MS-Clinical Nutrition Library Resources : Finding Books / Using the Online Catalog

Finding books in the UW Libraries Catalog

1. From the UW-Madison Libraries homepage, choose “Catalog” from the drop-down menu.

2. Type a book title, author name, or other subject keywords into the search box and press “Enter” on your keyboard.

3. From the results page, you can click on a book title to see its full record, which provides more information about the book, as well as where to find the book.

Advanced Search

• If you want to have more control over search results, you can try an “Advanced Search” within the library catalog

  • On the UW-Madison Libraries homepage, the “Advanced Search” option is in blue text in the right-hand corner under the Catalog search box.

  • The options within the advanced catalog search window allow you to limit searches by:

    • Subject

    • Call number

    • Publication Year

    • And more…

• There is a “Format” list to your right on the advanced search page screen. It is underlined in blue. This list will give you options for limiting the format of media sources returned with your search results.

• Above the “Format” option, on your right, there is the option to select “Locations,” including specific UW-Madison Libraries and other UW campuses’ libraries. You can limit searches to a specific library or libraries by clicking on “Locations,” clicking on a UW campus, and then clicking on a library.

For UW-Madison distance students who live outside of Dane County, WI:

NOTE: If you haven't signed up for the UW-Madison Distance Services, please do so now. This information is in this guide, in the section Distance Students--What You Need to Know

• Search the UW Library catalog for the book you want.

• When you find the book, click on the book title from the results page to see all information about the book

• Near the Availability box, click on the Place Requests link

• Log in with your NetID

• Select Distance Services as the pickup location for your book

• If the item is available, it will be shipped to you within 3 business days and if the item is not available, you will be notified by email.

For UW-Madison distance students who live within Dane County, WI:

• Is it convenient for you to come to UW-Madison and pick the book up yourself? Please do! We'd love to meet you. Your UW-Madison WisCard (ID Card) is your library card and it will work at all UW Madison campus libraries.

• If not, your local public library should be able to help you. Let them know the title of the book you'd like to borrow, and ask for assistance with placing an interlibrary loan request (note: you will need to use your public library card for this).

Books that are available electronically through UW-Madison can be found through our catalog

1. From the UW-Madison Libraries homepage, choose “Catalog” from the drop-down menu.

2. Type a book title, author name, or other subject keywords into the search box and press “Enter” on your keyboard.

3. From the results page, e-books will have a location of "Online Access". A link to the e-book publisher will appear below. Click on the provided link to access the UW copy of the e-book

A list of UW-Madison health sciences e-books by topic is available here  (this list is not comprehensive)

Requesting Unavailable Books

If the book you have found in the UW Library catalog is not available because it is checked out or not owned by UW Madison physically or electronically, it still may be possible to get a copy. 

• If there are no copies on campus, but a copy is available at a different UW campus, there will be an option to “Request a Copy from UW System.” This usually takes 3-4 business days. 

• Click on the “Request a Copy from UW System,”  link.

• You will be prompted to log in with your Net ID.

• You will be given an estimated delivery time for the item.

• Select the desired pickup location from the list. For distance students, this will be "Distance Services"

• Click  “Request a Copy from UW System,” to complete your request. You will receive an email notification when the item is available for pick up.

Requesting Non UW-Madison Books

If you need a specific book that neither the UW Libraries or any UW System campus owns, you can place an Interlibrary Loan request.

• To login to Interlibrary Loan:

  • From the UW-Madison Libraries homepage, click on the “Services” tab near the top middle of the page.

  • Click on the link “Click here to login to Interlibrary Loan.”

  • Click on the link “UW-Madison.”

  • You will be prompted to sign in to Interlibrary Loan. You can choose to login with either your NetID or your 11-digit UW-Madison ID.

• Once logged in to Interlibrary Loan, you will have two options for making requests.

  • To request a book or other materials including DVDs, click on the link “Request a Book or Other Loan.” Fill in the requested information about the book (title, author, etc) and submit the request

  • Do you just need a chapter from a book? To request a chapter from a book, click on the link “Request an Article or Other Copy.” Fill in the requested information and submit.