Borrower Services  

Forms of Identification

Materials may be borrowed by presenting:

  • a valid UW-Madison ID card
  • a UW-Madison General Library System card including faculty runners
  • a valid UW System ID
  • a Steenbock Library card is available to Wisconsin residents who are not affiliated with the UW System. Apply at the Steenbock Circulation Desk on 2nd floor, and show a Wisconsin driver's license or Wisconsin Dept. of Transportation photo ID.

    • NOTE: The Steenbock card is only good at Steenbock and only for Steenbock materials.

Loan Periods

Use My MadCat Account to see when your items are due. Loan periods for materials borrowed from off-campus libraries are determined by the lending library.

Stack Items (most books, documents and audiovisuals)
UW Madison Faculty/Staff
UW System Faculty/Staff
UW Madison Graduate Students		 Semester loan
(Due Dec 30 or May 30)
Undergraduate Students
Other Borrowers 		28 days  
Journals (titles shelved in "Steenbock Periodicals")
All Borrowers 2 hours
  • Overnight check-out begins 2 hours prior to library closing time.
  • Due back one hour after opening on library's next open day
Reserve Materials (titles shelved in "Steenbock Reserves")
All Borrowers
  • 3 hours: most items
  • 1 hour: exams, answer keys, and problem sets
  • 7 days: CBE multi-media
  • 48 hours: selected items with approval
  • 28 days: selected items not on active reserve with approval
  • Most Reserves (except audiovisuals) may be taken out of Steenbock during loan period.
  • Overnight check-out begins 3 hours prior to library closing time for most items; 1 hour for exams, etc.
  • Due back one hour after opening on library's next open day
  • No overnight check-out during Final Exam week

 

Renewals

To extend the loan period for items you currently have checked out.

Stack Items (most books, documents and audiovisuals)
UW Madison Faculty/Staff
UW Madison Graduate Students
 6 renewals unless recalled
Undergraduate Students
Other Borrowers		  2 renewals unless recalled
UW System Faculty/Staff 1 renewal
Journals (titles shelved in "Steenbock Periodicals")
All Borrowers no renewals
Reserves (titles shelved in "Steenbock Reserves")
All Borrowers no renewals

 

Recalls

To request an item currently checked out be returned and held for you. You will be notified when it is available.

Stack Items (most books, documents and audiovisuals)
All Borrowers All stack materials checked out may be recalled
Journals (titles shelved in "Steenbock Periodicals")
All Borrowers no recalls
Reserves (titles shelved in "Steenbock Reserves")
All Borrowers no recalls

 

Return Materials

  • Materials may be returned to the Steenbock book drops (outside) and inside at the Steenbock Circulation desk.
  • Books on regular loan can be returned to any campus library with an Open Return sticker (see image) on its book return.
open return
  • Return audiovisual materials (maps, videos, audiocassettes, microfiche, microfilm, etc.) reserves or items with loan periods of seven days or less to the Steenbock Circulation desk. DO NOT return to other campus libraries.
  • Return journals directly to the Steenbock Circulation desk. DO NOT return to other campus libraries.

Reserves

  • Return all reserves materials to the Steenbock Reserves desk, 2nd floor during library open hours.
  • When library is closed, return reserve materals to the Steenbock outside book drop (near 2nd floor entrance). DO NOT return CBE multi-media materals to outside book drop.
  • DO NOT return any reserve materials to other campus libraries.

Fines

Stack Items

  • All notices and bills are sent via Email.
  • Stack materials have no overdue fines.
  • A replacement fee will be billed to you for all materials not returned within 28 days of due date.
    • $80 minimum replacement fee.
  • If a lost item is returned the replacement charge is waived.

Reserve Items

  • Overdue fines are calculated during library open hours at the rate of $2 per hour.
  • Overdue notices are sent before an item is presumed lost and replacement fee is calculated.
  • Lost item replacement fees vary by type of material.

Payment

  • Payment must be made in Room 339 Memorial Library within one month of the bill's date.
  • Replacement fees may not be appealed. Appeals for overdue fines for reserve items must be made within one month of the bill's date. Appeal forms are available in Room 170 Memorial Library or use the web form.
  • Your UW-Madison borrowing privileges will be blocked for 1 overdue recall or 5 lost books.
  • To avoid library charges:
    • Check the date and time an item is due and return it by the due date or renew it.
    • Ask for a receipt when returning an item in person. This assures the item has been discharged.
    • Make sure your Email address in MyUW is correct: http://my.wisc.edu/