Blank website. These forms include:
Pages from the Tenant Resource Center website are also useful for locating sample forms. Their resources for tenants and resources for landlords pages include sample forms and letters, like check-in and check-out forms, payment agreements, security deposit letters, and termination agreements.
A book in our collection that was published by the Tenant Resource Center, Apartment management in Wisconsin (2004), includes many sample forms and letters including:
Some counties have created landlord/tenant forms, such as eviction notices or checklists. We link to these on our County Legal Resources database under "Landlord/Tenant."
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| image source |
In each of our libraries, we re-sell forms created by the Wisconsin Legal Blank company. If you're looking for these forms near you, check with your local office supply store to see if they sell them. They can also be purchased online through the Wisconsin Legal Blank website. These forms include:
- Residential Lease (Form 19)
- Tenant Inspection/Acceptance (Form 993)
- 28-day Notice Terminating Tenancy (Form 327)
- 14-day Notice to Correct Breach (Form 767)
- 14-day Notice Terminating Tenancy (Form 768)
- 5-day Notice to Correct Breach (Form 330)
- 5-day Notice to Quit or Pay Rent (Form 328)
- 5-day Notice to Vacate - Criminal activity or drug related criminal activity (Form 334)
- 5-day Notice to Vacate - Imminent threat of serious physical harm (Form 333)
- 5-day Notice to Vacate - Nuisance (Form 329)
Pages from the Tenant Resource Center website are also useful for locating sample forms. Their resources for tenants and resources for landlords pages include sample forms and letters, like check-in and check-out forms, payment agreements, security deposit letters, and termination agreements.
A book in our collection that was published by the Tenant Resource Center, Apartment management in Wisconsin (2004), includes many sample forms and letters including:
- Acceptance of rental application
- Application for co-signer
- Credit check notification
- Landlord entry notice
- Lead-based hazard notifications
- Nonrenewal of month-to-month tenancy
- Not sufficient funds letter
- Rejection of rental application
- Renewal of lease
- Repair request
- Security deposit deductions
- Sublet agreement
- Termination of tenancy by mutual agreement
If you ever forget where to find these, just head to our Landlord/Tenant legal topic page, or ask a librarian for help. Finally, for those harder-to-find commercial lease forms, check our Commercial Lease research guide for a list of books in our library which have information and sample forms about commercial leases.
September 26, 2019
Badgerlink databases temporarily unavailable
Badgerlink databases, such as Academic Search Premier and Newspaper Source Plus, will be unavailable from September 27-30, 2019 for system maintenance and upgrades.
Please ask a librarian if you need help with research. Call us at 608-267-9696 or email us at wsll.ref@wicourts.gov.
Please ask a librarian if you need help with research. Call us at 608-267-9696 or email us at wsll.ref@wicourts.gov.
September 5, 2019
WSLL @ Your Service September 2019
The September issue of WSLL @ Your Service is now online. Your comments are welcome! Please direct them to the editor, Carol Hassler.
Did you know you can access HeinOnline, LLMC Digital, and Index to Legal Periodicals outside one of our libraries, for free? You just need our library card.
Leave Your Card at Home
September is Library Card Sign-up Month and while we love our library cards, it's not always convenient to carry them around. You can take a photo of your card and store it in your phone for easy access.
New Books
Our featured titles this month are What Are My Rights? Q & A About Teens and the Law and Handbook on Household Hazardous Waste. Our September new book list is also included.
Tech Tip
Link rot. It's an apt name for a serious and annoying problem. Link rot is when an online link no longer leads to the information being cited.
Library News
Read library staff news, find opportunities to listen to us speak, and see a list of upcoming CLE class opportunities.
September Snapshot
Julie Robinson gave a lunchtime presentation to Sauk County Bar Association members in picturesque Baraboo. Afterwards, she stopped by the next-door Circus World for some photos.
Read the September issue of WSLL @ Your Service now!
In this issue:
Read it online with your library cardDid you know you can access HeinOnline, LLMC Digital, and Index to Legal Periodicals outside one of our libraries, for free? You just need our library card.
Leave Your Card at Home
September is Library Card Sign-up Month and while we love our library cards, it's not always convenient to carry them around. You can take a photo of your card and store it in your phone for easy access.
New Books
Our featured titles this month are What Are My Rights? Q & A About Teens and the Law and Handbook on Household Hazardous Waste. Our September new book list is also included.
Tech Tip
Link rot. It's an apt name for a serious and annoying problem. Link rot is when an online link no longer leads to the information being cited.
Library News
Read library staff news, find opportunities to listen to us speak, and see a list of upcoming CLE class opportunities.
September Snapshot
Julie Robinson gave a lunchtime presentation to Sauk County Bar Association members in picturesque Baraboo. Afterwards, she stopped by the next-door Circus World for some photos.
Read the September issue of WSLL @ Your Service now!
August 1, 2019
WSLL @ Your Service August 2019
The August issue of WSLL @ Your Service is now online. Your comments are welcome! Please direct them to the editor, Carol Hassler.
In this issue:
Welcome to the library
In this issue:
August is the month of back to school sales and the last of family vacations, but for the Library it's time to welcome new users. Read more
Wisconsin briefs database
Get tips for filtering email by registering your own domain name and then adding email services to the hosting package. Read more
Library news
Learn about August classes, librarian speaking events, the Labor Day holiday, and read an AALL conference report. Read more
August snapshot
We are grateful to Ismael Ozanne, Dane County District Attorney, for setting aside time in July to talk to our library staff and answer questions about the District Attorney's office and criminal procedure. Read more
July 22, 2019
Databases in our libraries
Public computers at our libraries provide access to many subscription-based and free research sources. We often talk about what you can search by signing in with your library card. While you can get to a lot of information from anywhere with a Wisconsin State Law Library card, other sources are only available in the library.
Westlaw is available at all three libraries. The library's subscription to
Westlaw includes primary law databases (case law, statutes, codes) at
the Wisconsin and federal level plus all 50 states. In addition, users can access law reviews, forms, and several treatises.
KeyCite, a citation verification tool, is also included.
Wireless users at the David T. Prosser Jr. Library can also access
Westlaw from their own devices.
Lexis Advance is available at the David T. Prosser Jr. Library. The library's subscription to Lexis Advance includes primary law databases (case law, statutes, codes) at the Wisconsin and federal level plus all 50 states. In addition, users can search popular treatises and Shepardize citations.
While we have an extensive collection of Wisconsin Jury Instructions, past and present, you can also search or browse these through FastCase on our public computers. The FastCase archive of Wisconsin's jury instructions goes back to 2015.
Do you have a question about local government? Liquor licenses? Zoning powers? The “Legal Opinions” database from the League of Wisconsin Municipalities may have the answer. This CD-ROM includes almost three decades of legal analysis as well as League manuals on assessments, annexation, meeting conduct, and more. This resource is available at the David T. Prosser Jr. Library.
The OED is a well-established source on the meaning and history of words
in the English language. This resource is updated quarterly and is
available in all three libraries. The library also has a print copy of the most recent edition available at the David T. Prosser Jr. Library.
The National Consumer Law Center library features full access to 20 treatises on consumer law. Popular titles include Consumer Class Actions; Consumer Bankruptcy Law and Practice; Credit Discrimination; Fair Credit Reporting; and Student Loan Law. Many of these are in print in our library, but can be easily keyword searched through this database.
Search BNA Bloomberg law books, do docket searching, and use Bloomberg Law's legal research and business intelligence tools to find what you need. This resource is available at the David T. Prosser Jr. Library.
This website provides access to Wisconsin State Bar online PINNACLE books collection and forms. You can easily keyword search books here, and access the downloadable forms for our print copies (which used to be issued on CD). Ask a librarian to sign you in.
July 19, 2019
All libraries closed on July 19
Due to a downtown Madison power outage, all three of our library locations - the
David T. Prosser Jr. Library, Dane County Law Library, and Milwaukee County Law Library - are
closed on Friday, July 19. Watch our blog, our website, or our Facebook page for updates.
There is no After Hours use currently. Please call the library on Monday for an update.
Send questions and requests to us by email or leave a voicemail at 608-267-9696. We will respond to questions on Monday, July 22.
There is no After Hours use currently. Please call the library on Monday for an update.
Send questions and requests to us by email or leave a voicemail at 608-267-9696. We will respond to questions on Monday, July 22.
Madison locations closed Friday July 19
Because they are without power, our Madison library locations - the David T. Prosser Jr. Library and the Dane County Law Library - are closed on Friday, July 19. Watch this blog, our website, or our Facebook page for updates during the day.
The Milwaukee County Law Library is operating with limited service today.
Send questions and requests to us by email or leave a voicemail at 608-267-9696. We will respond to questions on Monday, July 22.
The Milwaukee County Law Library is operating with limited service today.
Send questions and requests to us by email or leave a voicemail at 608-267-9696. We will respond to questions on Monday, July 22.
July 2, 2019
WSLL @ Your Service July 2019
The July issue of WSLL @ Your Service is now online. Your comments are welcome! Please direct them to the editor, Carol Hassler.
In this issue:
DFI Lien and Trademarks Database
The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) recently released the UCC and Trademark Filing System, a new website which allows users to search and file trademarks, tradenames, and UCC filings. Read more
New Books
Our two featured titles this month are Legal Guide to the Business of Marijuana and A Layperson's Guide to Legal Research and Self-Help Law Books. Our July new book list is included. Read more
Tech Tip
It's a given that most people have more than one email address. If you have a Gmail address, there's a twist on "multiple emails" that you may not have heard about before. Read more
Library News
Holiday closures, brand-new CLE classes on open meetings and administrative code research, and other library news. Read more
July Snapshot
This event, held in the Wisconsin State Capitol, celebrated Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson's 43 years of service on the Wisconsin Supreme Court and her upcoming retirement in July. Read more
In this issue:
The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) recently released the UCC and Trademark Filing System, a new website which allows users to search and file trademarks, tradenames, and UCC filings. Read more
Our two featured titles this month are Legal Guide to the Business of Marijuana and A Layperson's Guide to Legal Research and Self-Help Law Books. Our July new book list is included. Read more
It's a given that most people have more than one email address. If you have a Gmail address, there's a twist on "multiple emails" that you may not have heard about before. Read more
Holiday closures, brand-new CLE classes on open meetings and administrative code research, and other library news. Read more
This event, held in the Wisconsin State Capitol, celebrated Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson's 43 years of service on the Wisconsin Supreme Court and her upcoming retirement in July. Read more
July 1, 2019
Libraries closed on July 4
All three libraries will be closed on Thursday, July 4th in observance
of the Independence Day holiday. Send questions and requests to us by email or leave a voicemail at 608-267-9696. We will respond to questions the next day.Happy Fourth, everyone!
June 25, 2019
Job Opening: LTE Library Associate
The Dane County Law Library located in the Dane County Courthouse is seeking candidates for a Library Associate Limited Term Employee (LTE) position. This is a 20 hour per week appointment. The successful applicant must be available to fill the 20-hour requirement during our business hours: 8:30AM-4:30PM, Monday-Friday. In order to accommodate workflow, preferred weekly schedule would be Mon-Fri 11:30PM-3:30PM.
The hourly wage for this position is $14.70.
The hourly wage for this position is $14.70.
Primary duties include assisting librarian with maintenance of judges' book collections by filing and shelving materials; filling weekly legal information requests from Dane County inmates; assisting library users with legal ready reference questions such as locating circuit court procedures and forms; processing, filing, and shelving library collection materials; maintaining physical library space; handling cash; and other tasks as necessary.
Highly qualified candidates will have excellent customer service skills, be detail-oriented, be able to work independently, manage and complete projects on time, and be able to follow directions.
Call (608) 266-6316 for information on how to submit a cover letter and resume; ask for Bob. Position is work-study compatible.
The Wisconsin Court System is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants who request them.
Highly qualified candidates will have excellent customer service skills, be detail-oriented, be able to work independently, manage and complete projects on time, and be able to follow directions.
Call (608) 266-6316 for information on how to submit a cover letter and resume; ask for Bob. Position is work-study compatible.
The Wisconsin Court System is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants who request them.
June 10, 2019
Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage in Wisconsin
"For 53 years," Theodora Winton
Youmans wrote in the June 12, 1919 edition of the Wood County Reporter,
"the woman suffrage question has been presented in some way to each
session of the Congress of the United States." In June 1919, it was
finally close to resolution when the Nineteenth Amendment was finally passed
into law and set to the states to ratify. Youmans was one of the first women
journalists and the president of the Wisconsin Women's Suffrage Association
(WWSA) when Wisconsin ratified the amendment. Her words can be widely read in
archived newsletters and newspapers, and paint a vivid picture of some of the
arguments and issues of the time.
Women were the engines of change, fighting for the right to vote for
decades. While the conventional Wisconsin women's suffrage story tends to focus
on the final frenzy of ratifying the Nineteenth Amendment and the subsequent
rush to be first to file it in Washington D.C., the story of women's suffrage
in Wisconsin is both rich and lengthy, stretching back to the origins of the
state. Before women enjoyed full voting rights, they fought for limited rights
to serve in office and vote in school elections.
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| Women's Suffrage Centennial Celebration, Wisconsin State Capitol, June 10, 2019 |
June 10, 2019 marks the 100th anniversary of Wisconsin's
ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment. Throughout the month of June, the
David T. Prosser Jr. Library will host a display featuring historical briefs
and laws, related books, and photos and newspaper articles of the time.
Come into the library to read through these first hand. This display is set up so you can pick up individual pieces to examine them more closely. Don't miss our newsletter feature articles, Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage in Wisconsin and Women’s Suffrage Legislation in Wisconsin, or our blog posts featuring Supreme Court briefs related to women's suffrage: Brown v. Phillips and Gilkey v. McKinley.
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| Women's Suffrage Display at the David T. Prosser Jr. Library |
Gilkey v. McKinley
Gilkey v. McKinley
75 Wis 543 (1890)
Women had the right to vote only in “school matters” and
this was tested in 1887 by Olympia Brown’s case, Brown v. Phillips. The ability
to vote in elections concerning school matters was additionally diminished when a close local
election was decided by the margin of votes in a special voting box set aside
for women. The runner-up sued, and the resulting Wisconsin Supreme Court
decision, Gilkey v. McKinley, meant that clerks could not provide separate
ballot boxes for women voting in certain local elections (which may involve “school
matters”), nor could clerks inspect the women’s ballots to make sure they only
voted on those items. It wasn’t until a decade later, in 1901, that the
Legislature enacted a law requiring every precinct in the state to provide a
separate ballot box for women voting on school matters. Prior to that time,
women were unable to vote for school issues in elections which decided other
matters or offices.
We have the Supreme Court briefs for this case in our
library, and you can read them online as well: Gilkey v. McKinley.
Brown v. Phillips
Brown v. Phillips
71 Wis 239 (1888)
Olympia Brown led the Wisconsin Women’s Suffrage Association
from 1884 to 1912. Beginning in 1886, women had been granted a limited right to vote in “any
election pertaining to school matters.” The law headed for a test with the
spring election of 1887. Olympia Brown, along with many other women, voted in her
local municipal election for the offices of mayor, city clerk, comptroller,
alderman, and supervisor. Brown argued that these offices were pertinent to “school
matters” and were therefore permissible for her to vote on. When she was not
allowed to vote, Brown sued the city.
While the circuit court agreed with Brown’s position, the
Wisconsin Supreme Court ultimately ruled against Olympia Brown. You can learn
more about this case on the Wisconsin Court System’s summary of famous cases: Brown v.
Phillips and others.
We have the Supreme Court briefs for this famous case in our
library, and you can read them online in two parts: Brown v. Phillips Part One,
Brown v. Phillips Part Two.
June 3, 2019
WSLL @ Your Service June 2019
The June issue of WSLL @ Your Service is now online. Your comments are welcome! Please direct them to the editor, Carol Hassler.
In this issue:
Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Women's Suffrage in Wisconsin
June 10, 2019 marks the 100th anniversary of Wisconsin's ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment. Read more
Women’s Suffrage Legislation in Wisconsin
The process of passing full women's suffrage was decades in duration, and marked by setbacks. Read more
New Books
Our featured titles this month are Field guide to legal research and The family law guide to appellate practice. Don't miss our new book list as well! Read more
Tech Tip
Windows 7 is coming to an end. Although this operating system was introduced 10 years ago, it's estimated that almost 40% of PC users are still using it. Read more
Library News
Get a recap of recent events at the library and schedule a library tour for your summer associates, clerks, and interns. Read more
June Snapshot
There's no surer sign of spring in downtown Madison than tulips blooming around the Capitol! Read more
In this issue:
June 10, 2019 marks the 100th anniversary of Wisconsin's ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment. Read more
The process of passing full women's suffrage was decades in duration, and marked by setbacks. Read more
Our featured titles this month are Field guide to legal research and The family law guide to appellate practice. Don't miss our new book list as well! Read more
Windows 7 is coming to an end. Although this operating system was introduced 10 years ago, it's estimated that almost 40% of PC users are still using it. Read more
Get a recap of recent events at the library and schedule a library tour for your summer associates, clerks, and interns. Read more
There's no surer sign of spring in downtown Madison than tulips blooming around the Capitol! Read more
May 22, 2019
Libraries closed on Memorial Day
The David T. Prosser Jr. Library, and Dane and Milwaukee County Law
Libraries will be closed on Monday, May 27th for Memorial Day. We will
respond to questions and requests on Tuesday, May 28th.
To ask a question while we are closed, call us at 608-267-9696 or Ask a Librarian online.
To ask a question while we are closed, call us at 608-267-9696 or Ask a Librarian online.
May 14, 2019
Agency histories in the UW Catalog
State agencies can change names over time, merging or splitting into new entities. When you're doing historical research, this can get confusing. There are a few sources you can use to research past agencies. One such source is the UW-Madison Library Catalog.
Search the catalog for the the agency's current or historical name, plus the keywords "agency history record" to pull up a list of related agency records. Each record has a description of the agency in the notes field, with older or related agency names and the agency's responsibilities.
Huge thanks to Eileen Snyder from the Wisconsin Historical Society for the tip!
May 6, 2019
WSLL @ Your Service: May 2019
The May issue of WSLL @ Your Service is now available.
In this issue:
Law Day at our libraries
We celebrated Law Day on May 1, 2019. Read more
Spotlight on: Oxford English Dictionary
Are you looking to expand your vocabulary and impress your friends? We have added an online subscription to the Oxford English Dictionary which can be used at the David T. Prosser Jr. Library public computers. We also have it in print! Read more
New Books
This month's featured titles are An Associate’s First Year: a Guide to Thriving at a Law Firm and Opening Statements: Winning in the Beginning by Winning the Beginning. Don't miss our full new book list for May. Read more
Tech Tip
How do I shrink this page? Where is the spell check button? If you are a casual user of Microsoft Word, the array of ribbons, toolbars, and menus can be confusing. Use the Quick Access Toolbar to help your experience. Read more
Library News
Get conference and National Library Week updates, learn about upcoming classes for May, and more news from our libraries. Read more
May Snapshot
Spotted on the interstate on the way to Chicago, this American Writers Museum billboard highlighting Douglass' timeless words ties into an exhibit they offered last year, Frederick Douglass AGITATOR. Read more
In this issue:
We celebrated Law Day on May 1, 2019. Read more
Are you looking to expand your vocabulary and impress your friends? We have added an online subscription to the Oxford English Dictionary which can be used at the David T. Prosser Jr. Library public computers. We also have it in print! Read more
This month's featured titles are An Associate’s First Year: a Guide to Thriving at a Law Firm and Opening Statements: Winning in the Beginning by Winning the Beginning. Don't miss our full new book list for May. Read more
How do I shrink this page? Where is the spell check button? If you are a casual user of Microsoft Word, the array of ribbons, toolbars, and menus can be confusing. Use the Quick Access Toolbar to help your experience. Read more
Get conference and National Library Week updates, learn about upcoming classes for May, and more news from our libraries. Read more
Spotted on the interstate on the way to Chicago, this American Writers Museum billboard highlighting Douglass' timeless words ties into an exhibit they offered last year, Frederick Douglass AGITATOR. Read more