Ask a Librarian

Renew Materials

Please contact Circulation Support if you are unable to renew your library materials but will have trouble returning them by their due dates due to COVID-19

To keep an item you have checked out longer, you are often able to renew it.

UW-Madison faculty / staff / students

  • For UW-Madison items, login to your Library Catalog account and select the item(s) to be renewed, then click Renew.
  • Renewal limits: Undergraduates can check out most items for a maximum of 84 days. Graduate students, faculty, and staff can check out most items for a maximum of 24 months.

Other UW-Madison card holders

More about renewals

  • Be sure to check the status message to see if the item(s) has been renewed. If the item status does not read ‘renewed’, one of the following occurred:
    • You have reached the renewal limit
    • The item you want to renew is not eligible for renewal
    • You are trying to renew the item too early (this applies to semester loans)
  • Items that cannot be renewed include:
    • Some Interlibrary Loan (ILL) items
    • Items that have reached renewal limit
    • Items that have been recalled for course reserves
    • Reserve materials
  • If you have questions or would like more information, contact Circulation Support at circulation@library.wisc.edu.

When may I renew materials?

  • UW-Madison faculty, staff and graduate students with semester loans may request renewals about four weeks prior to the due date. Semester loans may be extended up to 24 months total.
  • Undergraduates and other patrons with 28-day loans may renew at any time, however, waiting until close to the due date to renew results in the maximum extended loan period. 28-day loans can be extended up to 84 days total.