Frequently Asked Questions

Contact the Karrmann Library by phone, email, chat, or visit the circulation desk with any questions. For more information about our services, visit the Library Services page. Click on each question to expand more information.

What are your hours?

Hours vary throughout the year. During the academic year, the library observes the following schedule:

Monday-Thursday: 7:30am-10pm
Friday: 7:30am-4pm
Saturday: 12-5pm
Sunday: 2-10pm

Exceptions include recesses, breaks, and holidays. Visit the Hours & Department Locations page for more information.

What can I do at the library?

Check out, pick up, and return items at the circulation desk including reserve items.
Request items from other libraries using interlibrary loan or resource sharing.
Rent a locker to store your belongings.
Use on-site computers, scanners, and printers.
Read, study, and research in a lounge or private study room.
Speak, chat, or email with a librarian or visit the circulation desk regarding any questions.
Meet with your class or work on group projects by reserving a conference room with a whiteboard.
Decompress at a relaxation station on the second and third floors with puzzles and coloring pages.
Access the Search@UW catalog and electronic resources.
Attend instructional classes.

What can I borrow from the library?

The library’s collection includes audiobooks, current reading, DVDs, graphic novels, leisure reading, oversized books, periodicals, reference collection, and serials. Other items available for checkout include a bike pump, calculators, coloring utensils, dry erase markers, a handheld video camera, headphones, microphone, storage lockers (keys), a tripod, and umbrellas.

How can I utilize the library as a distance student?

Distance students and off-campus users, including the Baraboo Sauk County campus, share access to the same services and resources as on-campus students and users.

Cataloging (Search@UW): Browse, search, and request items using the Search@UW catalog, including items from other UW libraries. For non-digital items (e.g., physical books), Baraboo Sauk County students can request delivery to their campus; distance students should check with their local library for optimal service.
Circulation (checkout): Borrow, hold, and renew items (UW-Platteville username and password required). For non-digital items (e.g., physical books), Baraboo Sauk County students can request delivery to their campus; distance students should check with their local library for optimal service.
Collection Development: Recommend items to be considered for purchase from available library funds by submitting a purchase request form.
Electronic Resources: Access over 200 electronic resources and databases by using a proxy server (UW-Platteville username and password required).
Article request and Interlibrary Loan: Request articles from libraries around the world using ILLiad (UW-Platteville username and password required). For non-digital items (e.g., physical books), Baraboo Sauk County students can request delivery to their campus; distance students should check with their local library for optimal service.
Reference: Ask a librarian for assistance or instruction by using chat, email, or phone.

Standard loan periods, wait periods, and library policies apply. Visit the Library Services page for more information

Does the library have a printer?

Yes. A color printer and a black/white printer are located on the second (main) floor to the right of the circulation desk. A UW-Platteville campus ID card (or username and password) is required. Note: Student printing policy and procedures apply. For more detailed instructions, visit the policy page.

Can I use the library computers?

Access to the library computers requires a UW-Platteville username and password. Users must abide by the following policies:

Library computers may be used for educational and informational purposes only.

Users may not represent themselves as another user or use someone else's password in gaining computer access.

Users are prohibited from installing software or electronic documents onto library computers, modifying the configuration of the computer, or attempting to gain access to files, passwords, or data outside the public domain.

Users assume any risk of damage or corruption to personal data and devices as a result of using library computers.

Use of the library computers may be revoked at any time for inappropriate conduct not limited to the above guidelines.

Do I have to pay to check out books?

No. You do not have to pay to check out books. However, fines and fees may apply if borrowed items are not returned by the due date.

How do I check out an item?

Bring the item(s) you wish to borrow to the circulation desk and let the staff know you are ready to check out. Or, if you requested an item and you have been notified it is ready for you to pick up, go to the circulation desk and let the staff know you are there to pick up an item. You will be prompted to swipe your campus ID card (or present an alternative form of identification). The item(s) you are borrowing will be scanned and desensitized. Staff will inform you of the due date, and you will receive an email confirmation.

How do I get an item delivered to me at Baraboo Sauk County?

Go to Search@UW Sign in with your UW-Platteville username and password. Enter a search term(s) in the search bar, then click the search button.
Select the item you want to request. Under Get It, click Local Request (from the Karrmann Library), if available, otherwise click Request from UW System (takes 3-4 days).
On the form that pops up, choose the Baraboo Campus Pickup location. Click Send Request.
You will receive one email notification when the item arrives at the Karrmann Library and a second notification when the item is ready for you to pick up at the Baraboo Sauk County campus.
Allow 7-10 additional business days for delivery.

How do I place a hold on an item that is already checked out?

Go to Search@UW.
Sign in with your UW-Platteville username and password.
Enter a search term(s) in the search bar, then click the search button.
Select the item you want to place on hold.
Under Get It, click Local Request and choose your pickup location.
Click Send Request.
You will receive an email notification when the item is available for you to check out at your pickup location.

How do I renew an item that is due soon?

Most materials may be renewed if not placed on hold/recall by another borrower. By renewing a loan, you are extending the original due date.

There are several ways to renew an item:

Visit the circulation desk.
Contact the circulation desk at 608.342.1679 or circulation@uwplatt.edu.
Go to Search@UWUnder Menu, click My Account.
Sign in to your account using your UW-Platteville username and password.
Under Loans, click Renew for the individual item you wish to renew or click Renew All to renewal all items.
A new due date will be established upon renewal, and you will receive an email confirmation.

How do I return an item if the library is closed?

Drop off your item(s) in one of return boxes located outside of the Karrmann Library:

On the north side of the building to the left of the second floor (main entrance) doors
On the south side of the building to the right of the first floor (back entrance) doors

Note: These locations are checked each morning. Your return will be processed once the library has reopened so be patient if your account still shows the item(s) is checked out to you.

Can I return overdue items?

Yes. Overdue items can be returned at the circulation desk. Note: Fines and fees may apply when an item reaches 28 days overdue.

Do I have to pay to access a research article?

No. Never pay for academic articles!

If an article you are interested in is not available through Search@UW, you can request an article from another library using interlibrary loan. For more information about interlibrary loan, visit the Library Services page.

How do I request an item from another library?

To request an item from a UW System library (called resource sharing):

Go to Search@UW.
Sign in with your UW-Platteville username and password.
Enter a search term(s) in the search bar, then click the search button.
Select the item you want to request.
Under Get It, click Request from UW System (takes 3-4 days).
On the form that pops up, choose your pickup location: Elton S. Karrmann Library or Baraboo Campus Pickup.
Click Send Request. You will receive an email notification when the item is available for you to check out at your pickup location.

To request an item from any library (called interlibrary loan):

Go to ILLiad.
Sign in with your UW-Platteville username and password, if prompted.
Under New Request, select the type of item you are requesting. In the request form, enter the information for the item.
Click Submit Request.
You will receive an email notification when the item is delivered.

What is the difference between interlibrary loan and resource sharing?

Both interlibrary loan and resource sharing are systems of loaning books among libraries. The difference is that resource sharing is specific to the UW System (items are requested through Search@UW, while interlibrary loan is general to libraries around the world (items are requested through ILLiad.

How do I put an item on reserve?

If you are an instructor who wants to place an item on reserve, deliver it to the circulation desk. You will be required to complete the reserve form.

Do you have a Lost and Found?

Yes. Visit the circulation desk and ask about our lost and found.

Do you have headphones?

Yes. Headphones are available to checkout at the circulation desk for library use only.

How do I request instruction from a librarian?

Submit a request through the Presentations on Demand SharePoint page (UW-Platteville username and password required).

How can I refine my search in Search@UW?

To perform a simple search: Go to Search@UW. Sign in with your UW-Platteville username and password. Enter a search term(s) in the search bar, then click the search button. Under Refine My Results, select filters to narrow down your search results. Click Apply Filters.

To perform an advanced search: Go to Search@UW. Sign in with your UW-Platteville username and password. Click Advanced Search next to the search bar. Enter a search term(s) and apply filters to narrow down your search results. Click Search.

Here are some general search bar tips:

QUOTES (“…”): Putting Quotations around a phrase gives results where the phrase is used verbatim.
ASTERISK (“*”): Placing an asterisk at the end of a term or partial term broadens the search to include all words that match that term (e.g., motivat* as a search term will produce results such as motivate, motivates, motivation, motivational, etc.).
BOOLEAN OPERATORS (and/or/not): Using these words gives additional instructions to the search engine to produce refined results.

AND: Put between two terms, gives results containing both terms A and B.
OR: Put between two terms, gives results that contain either term A or B.
NOT: Excludes a term from the search results.

SUBJECT HEADINGS: These are terms assigned to a resource within a database which can be helpful for finding resources on similar topics or by the same author. To filter by subject headings, perform an advanced search. Under Search filters, click Any field, then select Subject.

For more information about research basics applicable to any resource, visit the JSTOR website.

How do I find peer-reviewed articles?

Go to Search@UW. Sign in with your UW-Platteville username and password. Enter a search term(s) in the search bar, then click the search button. Under Refine My Results, select Peer-reviewed journals (below Show Only) and Articles (below Resource Type). Click Apply Filters.

How do I find e-books?

There are two ways to locate e-books:

Go to Search@UW. Enter a search term(s) in the search bar, then click the search button. Under Refine My Results, select Available Online (below Show Only) and Books (below Resource Type). Click Apply Filters.
Go to Electronic Resources. Click on All Database Types. From the dropdown menu, select eBook. Choose an electronic resource based on your e-book needs.

How do I navigate EBSCO e-books?

Go to Electronic Resources. Find and click EBSCOhost eBook Collection. Enter a search term(s) in the search bar, then click Search. Click All filters. Under Source Types, select eBooks. Choose a title, then click Access now (eBook).

For more information about using EBSCO eBooks in the classroom as an instructor, visit the EBSCO website.

How do I follow a specific journal?

You may want to stay up to date on the latest research pertaining to your academic discipline or interest. The best way to follow a journal is to set up an RSS feed that delivers notifications about new articles to your inbox. Most journals will allow you to set up an RSS feed on their official website.

Where can I find a primary source newspaper article?

An assignment or project may require you to find an original newspaper article or artifact from a significant historical event that happened in the United States. We recommend using Chronicling America, a digital collection by the Library of Congress. Search for any person or event and it will retrieve a PDF of the original newspaper article. Note: The search itself is a bit slow so be patient if it seems like it is timing out.

Which Internet domains (.edu, .gov, .org, .com) are reliable?

It used to be the case that only .edu, .gov, and .org domains were recommended as reliable sources of information, but the Internet has become much more sophisticated – now anyone can set up a .org site for a couple of dollars. In fact, the company that runs the .org web domain is a billion-dollar business. There are plenty of quality, reliable websites out there that end in .com or other domains. To determine if information is relevant and reliable, regardless of domain, apply the SIFT method: stop, investigate the source, find better coverage, and trace claims, quotes, and media to the original context.

What strategies can I use to evaluate online resources?

There are a variety of tools for evaluating online resources including the following methods:

CRAAP: Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose.
SIFT: Stop, Investigate, Find, and Trace.
SMART: Scope, Motivation, Authority and Accuracy, Relevance and Reliability, Timely.
W5H: What, Who, Where, When, Why, and How.

For more information, view the InfoSleuth module in Canvas

Where can I find more information about copyright?

UW-Platteville's General Copyright Guidelines
UW System General Guidelines
Association of Research Libraries' Copyright Information
Copyright Clearance Center
Crash Course in Copyright
U.S. Copyright Office

How do I change the Google results region?

Every region has its own version of Google. You may want to change your Google results region to geographically customize your search results. There are two ways to change your Google results region:

Sign in to your Google account and click on your profile icon. Click on Language in the box that pops up. Begin typing your region or select from the list, then click Confirm.
Sign into your Google Account. In the bottom right corner of your browser window, click Settings. On the pop-up menu, select Search settings then Other settings. Click on Language & region then Results region. Begin typing your region or select from list, then click Confirm.

For more detailed instructions, visit the Google support website

Are you hiring?

Check Handshake for student positions or the careers page for professional positions. If you cannot find any job postings for the library, we are not currently hiring. However, students who wish to work at the library may email circulation@uwplatt.edu to express their interest for future consideration.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Karrmann Library

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COOKIE NOTICE

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Frequently Asked Questions

Contact Information

Karrmann Library

Library Chat