Collection Development and Management

Many of our Librarians are Subject Liaisons and can answer questions about particular collections, such as collection information, policies, and how to recommend a purchase. They can also provide in-depth reference assistance in their particular subject specialty.

Collection Preservation

The UW-Madison has an active and well-established preservation program. Collection preservation is incorporated into virtually all areas of the library.

Preservation staff regularly:

• Conduct educational sessions for University staff
• Mount exhibits to create preservation awareness
• Present workshops for libraries of all types
• Handle disaster response activities
• Provide advice to callers with preservation problems
• Serve as instructors and visiting lecturers for courses in the School of Library and Information Studies
• Maintain ties with preservation professionals throughout the country

Gifts and Donations

All gifts of books and other materials support the mission of the libraries and are greatly appreciated. Hundreds of titles new to the collections, and within the libraries’ collecting scope, are added through gifts annually.

Those gifts not added to the libraries’ holdings also strengthen the collections through exchange programs with institutions in foreign countries. Some gifts are offered at the Friends of the UW-Madison Library semi-annual book sales. Proceeds from sales help fund special purchases and projects in the libraries.

Our subject specialists can help answer your questions about how to give books and other materials.

Recommending a Purchase

If you have a book, journal or other item to recommend for purchase by the University of Wisconsin Libraries, use the Purchase Recommendation form.

Suggestions are welcome and will be forwarded to the appropriate library subject specialist for consideration.

All recommendations are subject to Library selection policies.