Borrow Materials
Library Reading Room
See the Society's policies and procedures for checking out library materials by selecting from the menu below.
- Library Cards
- What Can Be Borrowed?
- Checking Out Materials
- Due Dates, Renewals and Fines
- Interlibrary Loan Services
- Contact Us
Library Cards
University of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin students and employees may borrow Library materials in person with a UW System photo ID card.
Wisconsin Residents
Option 1
The most versatile library card for Wisconsin residents is the community borrowing card issued by the UW-Madison Libraries. You apply for this card online and it's ready in a few business days. For $50 per year ($25 per year for borrowers age 62+), you can borrow materials from both the UW-Madison Libraries and the Wisconsin Historical Society Library.
Option 2
Wisconsin residents can sign up for a free Society community card at the Society's Library Circulation Desk. Signing up takes about five minutes and requires presentation of both photo ID and proof of current Wisconsin address (driver's license, state ID, utility bill or lease). Society library cards are only valid for borrowing Society Library materials, expire after one year and must be renewed in person.
What Can Be Borrowed?
Many books, bound periodicals, microforms and government publications may be checked out for home use with a library card. Rare, fragile, small (under 50 pages) and heavily used materials (including genealogical resources) do not circulate.
A borrowing card is not required if you want to use materials within the Library.
Checking Out Materials
Check out books, pamphlets, microfilm, government publications and bound periodicals at the Library Circulation Desk. A valid borrowing card (UW ID, UW community card or Society community card) must be presented to check materials out.
Due Dates, Renewals and Fines
Loans checked out to a community borrower or a UW undergraduate student are due in 28 days and are eligible for two 28-day renewals. Loans to University of Wisconsin employees and graduate students are due at the end of the semester, either late May or late December, and can be renewed once per semester up to two years from the original checkout date.
Effective July 2024, the UW-Madison Libraries will automatically renew eligible loans. Borrowers will receive an email after each auto-renewal, and will be notified of an approaching due date if a loan cannot be renewed.
All borrowers can continue to manage loans and view their due dates online. Go to https://account.library.wisc.edu/. Select Sign In with your Library Card. Enter your library card number and your password. Community card borrowers can set or reset a password here.
Society borrowers can always contact the Library Circulation Department at 608-264-6534 or askcirculation@wisconsinhistory.org to verify loans and due dates.
If a loan reaches 28 days overdue, the material is presumed lost and the borrower is billed $100 per item. This charge remains on a borrower's account until the lost item is returned or its replacement cost paid. Additional charges may be assessed on items returned with damage.
Interlibrary Loan Services
Visitors who are not residents of Wisconsin nor current UW System students or employees are not eligible to borrow materials in person. However, any item that circulates from the Library may be loaned to a patron of another library through interlibrary loan. Follow your home library's procedures for placing an interlibrary loan request.
Learn More
Visiting the Library and Archives
Have Questions?
Contact the Wisconsin Historical Society Circulation Department by phone at 608-264-6534 or by email below: