Muprhy Library purchases a diverse array of resources to support the teaching, learning, and research mission of UW-La Crosse.
Suggestions from our faculty for purchases help us enhance the library collection. Decisions regarding our collections are guided by the Collection Development Policy. Although the Library may not always be able to acquire every item requested, we value suggestions from our stakeholders.
Interested faculty members may also wish to participate in the Faculty Senate Library Committee, which provides advice and guidance to the librarians involved in developing collections (and improving other library services). The goal of the Committee is to promote the efforts of the library to meet the information needs of our stakeholders.
1. Requesting Items:
Please submit a publisher's flyer, catalog, or individual requests via our Electronic Order Form. Ideally, we need the following information to be able to place your order accurately and quickly: author or editor, title, edition, publisher, date published, price, ISBN, your department, requestor name, and priority (i.e., #1 = Essential, #2 = Purchase if funds are available)
Rush Orders: If the item is needed by a certain semester or date, please note this with the order. ***Please note that rush orders require more expensive shipping and handling charges. We also cannot guarantee that items can be rush ordered due to publisher inventory or their shipping capabilities.
2. Prioritizing Your Requests:
Please prioritize your requests from #1-#3 (#1 being the highest priority and will be ordered first with lower priorities ordered as the budget allows. Most allocations rarely allow any #2 or #3 purchases to be made. Thus, concentrate only on ordering things deemed vital to your curricular and research needs.
3. Standing Orders:
Each department has a number of standing orders, i.e. books which belong to a series such as: yearbooks, annuals, and titles which are published over a number of years. These come on an on-going basis and we have no control over the frequency with which we receive them. These titles will be monitored by the Reference and Collection Development librarians.
4. Receiving Items:
Orders typically take approximately two weeks to arrive. This does not include the time required to process and catalog the item once it has been received. Processing and cataloging can take an additional 1-2 weeks. If you need the item sooner, let us know and the book will be processed on a rush basis and should be available within 3 days. You will receive an email notice when your material is available.
5. Fund Allocations
All funds should be expended by April 15 of each academic year. In the event departments or programs don't expend all of their funds before April 15th, all remaining in monies will be reallocated to a general library fund. This allows us time to make sure all funds are spent. Also, the business office requires that all invoices are paid and all accounts are closed by mid-June. We will honor purchase requests that are submitted later than the after April, but require notification that you will be still placing orders.
6. Book requests not ordered:
Any leftover book requests not ordered will be returned to the requesting department or program so that the titles can be reviewed. Orders can be resubmitted if they are still needed.
7. Multimedia requests (DVDs & Streaming Videos):
To request a streaming film for the library, please send the information, including the intended use and the time frame needed, to Pam Cipkowski (8567) or Lauren Klitzke (8509). Please note that gaining access to streaming videos often takes time due to the licensing process and technological setup involved.
Typically, obtaining public performance rights will result in higher costs, and as a result, they cannot be purchased for every film. Occasionally, filmmakers restrict viewership to a limited number of users. In these cases, special budgetary and administrative approval are required. We cannot guarantee that films with such restrictions will be library funded.
Please see the Streaming Video LibGuide for additional information.
If you have any questions about the ordering process, your book or periodicals budget, or the status of an order, please call or email: