About Library Grants

Since 1997 when the Grants-to-Libraries program began, the Friends have awarded 330 grants totaling $309,035. These grant projects are funded on the basis of competitive scholarly proposals, which are evaluated by a committee of five board members and voted on by the full board of directors. In the past, Friends grants have funded initiatives ranging from vacuuming books to purchasing children's books for interlibrary loan. Some grants have been used for more technical purposes, such as purchasing ultraviolet shields for fluorescent lights. The grants are primarily intended for acquisition and conservation of library materials. You can download a PDF application form.

The annual grant application deadline is March 31.

To learn more about the Grants to Campus Libraries Program,please contact the Friends at 265-2505, or via e-mail.

Current Grants to Libraries

2013 Grants-to-Libraries

Each year, the Friends of the UW–Madison Libraries award grants to UW–Madison campus libraries and library units. In 2013 the board of directors approved 15 grant proposals totaling $10,000.

American Indian Studies Library
Purchase of books and films

C.K. Leith Library of Geology and Geophysics
Partial support for purchase of back volumes “Monographs of Palaeolontographical Society”

Chican@ & Latin@ Studies Program
Purchase of books and videos for their library

Kohler Art Library
Purchase of two Preservations Environment Monitors (PEM2)

LGBT Campus Center Resource Library
Purchase of books and DVDs for their library

Max Kade Institute for German-American Studies
Preservation of several books

Memorial Library—Collections & Research Services
Purchase of the four volume set “Political Knowledge: Critical Concepts in Political Science”

Memorial Library—German Language Collection
Partial support for purchase of works of Heinrich Boll

Memorial Library—Ibero-American & Romance Languages Collection
Partial support for purchase of 150 e-books: Social Sciences and Humanities monographs

Memorial Library—Reference Department
Partial support for purchase of Wiley-Blackwell "History of American Film" (online)

Social Science Reference Library
Partial support for purchase for e-reference set “Encyclopedia of Race & Racism, 2nd Ed.”

Social Work Library
Purchase of one videodisc and one book

University Archives
Film preservation supplies and film digitization

Wendt Commons
Conservation Laboratory Repair of select Wendt Commons books

Women’s Studies Libraries
Purchase of three women’s studies anthologies

Past Grants to Libraries:

2012 Grants-to-Libraries

American Indian Studies Library
Acquisition of library materials

Southeast Asian and Hmong Studies
Tagalog reference grammar by Paul Schachter and Fe T. Otanes

School of Library and Information Studies
Acquisition of library materials

Latin American, Caribbean and Iberian Studies
Voces del Fuego

LGBT Campus Center
Acquisition of library materials

Mills Music Library
Conversion of 10 to 12 donated items

European Humanities
Johann Christoph Gottsched Briefwechsel

C.K. Leith Library of Geology and Geophysics
Geological maps international

Western European History and Social Sciences
Dizionario storico dell' Inquisizione

Psychology, and Higher Education
Acquisition of library materials, 15-20 monographs

Silver Buckle Press
Collection of documentary films on printing crafts

Journalism Reading Room
Preservation/ Conservation

Max Kade Institute for German American Studies
Conservation/ Repair

Reference, Memorial Library
Encyclopedia Britannica (funded subject to availability)

Aquatic Science Center, Wisconsin’s Water Library
Acquisition of library materials

University Archives and Records Management Services, Steenbock Library
Preservation/ Conservation

Space Science and Engineering Center
Preservation/ Conservation

Special Collections
Upgraded Preservation Environment Monitors

Preservation, Memorial Library
Replace Preservation Environment Monitors

Ethnic Studies
Acquisition of Ethnic Studies materials

Slavic, East European and Central Asia Studies
Literaturnaia gazeta

Arthur H. Robinson Map Library
LandScan™ Global Population Geospatial Dataset (digital)

Geography
Preservation/Acquisition

Women’s Studies
Acquisition of library materials

East Asian Studies Librarian
Handed Chinese Liuqiu Islands Literature

2011 Grants-to-Libraries

Archives

Chicana/Latina Studies
Purchase of materials to significantly upgrade holdings

Conservation
Creation of facsimile copies of fragile materials

Western European Humanities
Purchase of Indo-European Etymological Dictionaries O/L

Geography
Purchase Online access Encyclopedia of Geography

Geology and Geophysics
Purchase two important titles

Higher Education and Psychology
Purchase reference set "Psychological Assessment"

Japanese
Tree volume dictionary of Japanese picture books

Latin American and Iberian Studies
Purchase facsimile of Medieval Spanish ms.

Law Library
Clamshell boxes for book preservation

LGBT Campus Center
Acquisitions for LGBT Campus Center

Limnology
Preservation supplies plus a book

Max Kade
Preservation of German- American books and documents

Mills Music Library
Digitize "ethnic" American 78rpm recordings

"Modern Hebrew"
Purchase Modern Hebrew literature for graduate program

Reference
Acquisition of library materials

Silver Buckle Press
Conservation supplies

Slavic, etc. studies
"Who's Who in Kazakhstan"

SLIS
Labor to restore important films in fragile condition

Ethnic and Francophone Studies
Purchase of Doc. Program and Francophone Library Materials

Special Collections
Purchase of exhibition hardware, stands, etc.

Water
Books on coastal engineering

Women's Studies
E-Encyclopedia of Women and Gender Handbook

2010 Grants-to-Libraries

American Indian Studies Library
Acquisition of library materials

Education and Psychology
Purchase copy of "Handbook of Lifespan Development"

English Literature and Humanities
Purchase back copies of "The Hatchet" by L. Borden

Geology-Geophysics (Leith Library)
Purchase current important & regional geological monographs

Journalism Reading Room
Purchase books relevant to School of Journalism

Kohler Art Library
Purchase four books of rare Chinese "Song" paintings

LGBT Campus Center
Replace three VHS videos with DVD videos

Memorial Library Reference
Purchase "Encyclopedia of Modern China" E-edition

MERIT Library
Purchase of Hmong culture juvenile books

Mills Music Library
Epson digital scanner to scan fragile sheet music

Plant Pathology Library
Purchase non-journal library materials

Preservation Laboratory
Purchase used microfilm reader

School of Library and Information Studies Laboratory Library
Purchase library studies books for SLIS students

South Asian Studies
Purchase backfiles of "South Asian Review"

South Asian Studies (Memorial Library)
Purchase South Asian print sets

Steenbock Library
Purchase "going green" books on sustainability

Western Humanities
Purchase German Playscripts & books on Romance linguistics

Wisconsin Water Library
Acquisition of listed library materials

Women's Studies
Purchase videos of importance to Women's Studies

Zoological Museum
Purchase supplies to preserve paper documents

2009 Grants-to-Libraries

American Indian Studies Library
Acquisition

Archives and Records Management
Conserve Aldo Leopold's newsletters

CIMC-MERIT Library
Purchase Native American resources to address Act 31

Collection Development-Reference
Purchase educational reference handbooks

European History (Memorial Library)
Purchase critical edition of 17th century European playscripts

Geography Library
Purchase online backfiles of Geography Journals

Geology-Geophysics (Leith Library)
Purchase monographs & advanced level text-reference books

Grants Library (Memorial Library)
Purchase of monographs for Grants Information Collection

Max Kade Institute for German-American Studies
Conserve old books in German language published in America

Japanese Studies (Memorial Library)
Purchase first half of Encyclopedia of Women's Life

L&S Learning Support Services
Purchase foreign film DVDs for summer language institutes

Law Library
Purchase eyeletter for closures of rare book boxes

LGBT Campus Center
Purchase LGBT health-related library materials

Middleton Shelving Facility
Heat gun for shrink wrapping delicate objects

Mills Music Library
Conservation of Wingra Woodwind cassettes and ongoing treatment of rare materials in collection

Plant Pathology Library
Purchase of "non-journal materials"

Preservation Laboratory
Purchase of four PEM-2 dataloggers

Public Services-Scholarly Communication
New materials on copyright for academic study

Reference (Memorial Library)
Purchase of Encyclopedias of Genocide & Crimes Against

School of Library and Information Studies Laboratory Library
Archival supplies for collection storage

Silver Buckle Press
Conservation of two antique card presses

Social Work Library
Purchase of DVDs of two videos for classroom use

South Asian Studies (Memorial Library)
Purchase of 14 titles in the set People of India

Special Collections (Memorial Library)
Purchase and conserve exhibit supplies for Special Collections exhibit program

Water Library
Purchase books on climate change

Wendt Engineering Library
Preservation of Special Collections in Wendt Library

Western European History
Purchase of letters & cards from German Soldiers in WWI

Women's Studies
Purchase documentary DVDs

Zoological Museum
Purchase of archival storage boxes for collection

2007 Grants-to-Libraries

American Indian Studies Library
Purchase of Native American books and videos

Biology Library
Preservation of existing collections

Center for Instructional Materials and Computing
Purchase of children's and young adult books, materials for teacher education of band and orchestra

Ebling Library
Purchase of preservation equipment

European History
Purchase of microfilms on 19th-century crime

Humanities—European
Purchase of books in Medieval Studies

Kohler Art Library
Purchase of artists' book, preservation equipment

L&S Learning Support Services
Purchase of classic foreign language films

Middleton Shelving Facility
Purchase of preservation equipment

Mills Music Library
Preservation of Soviet-era Russian music and Upper Midwest folk music manuscripts

Plant Pathology Library
Purchase of non-journal materials

Preservation Laboratory
Purchase of preservation equipment

Reference
Purchase of monographs

School of Library and Information Studies Laboratory Library
Purchase of books on archives management and the impact of the digital

Silver Buckle Press
Purchase of conservation mats and professional frames for broadsides

South Asian Studies
Conversion of VHS videos to DVD format

Special Collections
Purchase of preservation equipment

Steenbock Library
Purchase of cookbooks

University Archives
Purchase of preservation equipment

Water Resources Library
Purchase of aquaculture books

Wendt Library
Preservation of master's project reports, conservation of collections

Women's Studies
Purchase of books on workplace inequalities and DVDs on women's issues in foreign cultures

2006 Grants-to-Libraries

American Indian Studies Library
Purchase monographs to support ongoing collection development

University Archives
Continue conservation work on early plans and maps of the UW-Madison campus

Biology Library
Preserve and conserve existing collection

CIMC Library
Acquire DVDs that will support the teaching and research of newly hired faculty

Ethnic Studies
Purchase documentaries to support courses for the undergraduate Ethnic Studies requirement

European History
Purchase two major encyclopedia sets

Humanities – European
Acquire materials on Italian dialects

Geography Library
Purchase several national atlases

Robinson Map Library
Purchase an atlas case to preserve and conserve existing atlas collection

Human Ecology Library
Preserve and conserve a number of volumes in the Ruth Ketterer Harris Library

Humanities – English
Complete digital preservation of Little Magazine collection

Law Library
Purchase cutter for preservation

Library and Information Studies
Acquire printed copies of dissertations in the area of library and information science

Math Library
Preserve important historical texts in existing collection

Microimaging
Continue work on producing working print master negatives from older first generation camera master negative microfilm

Music Library
Maintain efforts to make digital preservation copies of 19th century Wisconsin music imprints and publications by Wisconsin composers

Plant Pathology Library
Acquire non-journal materials to augment the collection

Preservation
Fund student position to work on processing of master negative microfilms and purchase of shrink-wrap system for preservation

Reference
Acquire encyclopedias on documentary film, religion and nature, and genocide and crimes against humanity

Slavic/East European
Acquire 2002 All-Russia Population Census

Social Sciences Library
Acquire monographs in sexuality subject area, which includes aspects of medicine, psychology, women’s studies, social science, and literature and philosophy

South Asian Studies
Convert existing VHS video tapes from the South Asia Video Archive to DVD format

Special Collections
Purchase of emergency supplies and equipment

Water Resources Library
Purchase aquaculture books

Women’s Studies Library
Acquire two reference works and holdings on women and religion

2005 Grants-to-Libraries

American Indian Studies Library
Acquire native language publications and videos

Astronomy Lab
Purchase supplies to re-house the Orbiting Astronomical Observatory collection

University Archives
Conserve early UW-Madison plans and maps

Art Library
Acquire new artists’ books

Biology Library
Preserve and conserve existing rare books collection

European History
Acquire microfilms for John Foxe project

Humanities – European 
Acquire microfilm set Arthurian Legends and the Influence of the French Prose Romance

Geography and Map Libraries
Acquire “Dane County Wetlands Inventory” digital dataset

Law Library
Purchase of museum vacuum and other cleaning supplies

Microimaging Laboratory
Duplicate 32 working print master negatives from older first generation camera master negative microfilm

SLIS Laboratory Library
Acquire printed copies of dissertations in the area of library and information science

L&S Learning Support Services 
Purchase foreign language DVD titles to finish collection

Music Library
Re-master the Upper Midwest Folk Heritage Collection and make digital preservation copies of 19th century Wisconsin music imprints and publications by Wisconsin composers

Plant Pathology Library
Acquire non-journal materials to augment the collection

Preservation Laboratory
Fund student help for preservation of master negative microfilms

Reference
Acquire Encyclopedia of Social Measurement

Silver Buckle Press
Purchase conservation supplies, specifically phase boxes to protect fragile specimen books

Special Collections
Conserve Lothar Meggendorfer collection

Social Sciences Library
Acquire three European reference books

Women’s Studies Library
Acquire DVDs and reference works on women and gender

2004 Grants-to-Libraries

European History
Acquire CDs for Vatican Registers collection and purchase back volumes of journal Method and Theory in the Study of Religion

American Indian Studies Library
Purchase Native American videos and books

Special Collections
Purchase two Preservation Environment Monitors

Kohler Art Library
Purchase a Julie Chen limited edition “artist book” and a Johanna Drucker and Brad Freeman limited edition “artist book”

Mills Music Library
Digitize copies of Wisconsin composers’ music and related prints and re-master audiotapes of Upper Midwest folk music performances

Humanities – English
Continue index preparation for Little Magazine collection

Memorial Library Preservation Department
Purchase two Preservation Environmental Monitors

University Archives
Digitize and/or preserve early UW campus plans and maps

SLIS Library
Organize and preserve Wisconsin intellectual freedom documents

Women’s Studies Library
Purchase reference books related to women’s issues

L&S Learning Support Services
Purchase multimedia teaching materials in various world languages

Plant Pathology Library
Purchase non-journal plant pathology and physiology publications

College Library
Purchase books by Wisconsin Book Festival authors for the Open Book Collection

Social Sciences Library
Purchase reference volumes on German constitutional law

Biology Library
Continue preservation of Rare Book collection materials

2003 Grants-to-Libraries

Mills Music Library
Re-master audio tapes of Upper Midwest folk music festivals and digitizing printed copies of early Wisconsin printed music

Social Sciences
Acquire of supplement to microfilmed collection of LBJ’s National Security File

Humanities – English
Integrate indexes to Little magazine interviews

Space Science Library
Organize collection of Verner E. Suomi’s papers, documents, etc.

Journalism Reading Room
Purchase new books for reading room

Memorial Library Preservation Department
Purchase two Preservation Environmental Monitors

Special Collections
Purchase two Preservation Environmental Monitors

Water Resources Library
Purchase children’s water-related books

European History
Conserve WWI religious materials, newsprint broadsides and pamphlets

Health Sciences Library
Acquire health-related books for lay consumers, patients and staff

University Archives
Purchase 60 more Meuer Photoart collection photographs of UW campus and surrounding community

L&S Learning Support Services
Purchase foreign language DVDs

Biology Library
Continue preservation of Biology Library Rare Books collection

Silver Buckle Press
Purchase display shelving unites

Kohler Art Library
Purchase a Julie Chen limited edition book in carousal book format

2002 Grants-to-Libraries

University Archives
Preservation of Meuer photoart and supplies for the Oral History Project

Astronomy Library
Purchase of astrobiology monographs

Biology Library
Preservation

Business Library
Purchase of computers and for IRS Corporate Ratios

College Library
BBC Shakespeare

Memorial Library Preservation Department
Purchase two Preservation Environmental Monitors

Kohler Art Library
Funds for the Artists’ Books Collection

Memorial Library Reference
Purchase of Encyclopedia Britannica

Mills Music Library
Milwaukee musician and preservation

Plant Pathology Library
Monographs/CDs

Primate Center
Materials

Social Sciences Library
Cabinet papers

Special Collections
Preservation of Fry Collection

Wendt Engineering Library
Archives scanning

Women’s Studies Library
Purchasing documentaries

2001 Grants-to-Libraries

University Archives
Meuer Photoart Collection

Biology Library
Preservation

Business Library
Acquisitions

College Library
Ethnic Studies Acquisitions

Memorial Library Preservation Department
Paris Expo materials

European Humanities Library
Acquisitions

Geography Library
Atlas case

Ibero-American Library
Acquisitions

Kohler Art Library
Acquisitions

Math Library
Book preservation boxes

Memorial Library Reference
Purchase of software

Microimaging
Create CD-ROM

Mills Music Library
Preservation

Pharmacy Library
Acquisitions

Plant Pathology Library
Acquisitions

School of Library and Information Studies
Acquisitions and supplies

Social Sciences Library
Purchase of European travel guides

Special Collections
Process and house Fry Collection

Wendt Engineering Library
Funds for scanning project

Women’s Studies Library
Acquisitions

2000 Grants-to-Libraries

University Archives
Meuer Collection preservation and course catalog filming

Biology Library
Book preservation

Data and Program Library Service
Roper Center membership

European History Library
War map conservation

European Humanities Library
Acquisition of Scandinavian books

Historical Society Archives
Atlas conservation

Kohler Art Library
Acquire VCRs, tapes, mirrors, and stands

Math Library
Vacuum cleaner

Memorial Library Reference
Book preservation

Mills Music Library
Record shelving

Schwerdtfeger Library
Boxes and envelopes for slides

Social Sciences Library
Purchase of Thatcher CD

Special Collections
Microfilm reader

Wendt Engineering Library
Rocket e-books

Women’s Studies Library
Acquire videotapes

1999 Grants-to-Libraries

University Archives
Meuer Photoart Collection and microfilm course catalogs

Biology Library
Book preservation

Business Library
Microfilm manuals

Memorial Library Preservation Department
Book presses

Data and Program Library Service (Roper)
1980 census CD

European Humanities Library
Acquisition of German books

Geography Library
Vacuum equipment

Lapham Project (Nurre)
Lapham book

Law Library
Preservation equipment

Memorial Library Reference
Review binding

Mills Music Library
CDs and containers

Primate Center
Children’s books

School of Library and Information Studies
Poster laminator

South Asian Studies
Microfilm

Special Collections
Preservation of Fry Collection

Wendt Engineering Library
Funds for scanning project

Women’s Studies Library
Videotape acquisitions

1998 Grants-to-Libraries

African Studies Bibliographer
CD-ROMs

University Archives
Photo preservation

Biology Library
Preservation

College Library
Asians in America

Memorial Library Preservation Department
Equipment

European Humanities Library
Medieval history books bibliographer and acquisition of early modern Italian books

Exhibits Committee
Exhibit cases

Geography Library
Preservation

History of Science Bibliographer
Archive

Kohler Art Library
Architecture encyclopedia

Law Library
Preservation equipment

Memorial Library Reference
Encyclopedia set

Mills Music Library
Conservation scores and journal microfilming

Silver Buckle Press
Rare book conservation

Social Sciences Library
CD-ROM

Special Collections
Book holders

Women’s Studies Library
Videotape acquisitions

1997 Grants-to-Libraries

American & British Humanities Bibliographer
Flyer on fine printing

College Library
Ethnic studies shelving

Memorial Library Preservation Department
Vacuum and filter

Geography Library
Pilot project in preservation

Geology Library
Special vacuum

Kohler Art Library
Final installment on purchase of Grove Dictionary of Art

Memorial Management Group
Book and shelf cleaning

Memorial Library Reference
World author’s

Mills Music Library
Student staff and filter ray ultraviolet shields

School of Library and Information Studies
Special book truck

Silver Buckle Press
Full color brochure describing press

Social Sciences Library
Purchase of microfilms and German newspapers

Special Collections
Purchase of fax machine/scanner and plexiglass sheets and vacuum