Wisconsin State Law Library

The Wisconsin State Law Library's three locations will be closed on Monday, May 29th for Memorial Day. We will respond to questions and requests on Tuesday, May 30th.

To ask a question while we are closed, call us at 608-267-9696 or Ask a Librarian online.

Fake news is not a new phenomenon (see Washington Post opinion article, "Fake news? That's a very old story." by Robert G. Parkinson, November 25, 2016) and can be construed as humorous (see The Onion). The most recent election raised issues that the library profession takes very seriously. Librarians hope to educate patrons on finding credible and reliable sources. The following resources relate to information literacy and explore the emergent issue of fake news coming into the courts.

According to the American Library Association, information literacy is a set of abilities requiring individuals to "recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information." When in doubt, contact the librarians at the Wisconsin State Law Library to assist in your research.

Educational resources

• Alternative Facts and Fake News - Verifiability in the Information Society (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, January 27, 2017).
• How To Spot Fake News graphic
• How to Spot Fake News, Eugene Kiely and Lori Robertson November 18, 2016.
• Evaluating Information: The Cornerstone of Civic Online Reasoning (Stanford History Education Group, 2016).
• Post-Truth: Fake News and a New Era of Information Literacy (American Library Association Webinar, February 22, 2017).
• Webinar
• Evaluating Information - Applying the CRAAP Test (Meriam Library, California State University)
• Show Me the Learning: Navigating Information on Literacy through Multiple Life Perspectives, Alice B. Ruleman, Laura Horne-Popp, and Robert Hallis - Principles based on recommendations from the Association of Colleges and Research Libraries.
• Includes this graphic: The CRAAP Test
• Librarians, Information Literacy, and Fake News, Kathy Stein-Smith, Strategic Library, Issue 37, March 15, 2017.
• Truth, truthiness, triangulation: A news literacy toolkit for a "post-truth" world, Joyce Valenza , November 26, 2016.
• False, Misleading, Clickbait-y, and/or Satirical "News" Sources, Melissa Zimdars, 2016.

Law reviews

• Fake News, Free Speech, & The Third-Person Effect: I'm No Fool, But Others Are, Clay Calvert, 7 Wake Forest L. Rev. Online 12 (2017).

In the news

• Here's Why Facebook and Google Can't Fix the Fake News Problem, Mathew Ingram, March 29, 2017.
• Evaluating Sources in a ‘Post-Truth' World: Ideas for Teaching and Learning About Fake News, Katherine Schulten and Amanda Christy Brown, Jan. 19, 2017.
• What's the Legal Definition of "Fake News?" One Newspaper Publisher Might Sue to Find Out, Franziska Kues, Poynter, March 29, 2017.

Case law

• D Magazine Partners, L.P. v. Rosenthal, No. 15-0790 (Tex. Sup. Ct. 2017 ).
• Federal Trade Commission v. LeadClick Media, 838 F.3d 158.
• Self-Proclaimed Publisher of Fake News Sites Loses Circuit Appeal, Shari Claire Lewis, Dec. 19, 2016.

Are you a detail-oriented individual looking for part-time work? The Wisconsin State Law Library is searching for a Library Assistant, 10 hours per week. Flexible scheduling available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Duties include: scanning, processing, and shelving appellate court briefs; data entry, bindery preparation, and other collection maintenance activities including shifting of library materials.

Skills include: exceptional organizational skills, above average computing skills, and the ability to follow written directions. Scanning experience is preferred. A demonstrated ability to do multiple tasks with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail is required!

Pay: $9.67/hour.

Start date: As early as Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Location: The Wisconsin State Law Library is located on a bus line, just off the Capitol Square at 120 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Madison.

To apply: Please email your resume and cover letter to Angela.Humiston@wicourts.gov. You must include your hours available for work, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m..

Deadline for applications: Sunday, May 28, 2017

 

 

The May issue of WSLL @ Your Service is now online. As always, your comments are welcome. Please direct them to the editor, Kristina Martinez.

In this issue:

What's New - Kristina Martinez

We recap National Library Week and the Wisconsin State Law Library's birthday. Plus, learn about library closures in May. Read more

This Just In - Amy Crowder

Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and the Law in a Nutshell and International Aspects of U.S. Litigation: A Practitioner's Deskbook are our two featured titles this month. As always, don't miss our new book list. Read more

Tech Tip - Heidi Yelk

World Password Day is May 4. Experts recommend four steps to protect your digital assets: strong passwords, different passwords for each site, password managers, and multi-factor authentication. Plus, get an introduction to search engine DuckDuckGo. Read more

Information literacy (Fake News) - Jaime Healy-Plotkin

The most recent election raised issues that the library profession takes very seriously: fake news. Read more

May Snapshot

Enjoy a feature photo from our staff and readers. This month we feature the Wisconsin State Capitol and tulip star, a photo by Jaime Healy-Plotkin. Read more