Borrowing Policies

In order to borrow materials from any UW-Madison library, you must present a valid UW-Madison ID, a UW System ID, or a Community Borrowing Card.

Select a category below to see information on library privileges and loan periods. Not sure of your category? See this detailed list.

If you have questions, please contact UW-Madison Circulation Support by email at circulation@library.wisc.edu.

UW-Madison

• Faculty & staff
• Graduate students
• Undergraduates and special students
• Spouse or domestic partner of UW-Madison faculty, staff, or students

UW System

• Faculty & Staff
• Graduate Students
• Undergraduate Students

Other Connections

• Alumni
  UW-Madison alumni and UW-Madison Alumni Association paid members.
• Annual Fee Card Holders
  Members of the public not covered elsewhere
• Community Borrowing Courtesy Card Holders
  Includes Beloit College, Edgewood College, and Madison College faculty, staff & students; Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) faculty, staff, and students; City of Madison, Dane County, and State of Wisconsin employees (excludes limited term employees); Native Nations Members; PLATO (Participatory Learning and Teaching Organization) members; OCLC Reciprocal Borrowing Program faculty; some Wisconsin private college/university faculty; Wisconsin public school 4K-12 educators and staff.
• Friends of the Library
  Friends may borrow materials by becoming a member or making a donation of $50 or more to the Libraries’ gift funds.

Patrons of Other Libraries

Patrons of other libraries make requests to borrow materials through their local library.