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Teaching Services

Library Instruction Program
Librarians at UWM Libraries are engaged in a variety of teaching activities, all with the goal of enhancing researchers’ understanding of the complicated world of information. Librarians collaborate and consult with course instructors to provide learning objects, assignment feedback, and course-integrated teaching for in-person, hybrid, and online learners that build discipline and level-appropriate research learning outcomes oriented around a variety of projects.

Archives Instruction
The Archives Department does a variety course-integrated teaching for all levels of students. Archivists appreciate opportunities to work with instructors to collaborate in the design of instruction sessions, learning objects, and primary-source-based assignments. More broadly, we are dedicated to a learner-centered approach to teaching and work to foster students’ critical thought about information, its creation, and its historical legacy.

Special Collections Workshops and Instruction
The Special Collections Department welcomes the opportunity to work with instructors to introduce students to research using primary, printed resources; special collections librarians can also orient students to our collections and services. Sessions can be tailored to include specific topics or primary sources as needed. Instruction sessions may use all or part of your allotted class time. Multiple sessions for the same course may be requested.

Special Collections also hosts a variety of educational activities open to the public including the Great Books Roundtable, the Fromkin Memorial Lectures, and Ettinger Book Artist Speaker series (formerly Book FOR[u]MS).

Digital Humanities
The digital humanities (DH) offers an opportunity for instructors to stretch the conceptual output of student work in the classroom. DH allows computational and/or data-drive work to be integrated into the curriculum and includes everything from interactive maps, text mining, to timelines and other dynamic ways in which technology dialogs with humanistic inquiry.

For more information and examples, visit UWM Libraries’ What is “Digital Humanities?” Page.

The Digital Humanities program at the UWM Libraries runs the lab as well as a teaching fellows program for instructors interested expanding their pedagogical reach with DH initiatives.

Open Educational Resources
Open Education Resources (OER) are freely available curricular materials that include everything from textbooks to lectures to entire courses that can be used and remixed to suit the needs of a course. UWM libraries works to provide support for a wide variety of OER initiatives, but most importantly Open Textbook adoption.

School and Visiting Groups
UWM Libraries facilitates group visits from area school and community programs with grade ranges of K-12. Other areas–such as Special Collections or the American Geographical Society Library–may also be available for a special tour or workshop.

Research Services

Research and Help Desk Consultations
The main point of help activity in the library is run through the research help desk through UWM Libraries’ Ask-a-Librarian Program. Staff at all libraries are available for in-person, phone, and online reference. In person and phone reference depends on library hours, but chat reference service provides 24 hour assistance for research questions of all varieties.

The help desk and chat reference are perfect for questions that should take about 10-15 minutes to address–such as how to locate a book or article, how to find a full-text or place an interlibrary loan.

For Do-it-Yourself help, you may want to consult our Research and Course guides, which have several tutorials on a variety of topics and course and program-specific resources.

If you would like a more in-depth consultation for a larger project you are working on, we suggest scheduling a Research Consultation, which will connect you with a subject or course-specific librarian who can specialize in the topic you are working on. Before you schedule one, it helps if you have done some research ahead of time.

American Geographical Society Library (AGSL) Research
The Golda Meir Library Building holds the collections of the American Geographical Society, which is used by both UWM-affiliated, public, and visiting researchers from all over the world. The AGSL offers specialized research services from basic reference service to more detailed appointments. Before visiting to conduct research, it is best to contact staff ahead of time.

Archival Research
The UWM Archives supports a variety of research activities for both UWM-affiliated, visiting, and public researchers. Connect with Archives staff to plan your visit ahead of time.

Special Collections Research
The UWM Libraries special collections offers a variety of services to researchers and is open to UWM-affiliated, visiting, and public researchers. Connect with Special collections staff to plan your visit ahead of time or visit during walk-in hours.

Genealogy Research
For researchers and members of the public looking for genealogical information, the UWM libraries has several resources for locating information that might be of assistance. Both the American Geographical Society and the Archives provide genealogical research assistance depending on the need. UWM students, faculty and staff as well as On campus visitors may also use UWM genealogy databases.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a powerful research-oriented framework for gathering, managing, and analyzing data for geographic purposes. It can help researchers reveal deeper insights into data such as patterns, relationships, and situations by using spatial location, layering, and visualizations.

Government Information Services
The UWM Libraries, specifically the Golda Meir Library, participates as a member of the Federal Depository Library Program and the Wisconsin Document Depository Program. This means that this library offers access and specialized research support and assistance for accessing Federal and State government information.

The Library is a selective depository, which means that not all publications from the Government Printing Office or from the Wisconsin Document Depository are guaranteed to be available, but you may work with our librarians to help locate access to many materials if they are not immediately available.

Library Research Tutorials
UWM libraries has designed several tutorials that introduce various research skills and concepts. These can help with every step in the research process from developing a good research question to tracking the information the articles you find all the way through synthesizing the information into a final project without plagiarism.

Citation Styles and Reference Management
Managing your research is one way to become a faster and more efficient scholar. Similarly, knowing how to format and use your citations properly can also make your process easier too. These tools and guides will help you as you assemble your research and work on the output.

Open Access Publishing
Open Access publishing is a newer model of publishing that makes scholarship publicly available at no cost to the reader. While traditional, reader-based fee publishing models still dominate the market, UWM Libraries are trying to encourage and enable our scholars to publish openly through several initiatives, such as the UWM Open-Access Fund, which covers Article Processing Fees (APCs) that come with publishing in various open access journals. UWM Libraries also encourage scholars, when negotiating contracts with publishers, to be allowed to provide access through the UWM libraries’ Commons, our Institutional Repository.

Who Is My Librarian?
Do you want to know who the subject specialist is for your major, program of study, or department? This page will help you locate the specific human who will be best equipped to assist you. These are the librarians who provide research and instruction assistance and support for these majors, programs of study, and departments.

Collections and Resource Services

Purchase Recommendations
Anyone may recommend items for purchase. If you think an item should belong in UWM’s permanent collection, please consider filling out this request form. Under current collection development policy, items are considered for fulfillment of Basic, Advanced, Research, and Comprehensive collections based on authority, currency, comprehensiveness, ease of use, and relevancy. For more details, please see UWM Libraries’ Collection Development Policy.

If you only need an item for a limited period of time, please use the Interlibrary Loan Request.

Course Reserves
Course reserves are one of the best ways to ensure that students have access to course materials–particularly textbook-based readings. Reserve items are some of the most well-circulated library materials, and are a positive way for faculty, libraries, and students to engage with each other.

Materials on Reserve include textbooks, personal books, library-owned books, and other supplementary materials–such as models (both anatomical and chemical)–for questions about items that can and cannot be put on reserve, contact the Media and Reserve Library.

For audiovisual materials for courses, please use the Media Reserve Order Form.

Database Trial Information
Faculty and staff may request new databases and electronic resources, such as curriculum support materials to the UWM Libraries. We cannot guarantee that all requests can be purchased or acquired or continued on a regular basis, but receiving feedback is an important process.

New Databases and other electronic resources are added based on several factors. One of which is the results from trial periods arranged through their providers. While cost is also a major factor, potential use, which we assess through trials, are important for the Libraries to know about.

Gifts in Kind
Many people contact the library about donating collections of books and other materials. UWM Libraries accepts gifts of academic materials to augment our existing collections, which will be retained at our discretion after a review process. For more questions about this process, please contact Susan Foran.

For details on what the nature of UWM Libraries collection is, please consult the Collection Development Policy or check to see if we already hold titles in the UWM Libraries catalog.

Interlibrary Loan
If you are unable to find the full-text of an article or locate an item within the library, interlibrary loan (ILL) is one way to get access to what you need. You simply fill out a request form and the library is typically able to acquire what you need.

UWM libraries will help you locate and obtain the things you need. Typically, journal articles, book chapters, and some reports are delivered electronically using the log-in based system that you need your ePanther ID to access. Physical materials–like books, DVDs, Musical scores, and more can be picked up and returned at the main circulation desks. If you need to renew something, do so through the system too.

Library Subject Contacts
Library Contacts are the people in the library who you can talk to about a subject area’s collections. Do you want to know about a certain journal? What databases are available or possibilities for changes? Do you want to know why something has changed? Your library contact is the person to discuss with that–they are different from Subject Specialists. Each discipline also has an assigned faculty liaison to the library who is supposed to communicate with the librarian about issues relevant to the department and its collections.

Using the Library

Who Can Do What?
Given the range of services and materials available from the library, a person’s ability to access certain things–including types of computers, books, or requests–may depend on their status or UWM affiliation. However, the UWM Libraries are open to the public during specific building hours. For more details on hours and building access, please visit the Library Hours page.

Circulation Policies
UWM-Waukesha and UWM-Washington County libraries both have only one circulation desk where materials may be checked out, returned, and renewed. However, the Golda Meir Library Building on the UWM Main Campus has several locations where certain types of items may be checked out. For most general collection items visit the main desk in the West Wing. Materials from the Music and Curriculum Collection may be checked out at the Music and curriculum Desk on the Second Floor in the East Wing. And Media–such as films, microforms, and audiobooks–and Course Reserves are held and circulated at the Media and Reserve Desk in the Lower Level in the East Wing.

Off-Campus Access
Most UWM databases, eBooks, and catalogs are accessible off-campus. Similarly, interlibrary loan requests may be made off-campus as well. This access is 24 hours a day 7 days a week for UWM-affiliated users–such as students of all levels, staff, and faculty.

Certain online collections–such as the Search@UW, The Digital Commons, Digital Collections, and open access collections may be browsed by any user from home or off-campus locations by all users, but full-text may not be available in many cases.

Online and Distance Education
There are many ways to use the library as a Distance and Online Student. The easiest way to access library materials is electronically, but you can also be sent library materials–such as books–by mail. The basics involves getting a UWM campus ID, a PantherCard, and then using the library by setting up your account.

Printing, Photocopying, and Scanning
UWM Libraries have numerous spots where people can print and scan. Printing occurs through WEPA print services, a campus-wide service coordinated through UITS that allows printing via the internet, e-mail, or the cloud. It is free to scan, which can be done on two flatbed scanners on the south side of the Daniel M. Soref Learning commons. There is also one in the Media and Reserves Library on the lower level on the East Side.

Proxy Patron Requests
Proxy Patron requests should be used for faculty or staff who would like to designate another person–such as another staff or faculty member–the ability to check out materials in their name from the library. This activity is coordinated through the Circulation department, and questions should be directed towards libcirc@uwm.edu.

Suggestions
Please use the suggestion form for general concerns that cannot be addressed elsewhere through other forms, library departments, contacting your subject contact or specialist.

Room Reservations

Group Study Rooms
A number of group study rooms are available to reserve in the library. Group study rooms in the Daniel M. Soref learning commons depend on the size of group and duration needed.

Conference Center
The Golda Meir Library Building has a conference center on the fourth floor. It is a place where University Departments, faculty and staff organizations, and others can hold meetings, conferences, and events that are scholarly or philanthropic in nature. It requires advanced scheduling and booking with the conference center coordinator and events should be academic in nature.

The Digital Humanities Lab and Recording Studio
The Digital Humanities Lab (DHL) features a suite of software, technology, space, and opportunities for workshops to learn more about the Digital Humanities. Located in the Golda Meir Library on the second floor of the east wing, the Digital Humanities Lab is both a work and workshop space. The Audio Recording Studio of the DHL is available to those trained in the equipment and requires special permissions attained through Ann Hanlon

Distraction-Free Rooms
Slightly different from the group study rooms available through DiBs!, the Distraction-free room is a room available for accessibility testing, isolated study, and microphone recording. It comes with a two hour time limit. It is designed to allow for quiet, distraction-free study time.

Media Viewing Rooms
Media viewing rooms are located in the media and reserves library for groups who need to view materials and may be used by two to twenty people at a time.

Recording Booth
The Media and Reserves Library has a recording booth where anyone can record or rehearse speeches, conduct online or phone interviews, or record voice-overs for AV presentations or similar projects.

The Scriptorium
The Scriptorium is a room dedicated for UWM doctoral students to work quietly in the library. It is controlled by a special access code that can only be acquired by contacting a representative from the Graduate School.

Study Carrels
The Golda Meir Library has study carrels available for use for members of UWM faculty and Staff as well as current UWM Graduate students. Graduate students must have Fculty sponsorship to apply for usage of a carrel. They are assigned on a first come, first serve basis during the academic year–from September 1 to August 31. The official form is available in print only at the Circulation Desk of the Golda Meir Library Building.

Accessibility Services

GML Library Accessibility
UWM libraries are committed to providing access to materials and services to all members of the UWM community. There are a number of resources oriented around ADA-oriented accessibility, but increasingly towards providing a more universally designed library experience for library users.

For all questions about accessibility, please contact the Golda Meir library’s ADA coordinator, Beth Traylor.

Accessibility Software and Technology
All library computer stations come with a suite of software for a wide variety purposes and needs.

There are also four dedicated accessible computers in the Learning Commons (both Mac and PC) with flatbed Scanners and the above software. They additionally include Kurzweil 3000, an assistive technology software suite with text-to-speech, screen reader, bi-lingual sources, translation, highlighters and stickies, study guides, graphic organizers, writing templates, and talking spell checkers.

Alternative Formats
Certain technological tools can be used to convert formats–such as using Read&Write Gold to convert inaccessible PDFs. Other software, such as Jaws, ZoomText, Microsoft Office Suite, and more are available on all library computers. However, for converting library materials to an accessible format, working with the Accessibility Resource Center (ARC) may be necessary. On ARC’s website, they have both text and video tutorials for requesting alternative formats through ARC.

Facilities and Safety

Report an Incident
If there is any kind of incident–with the building, a door, a water issue, problem patrons, vandalism, theft, damage, or anything else–please fill out this form to report to our facilities team. They will respond to you promptly about your claim. Please be detailed and descriptive.

Media Permissions
While The UWM Libraries welcomes the filming and photography of the inside and outside of the building, but must also protect the privacy and confidentiality of library users and maintain an appropriate study environment for students and the UWM community. Any person or organization interested in filming or photographing must fill out this form and obtain authorization prior to doing so.

Lockers
Lockers are available for daytime storage use at the Golda Meir Library building. They are free to use during Library hours. They are emptied at the end of every day upon the building’s close. Items left overnight may be claimed at the Main Circulation Desk.

  • Lockers are used with a quarter deposit to release the key.
  • The quarter is returned when the key is re-inserted in the slot.
  • A $25 fee is charged if the key is lost or patron reclaims items left overnight in a locker.
  • Unclaimed locker items are discarded after two weeks.
Facility Services
For all manner of questions about UWM Libraries Golda Meir Library Building, Facility Services has the answers–they manage User Rights and Responsibilities, Lost and Found, lockers, the Green Roof, Cell Phone Policies, and Building Access among other things.