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.

• UWM Libraries Help Desks
• Research and Course Guides
• Schedule a Research Consultation

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.

• Research at AGSL
• Visit the AGSL
• AGSL Collections

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.

• Archival Research Assistance
• Archival Research Videos
• Archival Research Guides

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.

• Schedule a Visit
• Use of the Collection beyond Walk-in Hours (M-F, 10AM-5PM)
• Special Collections Research Consultation
• Contact Special Collections
• Digital Collections
• Digital Exhibits

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.

• Genealogy Search Request (archives)
• Genealogy FAQ (archives)
• AGSL Genealogy Services
• Genealogy Databases
  • Biography and Genealogy Master Index
  • HeritageQuest Online
  • Accessible Archives

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.

• Geospatial Data at AGSL
• Finding and Using GIS Data
• GIS Data Request Form

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.

• Government Information Research Guide
• Census Research Guide
• Government Databases

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.

• Information Literacy Tutorial
• Advanced Library Research
• eBooks at UWM
• Evidence-Based Practice

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.

• Citation Styles
• RefWorks Transition Guide

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.

• The UWM Open-Access (UOAP) Fund
• Can I Share My Article? An Open Access Presentation
• UWM Digital Commons
• Open Access Databases

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.

• Who is My Librarian?

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.

• Recommend an Item for Purchase
• Request to be Notified when an Ordered Item is Received
• Request the Purchase of Online Materials to support Coursework

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 Media and Reserve Services.

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

• Reserve Materials Request Form for Instructors – use for existing UWM Libraries materials.
• Purchase Materials for Reserve – Use this form to request items for purchase for reserve.
• Media Reserve Order Form

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.

• Request a Database Trial
• Databases Currently on Trial
• Database Trial Evaluation Form

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.

• Gifts-in-Kind Donations of Materials to the UWM Libraries
• Information About Tax Issues

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.

• Make, Check, Download, or Renew an Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Request
• How to Request Items
• Using ILL for Canvas

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.

• Library Contacts

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.

• Who can Do What at the UWM Libraries? (PDF)

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.

• Circulation Policies – For UWM-affiliated borrowers
• Borrowing Policies – For Non-UWM-affiliated borrowers
• UWM Libraries Fine Policy
• UWM Libraries Fine Free Policy on General Materials

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.

• Off-Campus Access Questions

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.

• Getting Started
• Borrowing and Returning Materials
• Requesting Articles and Books
• Library Resources for Flex Students

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.

• WEPA Printing on Campus
• Flatbed Scanning Instructions

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.

• Proxy Patron Request Form

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.

• Daniel M. Soref Learning Commons Group Room Reservations
• UWM at Washington County Group Room Reservations

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.

• Golda Meir Library Conference Center

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

• Audio Recording Studio
• DHL Software Tools
• DH Lab Facilities

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.

• Reserve the Distraction-Free Room

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.

• Media Viewing Rooms

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.

• Recording Booth (in Media and Reserve Services)

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.

• The Scriptorium

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 Faculty 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.

• Carrels Request Form