Campus Libraries
Welcome to the UW-Madison campus libraries! We’re the 15th largest academic library in the country with over 40 libraries that have large and diverse collections in both print and electronic formats. It’s important during your first month here on campus that you set aside some time to learn about our system. There are a couple of important steps you can take to help yourself get started. First, you need to figure out which of our 40+ libraries will be your primary or “home” library/libraries. To do this, take a look at our campus libraries’ page on our campus libraries’ web site, or stop by any library and ask a reference librarian to help you.
During the week before classes begin, as well as the first week of classes, a number of campus libraries offer drop-in tours, which are a great way to find out what services and resources are available in your home library. Also starting the week before classes begin and running through most of the semester, a number of campus libraries’ will offer drop-in workshops on a wide range of information needs that you may have including how to use MadCat, our campus catalog, how to find grant information, and how to use EndNote and ProCite. “Libraries in a Nutshell” is an hour-long workshop that we designed especially for new grad students to give you an overview of library resources and services. The schedule for all our tours and workshops is available on our campus libraries' Web site.
Finally—and most importantly, especially when you’re first
learning how to use a new library system—remember that librarians
are here to help you with your questions. We offer you all kinds of options
for contacting us including an online chat reference service called “Live
Help”. All you have to do is ask!