Friends of the Library

Friends of the Library and donors of $50 or more to the Libraries’ charitable funds are eligible for a Community Borrowing Card. Whether donors give to the Library Impact Fund, the Friends Fund, or any other library fund, they are considered a Friend of the Libraries. Friends have the following library privileges:

• Access to campus libraries and physical collections
• Loans of UW-Madison items, up to 999 items. See loan periods below.
• Requests of UW-Madison physical materials to be picked up at the campus library of choice, up to 5 requests at one time.
• Loan renewals
• On-campus access to databases, full-text electronic materials, and other digital resources
• On–campus guest wireless access

The following services are NOT available:

• Off-campus access to UW-Madison licensed electronic resources
• UW System materials
• Interlibrary loan or requesting from other institutions
• Remote Delivery
• Equipment checkout including but not limited to laptops and cameras

UW-Madison also offers some fee-based services to the public.

Obtaining an Community Borrowing Card as a Friend of the Library

• Friends who donate $50 or more annually are entitled to a UW-Madison Libraries Borrowing Card. To become a Friend, go to the Friends website or the Libraries’ giving page to make a donation.
• Applications for new and renewal cards must be made online at go.wisc.edu/borrowcard.

What's your loan period?

• close AMP Library

  • Books 28 days / 2 renewals
  • Journals 28 days / 2 renewals
  • Government Documents 28 days / 2 renewals
  • Videos 14 days / 1 renewal
  • Software 28 days / 2 renewals
  • Audio 28 days / 2 renewals

• close AOSS Library

  • Books 28 days / 2 renewals
  • Journals 28 days / 2 renewals
  • Government Documents 28 days / 2 renewals

• close Art Library

  • Books 28 days / 2 renewals
  • Journals 14 days / 1 renewal*
  • Microforms non-circulating
  • Videos non-circulating
  • Software non-circulating

  * Art Library unbound journals do not circulate.

• close Business Library

  • Books 28 days / 2 renewals
  • Journals non-circulating
  • Government Documents 28 days / 2 renewals
  • Microforms non-circulating

• close College Library

  • Books 28 days / 2 renewals
  • Journals in-library use only
  • Videos 28 days / 2 renewals; Open Book Collection: 14 days / 1 renewal
  • Software 28 days / 2 renewals; Open Book Collection: Games: 14 days / 1 renewal
  • Tools 3 Days

• close Ebling Library

  • Books 28 days / 2 renewals †
  • Journals non-circulating
  • Government Documents non-circulating
  • Microforms 28 days / 2 renewals

  † Ebling books published before 1914 do not circulate.

• close Geology and Geophysics Library

  • Books 28 days / 2 renewals
  • Journals 28 days / 2 renewals*
  • Government Documents 28 days / 2 renewals
  • Microforms 28 days / 2 renewals
  • Videos 28 days / 2 renewals
  • Software 28 days / 2 renewals
  • Audio 28 days / 2 renewals

  * Geology unbound journals do not circulate.

• close Historical Society-Library

  • Books 28 days / 2 renewals ∆
  • Journals 28 days / 2 renewals *∆
  • Government Documents 28 days / 2 renewals
  • Microforms 28 days / 2 renewals ∆
  • Videos 28 days / 2 renewals
  • Software varies / ask library staff for assistance

  * Historical unbound journals do not circulate. ∆ Historical genealogical books, journals, & microforms do not circulate.

• close Information School Library

  • Books 28 days / 2 renewals
  • Journals non-circulating
  • Microforms 28 days / 2 renewals
  • Videos 28 days / 2 renewals
  • Software 3 days / 2 renewals
  • Audio 28 days / 2 renewals

• close Journalism Reading Room

  • Books 28 days / 2 renewals
  • Journals 28 days / 2 renewals*

  * Journalism unbound journals do not circulate.

• close Law Library

  • Books 28 days / 2 renewals
  • Journals non-circulating
  • Government Documents 28 days / 2 renewals
  • Microforms non-circulating
  • Videos non-circulating
  • Software varies / ask library staff for assistance
  • Audio varies / ask library staff for assistance

• close Memorial Library

  • Books 28 days / 2 renewals
  • Journals 28 days / 2 renewals
  • Microforms varies / ask library staff for assistance
  • Videos 28 days / 2 renewals
  • Software 28 days / 2 renewals
  • Audio 28 days / 2 renewals

• close MERIT Library

  • Books 28 days / 2 renewals
  • Journals non-circulating
  • Microforms 28 days / 2 renewals
  • Videos 28 days / 2 renewals
  • Software 28 days / 2 renewals
  • Audio 28 days / 2 renewals

• close Mills Music Library

  • Books 28 days / 2 renewals
  • Journals non-circulating
  • Microforms non-circulating
  • Videos 28 days / 2 renewals
  • Software 28 days / 2 renewals
  • Audio 28 days / 2 renewals

• close Other UW System Libraries

  • Books not eligible
  • Journals not eligible
  • Government Documents not eligible
  • Microforms not eligible
  • Videos not eligible
  • Software not eligible
  • Audio not eligible

• close Social Work Library

  • Books 28 days / 2 renewals
  • Journals non-circulating
  • Microforms non-circulating
  • Videos 28 days / 2 renewals
  • Audio 28 days / 2 renewals

• close Steenbock Library

  • Books 28 days / 2 renewals
  • Journals non-circulating
  • Government Documents 28 days / 2 renewals
  • Microforms non-circulating
  • Videos 28 days / 2 renewals
  • Software 28 days / 2 renewals
  • Audio 28 days / 2 renewals

• close Wisconsin's Water Library

  • Books 28 days / 2 renewals
  • Journals 28 days / 2 renewals §
  • Government Documents 28 days / 2 renewals
  • Microforms non-circulating
  • Videos 28 days / 2 renewals
  • Software 28 days / 2 renewals
  • Audio 28 days / 2 renewals

  § Current and unbound journals do not circulate.