Wisconsin State Law Library

This month our highlight is the print set, American Law of Products Liability 3d. If you are working on a products liability case this 32 volume set has everything you need.

American Law of Products Liability is broken down into the following looseleaf binders:

Primary Source Documents with Federal and State Laws, Uniform laws and the UCC.

Practice Aids Binders with forms, checklists, pattern discovery and jury instructions.

Main treatise binders containing elements of products liability cases, negligence and warranty liability, design and manufacturing defects, defense and procedural directions, and damages and fees. There is also an in-depth analysis of types of cases including food, packaging, cleaning supplies, clothing, toys, machinery, and agriculture. Litigators will also appreciate the ability to find names of expert witnesses and attorneys involved in specific products liability cases.

Rounding out the set are the detailed Index, Table and Citator binders. The Citator is a treasure trove containing research references to Westlaw databases, digests, ALR articles, forms, law reviews, legal encyclopedias, other treatise and practice aids, and case law by jurisdiction. Please note these "finding tool" volumes do not circulate.

This set is updated four times a year with the next supplement scheduled to arrive in December. There is also a monthly newsletter with relevant products liability news and information. Check this set out the next time you are in the library!

The Wisconsin State Law Library, Milwaukee Legal Resource Center, and Dane County Legal Resource Center will be closed on Thursday, November 22nd for a state holiday. WSLL and MLRC will be open the next day on Friday, November 23rd; DCLRC will be closed until the following Monday.

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 Friday, November 23rd.

The Family Law Assistance Center (FLAC) and the Small Claims Assistance Program (SCAP) are weekly pro se legal assistance clinics that meet in the Dane County Courthouse. Both clinics are looking for new volunteers!

FLAC and SCAP services are in heavy demand. FLAC serves over 500 pro se litigants a year; SCAP is close behind with an average of 400 annual visitors. Data suggests those numbers are on the rise for both clinics. In 2013, Dane County would like to expand SCAP's Spanish language assistance to twice monthly.

In addition to new volunteers, those continuing in 2013 are strongly encouraged to attend as well. Each training session is worth 2 CLE and 1 Ethics CLE credit, plus there is no registration fee.

Click on each image below to view the training session details, and to get more information about each clinic.

Contact Dane County Legal Resource Center librarian Lisa Winkler to RSVP.

As the holiday shopping season approaches, don't forget that the Wisconsin State Law Library (WSLL) is serving as a dropoff site for the local Toys for Tots annual campaign. The last day to donate toys is Thursday, December 6th.

New, unwrapped toys brought to WSLL during November and December will be collected by the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation of Madison and delivered as Christmas presents to less fortunate children in Dane County. Toys may be dropped off at WSLL, 120 MLK, Jr. Blvd, 2nd floor, during regular library hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday.

If you don't have time to shop or stop by WSLL, consider donating online.

In 2011 the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program distributed over 15.6 million toys to over 7.2 million less fortunate children nationwide.

WSLL's Toys for Tots collection box is on the 2nd floor just inside the door.

Veterans Day is observed on November 11th, a day to honor America's veterans and thank them for their service to our country. We'd like to thank our own veterans, Pete Boll and Julie Tessmer! (pictured below)

Learn more about Veterans Day at the US Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Day page, covering history, educational resources, observances, and ceremonies. Find out how Wisconsin is observing Veterans Day at the WI Dept. of Veterans Affairs events calendar.

We encourage researchers to explore our Veterans and Military Law legal topic pages. We also link to legal assistance resources for active military, veterans, and their families on our Legal Assistance legal topic page. Do you have a question? Ask us!

While Veterans Day is a national holiday, it is not a Wisconsin state holiday, so we will be open the following Monday, November 12.

WSLL Librarians and veterans Pete Boll (left) and Julie Tessmer (right) at the Veterans Law Center launch celebration in Madison, Wis.

There are still a few seats available in the hands-on legal research classes being held in the State Law Library's training room this month.

On November 13th and 28th, learn how to do ethics research on Westlaw. The class will review Westlaw sources and students will learn online searching techniques for researching ethics and professional responsibility questions. This class offers ethics CLE credits. For details and registration forms, please visit our Classes web page.

On November 27th learn about the process and materials used in researching the legislative history of Wisconsin statutes. This class offers CLE credits. For details and registration forms, please visit our Classes web page.

It's election day! Check https://myvote.wi.gov/ for your polling place information and to see your sample ballot. Do you have questions about voting today? Remember to check the information on the MyVote WI website, or our latest Frequently asked questions about voting post. 

While researching a ballot question last month, we came across these old sample ballots folded into the 1951 Wisconsin Statutes. Click on each image to enlarge.

The Wisconsin State Law Library will not be physically accessible during the presidential campaign rally on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. on Monday morning, Nov. 5. Library staff will be available to assist you by phone or email. Our website is also available 24/7.

NO AFTER HOURS ACCESS THIS WEEKEND

Because of preparations being made within and around the Law Library and the entire Risser Justice Center in advance of the rally, we are suspending After Hours library access from 5:00 p.m. Friday, November 2 through 8:00 a.m. Monday, November 5.

We sincerely apologize for these temporary disruptions in library service.

The November issue of WSLL @ Your Service is now online! Get new book recommendations, library news, and tips for managing the search options in your browser.

• What's New: Upcoming legal research class; Librarians speak out; Toys for Tots dropoff site;
• This Just In...: New & updated library materials;
• Tech Tip in Brief: Simple ways to change your search engine habits;
• WSLL Recommends: Americans with Disabilities: Practice & Compliance Manual;
• Odds 'n' Endings: WSLL's audio-visual room