The Wisconsin State Law Library has recently released its 2023 Annual Report. The report highlights the library's outreach efforts to connect with people from different parts of the state and beyond. The Wisconsin State Law Library is one of the oldest in the country, having originated in 1836, just a few years after the Library of Congress.
In 2023, library staff processed over 25,000 document delivery requests, including copies of court records and briefs, articles, and books from the library's collection. The library's website received over 1.6 million visits, and the librarians answered over 4,000 reference questions in person, by phone, and by email.
The Wisconsin State Law Library is committed to helping self-represented litigants from all over the state. The library staff assists litigants through phone and email. The branch library staff in the Milwaukee and Dane County courthouses also provides access to court forms and information in partnership with court offices and legal assistance clinics. In 2023, Dane County Law Library coordinated with the City of Madison to translate its Low-Cost Legal Assistance Guide to Spanish, Hmong, and Chinese.
The Wisconsin State Law Library is also committed to providing continuing legal education to judges and court staff throughout the state. The report mentions that the library staff presented 22 hours of education in 19 unique presentations in 2023. The library also offered tours and meeting spaces to agencies within each branch of government. The librarians collaborated with the Wisconsin State Bar to offer a free legal research class via videoconference to attorneys in rural areas of the state.
The 2023 report and copies of previous annual reports can be found on the State Law Library's website.
Third Branch eNews is an online monthly newsletter of the Director of State Courts Office. If you are interested in contributing an article about your department’s programs or accomplishments, contact your department head. Information about judicial retirements and judicial obituaries may be submitted to: Sara.Foster@wicourts.gov