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Additional Options

Community Borrowing Card Application/Renewal Form

Persons not affiliated with UW-Madison may borrow books and other items for an annual fee of $50, or $25 for patrons 62 and older. Complimentary borrowing privileges are granted to some members of affiliated organizations, as well as spouses and domestic partners of current students, staff, and faculty. See this page for additional courtesy card information or contact circulation@library.wisc.edu with any questions.

Borrowing Privileges

Privileges include borrowing materials from any campus library, including Wisconsin Historical Society. Borrowing Card holders may also place requests in the catalog for pick up at the campus library of their choice. This card does not provide off-campus access to electronic content such as databases and e-journals. Borrowing from off-campus libraries via interlibrary loan is also not offered.

Application Process for New Cards & Renewals

Complete the application below to apply for or renew your Community Borrowing Card. Cards may take up to 7 days to process. All overdue charges and lost book fines must be paid before the card will be issued or renewed. 

You will be notified when the card is available for pickup at Memorial Library. For Annual Fee Cards, you will receive an email link to pay the fee online prior to picking up the card. Any additional verification requirements will be listed once you select your affiliation in the application below. All applicants are required to present a current government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, state ID, passport, or tribal photo ID) when picking up their card.

Cards are valid for one year from the creation date of the card.

Renewal Information

You can renew a card up to 45 days prior to the card expiration date. Renewal cards will have a year added on to the end of the current membership year. For example, if a card expiring September 30 is renewed on September 13, the card will expire September 30 of the following year.

Once your new borrowing card is activated, your previous borrowing card will no longer be valid. Thus, it is imperative that once you receive notice your borrowing card is ready, you come and pick it up in order to continue accessing your account.

Email Notification

All borrowers must have an email address in order to receive borrowing privileges at the UW-Madison Libraries. If your email address changes, please contact Circulation Support at circulation@library.wisc.edu.

Community Borrowing Card Application

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Annual Fee Card

Requirements: You must be 18 years old or older. The annual fee is $50 ($25 for those 62 or older). You will receive an email link to pay the fee online prior to picking up the card. The card will be processed once the fee is paid. When you pick up the card at Memorial Library, you will need to present a current state or government issued photo ID (passport, driver's license, or state ID).

UW-Madison Alumni (Annual Fee Card)

Requirements: You must be 18 years old or older. The annual fee is $50 ($25 for those 62 or older). You will receive an email link to pay the fee online prior to picking up the card. The card will be processed once the fee is paid. When you pick up the card at Memorial Library, you will need to present a current state or government issued photo ID (passport, driver's license, or state ID). Note: this card does not provide off-site access to electronic content. For more options, go to the Wisconsin Alumni Association’s website.

Beloit College Faculty or Staff

Requirements: You must be a current, full- or part-time permanent staff faculty member at Beloit College. Limited term employees are not eligible. When you pick up the card at Memorial Library, you will need to present a current state or government issued photo ID (passport, driver's license, tribal ID, or state ID). If your name is not listed in the Beloit campus directory. you will need to provide a letter from Beloit College Human Resources of your current appointment or a current (within 3 months) pay statement.

Beloit College Students

Requirements: We require a letter on Beloit College letterhead verifying your current enrollment and authorizing you to obtain borrowing privileges. Before coming to Memorial Library to pick up your card, contact a Beloit College librarian to obtain this letter. When you pick up the card at Memorial Library, bring the letter. You will also need to present a current state or government issued photo ID (passport, driver's license, tribal ID, or state ID).

BTAA (Big Ten Academic Alliance) Student, Faculty, or Staff

Requirements: You must be a current student, staff or faculty member of a Big Ten Academic Alliance institution. When you pick up the card at Memorial Library, you will need to present a current state or government issued photo ID (passport, driver's license, tribal ID, or state ID). In addition, library staff will request that you verify your affiliation using your institution’s username and password.

City of Madison Employee

Requirements: You must be a current, full- or part-time permanent City of Madison staff member. You must be contributing to the Wisconsin Retirement System. Limited term employees are not eligible. When you pick up the card at Memorial Library, you will need to present a current state or government issued photo ID (passport, driver's license, state ID), along with verification of eligibility. Please provide your department’s staff directory so we can verify your eligibility. If your name is not listed in a City of Madison staff directory, you will need to provide:
  1. A letter from the City of Madison Human Resources department regarding a current appointment; or
  2. A pay statement dated within the previous 3 months showing you are contributing to the Wisconsin Retirement System
Provide the link to the online staff directory listing your name as a current staff member

Dane County Employees (excludes limited term employees)

Requirements: Must be contributing to the Wisconsin Retirement System. You will receive an email when the card is ready. When you pick up the card at Memorial Library, you will need to present a current state or government issued ID (passport, driver's license, tribal ID, or state ID), along with one of the following:
  1. a letter from Dane County Human Resources regarding a new appointment;
  2. a current (within 3 months) paystub showing you are contributing to the Wisconsin Retirement System;
  3. being listed in the online directory.

Edgewood College Faculty or Staff

Requirements: You must be a current, full- or part-time permanent staff faculty member at Edgewood College. Limited term employees are not eligible. When you pick up the card at Memorial Library, you will need to present a current state or government issued photo ID (passport, driver's license, tribal ID, or state ID), along with verification of eligibility. If your name is not listed in the Edgewood College online directory, you will need to provide a letter from Edgewood College Human Resources of your current appointment or a current (within 3 months) pay statement.

Edgewood College Students

Requirements: We require a letter on Edgewood College letterhead verifying your current enrollment and authorizing you to obtain borrowing privileges. Before coming to Memorial Library to pick up your card, contact an Edgewood College librarian to obtain this letter. When you pick up the card at Memorial Library, bring the letter. You will also need to present a current state or government issued photo ID (passport, driver's license, tribal ID, or state ID).

Friend of UW-Madison Libraries / Donor

Requirements: You must be a current member of the “Friends of the Library.” Library staff will verify membership in the current Friends of the Library Directory. New donors not yet listed can verify membership by presenting a receipt of an online donation of $50 or more through UW Foundation to the “Friends of the Library Fund,” or any of the Libraries’ priority funds. For further information, please refer to the Friends of the Library. When you pick up the card at Memorial Library, you will need to present a current state or government issued photo ID (passport, driver's license, tribal ID, or state ID).

Native Nations Member

Requirements: Must be a member of an indigenous tribe that provides its members with tribally-issued IDs and is located within the United States. When you pick up the card at Memorial Library, you will need to present your tribally-issued ID. If it is not a photo ID, then you will need to present another form of photo ID such as a driver’s license, state photo ID, or passport.

Madison College Faculty or Staff

Requirements: You must be a current, full- or part-time permanent staff faculty member at Madison College. Limited term employees are not eligible. When you pick up the card at Memorial Library, you will need to present a current state or government issued photo ID (passport, driver's license, tribal ID, or state ID), along with verification of eligibility. If your name is not listed in the Madison College online directory, you will need to provide a letter from Madison College Human Resources of your current appointment or a current (within 3 months) pay statement.

Madison College Students

Requirements: We require a letter on Madison College letterhead verifying your current enrollment and authorizing you to obtain borrowing privileges. Before coming to Memorial Library to pick up your card, contact a Madison College librarian to obtain this letter. When you pick up the card at Memorial Library, bring the letter. You will also need to present a current state or government issued photo ID (passport, driver's license, tribal ID, or state ID).

PLATO (Participatory Learning and Teaching Organization) Member

Requirements: You must be listed as a current PLATO member on the PLATO website. When you pick up the card at Memorial Library, you will need to present a current state or government issued photo ID (passport, driver's license, tribal ID, or state ID).

State of Wisconsin Employees

Requirements: Must be contributing to the Wisconsin Retirement System. You will receive an email when the card is ready. When you pick up the card at Memorial Library, you will need to present a current state or government issued photo ID (passport, driver's license, tribal ID or state ID). If your name is not listed in the the online directory, you will need to provide one of the following:
  1. a letter from State of Wisconsin Human Resources regarding a new appointment;
  2. a current (within 3 months) paystub showing you are contributing to the Wisconsin Retirement System.

Teacher or Public School Staff (WI Public Schools Grades 4K-12)

Requirements: You must be a current employee of a Wisconsin public school district. You must be contributing to the Wisconsin Retirement System. Limited term employees are not eligible. When you pick up the card at Memorial Library, you will need to present a current state or government issued photo ID (passport, driver's license, tribal ID, or state ID). Please provide your school district’s information below so we can verify your eligibility. If your name is not listed in the district staff directory, you will need to provide
  1. A letter from the school district’s Human Resources department regarding a new appointment; or
  2. A pay statement dated within the previous 3 months showing you are contributing to the Wisconsin Retirement System.
Private school teachers should obtain an Annual Fee Card.

UW-Madison Faculty, Staff, or Student’s Spouse or Domestic Partner

Requirements: You must be a current UW-Madison faculty, staff or student’s spouse or domestic partner. Please list your UW-Madison spouse/domestic partner’s name with their Wiscard number so that library staff can verify current affiliation. When you pick up the card at Memorial Library, you will need to present a current state or government issued photo ID (passport, driver's license, tribal ID, or state ID), along with verification of eligibility. To verify the relationship, you will be asked to present one of the following along with your photo ID:
  1. A joint mortgage, lease or title;
  2. Designation of partner as beneficiary for life insurance or retirement contract;
  3. Durable property or healthcare powers of attorney;
  4. Joint ownership of motor vehicle, joint checking account or joint credit account;
  5. Marriage certificate;
  6. Current health insurance card listing both spouse/domestic partner names on it

Please provide information about your UW-Madison student, staff, or faculty spouse/domestic partner below

Other (All Other Affiliations)

Requirements: Please describe your affiliation below. When you pick up the card at Memorial Library, you will need to present a current state or government issued photo ID (passport, driver's license, tribal ID, or state ID).
Individuals 62 or older pay less for their community card.

Please provide information about you, the card applicant, below

Is your age 62 or older? *
Individuals 62 or older pay less for their community card.
Have you ever been provided with a UW-Madison NetID (ex. bbadger2), either from previous visits to the library or as a student, staff, or faculty member? *
What is a NetID?
If you answered YES above, what is your NetID username (NOT your password)?

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