Who Can Borrow

UW-Madison Affiliates

UW-Madison users may borrow materials with one of the following:

• Wiscard (UW-Madison ID Card) University of Wisconsin-Madison faculty, staff, students, affiliates, and other appointments may obtain a valid Wiscard at the Wiscard Office (Memorial Union).
• Faculty Proxy/Runner Card
  Faculty members of UW-Madison may authorize a currently enrolled student or currently employed UW staff member to charge out books for them from the Ebling Library or other campus libraries. To designate a library proxy, a faculty/staff member must submit a proxy authorization request form.

Campus Visitors

Visitors may borrow library materials with one of the following:

• UW-Madison General Library System Card
  Annual Fee Card and Courtesy Card holders are eligible to borrow materials from the Ebling Library.
• UW System ID Card
  Faculty, staff and students from any UW System Campus may borrow materials with their valid University ID.
• Health Patron Card
  Wisconsin Resident with photo ID and proof of Wisconsin residency or UW Hospital Visiting Doctor/Scholar with UW Hospital photo ID. Apply for a Health Patron Card at our service desk.

Open Return Library

Books on regular loan can be returned at any other Open Return Library. [more]

Where to Search for Materials

There are several places to look for materials. In general, try these in the order presented:

1. Search the UW-Madison Library Catalog (the default search is for UW-Madison)
2. If that fails search the UW System Libraries Catalog (from the same web page above you can always switch to this using the Search All of UW System link right below the search box)
3. If that fails search uBorrow (book delivery from participating CIC libraries)
4. Finally, search WorldCat (to request an interlibrary loan if the item is not located via UW-Madison, UW-System or uBorrow)

Loan Periods & Renewals

Loan Periods

• Books can be checked out for a semester by UW faculty, staff and graduate students, and for 28 days for all others.
• Journals, reference items, reserve materials and books published before 1914 can not be checked out.
• See chart below for loan periods for all types of materials.

Renewals

• The number of renewals you can make depends on your patron category and the type of material.
• All items are subject to recall.

Overdues & Lost Items

Lost an Item?

Prior to paying any lost item replacement fees, please contact Rhonda Sager at 262-2372 to discuss payment options. We will assist you with alternatives such as locating replacement copies or in some instances reduction to the default $115 replacement fee.

Overdue Fines

The Ebling Library cannot process your fine payment. All payments must be made to the Memorial Library Circulation Office. See Fines for information about how and where to pay your fine, or call them at (608) 263-7360.

But I Returned That!

Receive an overdue/lost item notification for something you have already returned? From time-to-time, materials are not properly discharged and removed from your record. If your Library Catalog account record lists an item that you have returned as still being checked out to you, please complete this form, or call us at (608) 262-2020. Library staff will attempt to locate the missing item in order to clear it from your library record.

How to Recall an Item

From the Library Catalog

• Search for the item in the Library Catalog.
• Display the single record. The item's status should be Checked Out or Renewed.
• Click on Place Requests and follow the on-screen instructions. [more help]

In Person

• Request a recall at the Ebling Library circulation desk by completing a blue request form and presenting your currently valid UW-Madison ID, Health Patron Card, or Memorial Library Deposit Card.

By Telephone

• Call the Ebling Library service desk during open hours to recall items: (608) 262-2020.

Can't Find an Item on the Shelf?

Does the Library Catalog say it's not checked out, but you can't find it on the shelf? Let us find it for you!

Library staff will search for the missing item for 3 days and contact you when the item has either been located or declared missing.

• If found, we will hold the item for you at our service desk for a period of 10 days after you have been contacted.
• If the item remains missing and you indicated that we should obtain this item from another library, we will request the item for you in Library Express and let you know when it is available for pickup.

Faculty/Staff Proxy

UW-Madison faculty and staff can authorize currently enrolled students or currently employed UW-Madison staff members to charge out books for them from any UW-Madison campus library.

How it Works

The proxy uses his/her own UW ID to check out materials and tells library staff at the circulation desk that the materials should be charged under the proxy relationship. The materials are then charged directly to the authorizing individual's ID number.

A proxy may also request materials for a faculty/staff member via the Article & Book Delivery service. Electronic Delivery notifications will be sent to the email address specified by the authorizing individual.

To designate a library proxy, complete the proxy authorization request form below.