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Universal Borrowing FAQ's
Who is Eligible to Use Universal Borrowing (UB)?
Students, faculty, staff and retired faculty may use the service.
Distance learners may find UB problematic, particularly when ordering books available from Murphy Library collections. We recommend you use Interlibrary Loan instead.
What types of materials are available?
Books, government publications, audiovisual materials, some curriculum materials and any other items that normally circulate on a campus are eligible for universal borrowing. Periodicals, journal articles, reference and special collection materials are not available through this service. Journal articles can be requested through Interlibrary Loan (ILLiad).
When do I use UB instead of ILLiad?
| Universal Borrowing (UB) | Interlibrary Loan (ILLIAD) |
| Use to request books (not articles) from other UW System libraries. | Use to request books not found through UB and journal articles |
| You may request items for recreational or personal use. | You may only request items that support research and scholarship. |
| Distance Learners may find UB problematic. Items are delivered to nearest UW campus library. Use ILLiad for all requests. | Distance Learners should use ILLiad service for all requests. Materials will be delivered to your office or home. |
| More about Universal Borrowing | More about Interlibrary Loan |
What are the loan periods for UB materials?
For books there is a 28-day loan period for students and a semester long period for faculty/staff. Videos and curriculum materials have a shorter 14-day loan period for all patrons with no renewals. For students two renewals are possible for book materials only.
Do libraries charge fines for overdue items?
No, we do not charge fines for overdue items as long as they are returned.
What if I lose an item or never return it to the lending library?
Bills for non-returned or lost items will be sent to you from the lending library and will be based on the lending library’s policies.
How soon can I expect to receive titles I have requested?
Most materials will be received within 2 to 4 days of the request date.
How do I follow the status of my request?
You can check the status of all your circulation activity, including UB requests, on your circulation record in Murphy Catalog. Click on the YOUR RECORD button at the top of the main search screen. You may also cancel requests and renew 28-day items via YOUR RECORD.
How will I know when my titles come in?
You will be notified by phone or e-mail when titles are available. They will be held for you for 10 days, so please be prompt in retrieving them.
What if I want to pick up my book or return it to another location?
You may designate any other UW campus as a pick-up location. You also may return material to any other UW campus. The material will be checked in at the library you return it to and at that point you don’t need to worry about further responsibility for the material being returned to the holding library.
What if I find a book on another campus and it is checked out? May I place a hold on it?
With the current version of UB it is not possible to place holds or recalls on materials from another UW campus.
Problems or questions?
Contact Circulation at 608-785-8507 or email to cirser@uwlax.edu.
