Who Can Borrow?

The following patron groups can borrow materials from the UW Library:

1. UW System Faculty, Staff and Students
2. Community Members
3. Visitors to Campus (including visiting faculty)
4. Patrons of Other Libraries

For more detailed information see the Patron Loan Periods page.

If you have questions about whether you can borrow material from the UW Library, contact the Memorial Library Circulation Office at (608) 263-7360, Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM, or via email.

Loan Periods

Loan periods vary depending on three criteria:

• Your Patron Status (ex: Are you a UW Faculty, an Undergrad, an Annual Card Holder, etc.)
• The type of item you want to borrow (ex: Books, Videos, Microforms, etc.)
• The Library you want to borrow from

To see the borrowing privileges for your patron status, go to the Patron Loan Periods page. If you are interested in information about borrowing material from a specific library, go to the campus libraries page, choose the library you want, and click on the link to the library's Web site.

Renewing Material

When can I renew materials?

• Faculty, Staff and Graduate Students with semester loans can request renewal at about four weeks prior to the due date.
• Undergraduates and Other Patrons with a 28-day loan can renew at any time, however you may want to wait until the due date in order to allow yourself the maximum loan period.

Check the status message to make sure that the item(s) has been renewed. If item status does not read 'renewed', one of the following occurred:

1. You have reached the renewal limit
2. The item you want to renew is actually non-renewable
3. You are trying to renew the item too early (this applies to semester loans)

How do I renew materials?

Items can often be renewed online using the My MadCat Account feature.

Items that cannot be renewed using My MadCat Account include:

• Items that have reached renewal limit
• Items that have been recalled by another user
• Reserve materials
• Items borrowed through Inter-Library Loan
• Items that consist of more than one physical piece

If you have difficulty logging into My MadCat Account, go to the ID Problems page.

Returning Material

Books on regular loan can be returned to any campus library with an Open Return sticker (see image) on its book return.

Items that need to be returned to the library they were borrowed from include:

• Reserve materials
• Materials on Short-Term Loans (7 days or less)
• Journals/Periodicals
• Fragile Items

Recalled Items

All regular loan books are subject to recall by another patron. The original borrower is guaranteed 14 days; after that, the item is subject to any recalls issued by another patron. If a recall is issued, the due date will be changed and you will be notified. If you have a recalled item and it is overdue, you will not be able to borrow more materials until the recalled item is returned.

Note: Recalled Items should be returned to the library they were borrowed from in order to avoid a potential fine.

Use the Campus Libraries Information page to locate libraries that feature Open Return.

Faculty Runner Card

Faculty can designate a currently enrolled student or staff to borrow material in their name. These materials are subject to the same borrowing policies as loans made in person by the faculty member.

To designate a faculty runner, submit a letter of authorization that is written on departmental stationery and includes the following:

• The runner's name
• The date until which the runner is authorized
• An express statement of responsibility (ex. "I agree to take full responsibility for all overdue charges and/or replacement fees.")
• The faculty member's signature

Letters should be addressed to Dineen Grow, User Services Supervisor.

Letters may be brought by the designated runner to the Memorial Library Card Application Desk, located in the lobby of the Memorial Library. The runner will need to bring his/her UW photo ID.

Letters may also be faxed to (608) 262-2568, or mailed to Circulation Office, Room 170, Memorial Library, 728 State Street, Madison WI 53706.

A Note about the Runner's User ID

A faculty runner will normally use his/her own ID when:

• The faculty member intends to check out only materials from the UW Madison campus
• The faculty member intends to use Library Express (Inter-Library Loan) but does not need to access the information in Library Express

A faculty runner will need a new, unique ID when:

• The faculty member intends to use Library Express and needs access to the Library Express account information

In cases where a unique ID is needed, the faculty member will designate where email (for electronic article delivery or messages from staff) is to be sent. Requests using a unique ID number are assigned to the Library that serves the faculty member in Library Express.

Any questions about Faculty Runners should be referred to the Circulation Office at (608) 263-7360, Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM or by email.