Lost or Damaged Items

Lost book or damaged book fines cannot be appealed. Lost items remain the property of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and must be returned if eventually found.

If you lose or damage a UW System or Interlibrary Loan book, contact Circulation Support to see if the owning library will accept a replacement copy. If not, you must pay the lost item replacement fee.

If you lose or damage a UW-Madison book, you can choose to:

1. Pay the replacement fee
   • Most replacement fees are $100
   • You can be reimbursed this fee if the original item is located and returned within 6 months of the payment date.
2. Purchase a replacement copy
   • Not all libraries accept replacement copies. Contact Circulation Support before purchasing a replacement to ensure the owning library will accept a replacement.
   • If you choose to get a replacement copy, you cannot be reimbursed if the original is found, nor will the replacement copy be returned to you.
   • The replacement copy must be an exact duplicate of the original: same edition, same International Standard Book Number (ISBN), and publisher. Contact Circulation Support before purchasing a replacement to ensure you have the correct replacement information.
   • Library staff will not accept a paperback replacement for a hardcover original.
   • If you cannot locate an exact duplicate, contact Circulation Support. Library staff will determine if we can accept an alternate edition. 

Questions? Contact the UW-Madison Libraries Circulation Support.