Policies

Article Delivery

WTS offers a range of library services to individuals and organizations not affiliated with the University that lack convenient access to resources at the Wendt Library or other libraries, or that need the special skills of WTS staff in locating and retrieving information.

These services include providing photocopies of materials owned by UW-Madison libraries or by a lending library. WTS provides these services in accordance with U.S. copyright law.

Clients of WTS services, as well as those who visit the Wendt Library or another library to make copies for themselves by using public photocopy machines, have the responsibility for proper use of photocopies, under copyright law. Clients are solely responsible for determining their obligations under copyright law. If a client determines that a copyright royalty payment is owed for a photocopy made by WTS, the client may make the payment or may request that WTS make the payment and bill the client.

As a non-profit, cost-recovery program, WTS provides library services as part of the University's traditional mission of teaching, research and public service. WTS services are also in keeping with the "Wisconsin Idea," which holds that the University, as a public institution, should extend its resources to the boundaries of the state and beyond.

Cost Estimates

Base Fees

  • Articles filled at UW-Madison: $13 per article
    (WTS fills about 65-70% of requests at UW-Madison)
  • Articles filled by off-campus suppliers (optional service): $30-$35 per article

Additional Fees

  • Copyright charges (optional; see Copyright Costs for more information): varies widely; generally $30-50 per article, but could be as much as $20 per page
  • Rush service (delivery within 8 business hours): $10 per article
  • Super Rush service (delivery within 4 business hours): $18 per article

Firm Price Quotes

WTS staff are happy to provide you with a firm price quote for an order. However, because working up a price quote entails a significant amount of time and expertise, there is a charge for this service. The charge will be waived if you subsequently order those articles from WTS.

Firm Price Quotes: $10 per citation (waived if articles are ordered)

Tools for Estimating Cost

Book Loans

Book loans from Wisconsin TechSearch are made possible by borrowing privileges granted by the libraries of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Renewals & Overdue Fees

  • Clients are responsible for borrowed material and must return borrowed items within the specified loan period (30 days).
  • One renewal is sometimes permitted depending on the lending library's policies (please contact WTS for a renewal).
    • Renewal fee = $5 for an additional 30 days
    • Any item kept over a week past its due date will be automatically renewed if eligible.
  • Failure to return by the due/renewal date will result in overdue fees.
    • Overdue fee = $15

Replacement Fees

  • Clients are responsible for compensation or replacement if borrowed material is damaged or lost.
    • Lost fees = $200 plus full replacement charges (all nonrefundable)
  • Repeated instances of loss, damage, or failure to return borrowed volumes when due may result in the suspension of a client's borrowing privileges.

Recalls

Occasionally, a loaned item is needed immediately by a campus patron. In such cases, WTS staff reserves the right to request that those materials be returned before their original due date.

Availability

  • WTS cannot loan any items that do not circulate from the collection, including:
    • Reference books
    • Course Reserves
    • Journals
    • Theses and dissertations
    • Special Collections
  • If an item is rare or in fragile/damaged condition, WTS may choose not to lend it.
  • WTS will not obtain book loans from sources outside of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Patent Searching

WTS provides preliminary patent and trademark searches as one of its services. It is the policy of WTS to keep confidential all material submitted by clients with respect to searches as well as search results. WTS will not disclose material pertaining to searches to third parties except as required by law. This obligation of confidentiality applies for a period of three (3) years from the date materials are received by WTS.