UW-Madison Libraries

UW-Madison Libraries The UW-Madison Libraries together make up Wisconsin’s world-class public research university library system.

The UW-Madison has the 11th largest research library collection in North America, according to a survey by the Association of Research Libraries. The campus is served by Memorial Library, the largest library in Wisconsin, as well as numerous subject, professional and special purpose libraries.

On May 20, a group of nearly 20 discophiles from the Madison Record Club took an after-hours spin through Mills Music Li...
06/02/2026

On May 20, a group of nearly 20 discophiles from the Madison Record Club took an after-hours spin through Mills Music Library with one goal in mind: Get up close and personal with the Cuca Records Collection.

Cuca Records was an independent record company founded and operated by James Kirchstein from 1959 until the early 1970s in Sauk City, Wisconsin, just a little under 25 miles northwest of the UW–Madison campus. The studio primarily recorded and released polka and ethnic music, but it also issued other musical styles, such as pop, rhythm and blues, folk, and traditional jazz, with most musicians representing Wisconsin or adjacent states.

Led by UW–Libraries' Audio-Visual Preservation Archivist Nate Gibson, the tour gave attendees the rare chance to explore many of the Cuca records 45s and LPs, as well as publishing contracts, pressing orders, and other ephemera from Kirchstein’s collection.

“We didn't expect … the vast other types of items in the archive: documents, recorded conversations between Jim and Lawrence Welk on a wire, a T-shirt from Jim's parents' Kirchstein’s Super Market, puppets made by Madison artist Ken Vogel from Jim's extensive puppet collection, and so much more,” said Jody Berndt, the event’s organizer, adding, “It really gave us a more 3-D view of Cuca.”

Among the attendees were Cuca Records recording artists Marcus Sullivan of the King’s Men Five and Jon Standridge of the Changing Tydes R***e and Bill Allen & the Fugitives, along with Kirchstein’s daughter, Vicki. It was a star-studded group, but the services at Mills Music Library left the attendees equally wowed.

“The overall reaction was one of ‘We had no idea!’ — no idea on so many levels,” said Berndt. “[That includes] the amount of work being done by staff members to archive and transcribe incredibly important collections from Wisconsin and Minnesota; the vastness of the archives held at Mills as a whole, not just the Cuca collection; and the collaborations happening between Mills and organizations like the Numero Group to keep music like Cuca's accessible to new generations."

To explore Mills Music Library yourself — and learn what's in the Cuca Records Collection — check out the Libraries' Locations page: https://www.library.wisc.edu/locations/

“All libraries, past and present, preserve and transmit human perceptions.” That belief informs the lyrical symbolism an...
05/27/2026

“All libraries, past and present, preserve and transmit human perceptions.”

That belief informs the lyrical symbolism and splendor of “The Library,” the mosaic mural that has adorned the entryway of Memorial Library since 1977. It’s also one of the works of art made by the late UW-Madison art history professor Jim Watrous, known as “the Father of the Elvehjem” (now Chazen Museum of Art), still displayed on campus.

Intricately pieced from gold Byzantine glass and colored tesserae, the 12-by-20-foot mosaic depicts the celestial beings of the zodiac, flora and fauna, earth and sky, and good and evil. Interlaced with mathematical figures, these symbols represent the ways people understand and engage with the world, and, Watrous suggests, how libraries are key players in communicating human identity.

To appreciate “The Library” in person, visit Memorial Library during any of the scheduled hours found at library.wisc.edu/locations/.

If the menu for your Memorial Day barbecue eludes you, have you considered a jellied salad? Or maybe a dish of faux terr...
05/21/2026

If the menu for your Memorial Day barbecue eludes you, have you considered a jellied salad? Or maybe a dish of faux terrapin, ancient style? (That’s mock turtle, by the way.) What about a transparent pudding for dessert?

These are just a few of the distinctive recipes you’ll find in Steenbock Memorial Library’s 7,000-strong collection of cookbooks. Not just a resource for epicureans among us, these handbooks are also historical documents, providing insights about a time period, a place, a momentous event or movement, or a cultural or social identity.

Swing by Steenbock Library to find your new favorite recipe and explore historical traditions through food.

Photography by Bryce Richter/On Wisconsin

05/21/2026

▶️Our July iSchool Alumni Webinar Series is around the corner, featuring four engaging sessions on the skills and perspectives shaping today’s library and information work, including job interviewing, teaching design tools, curriculum analysis and local library history.

• Thursdays, July 9–30 | 12–1 p.m. CST
• Free and open to alumni, students, and friends of the iSchool.

Register online to join one or all four sessions→https://ischool.wisc.edu/continuing-education/alumni-webinar-series/

Photo by Jeff Miller / UW–Madison

When 39 Buddhist scriptures arrived mysteriously at the University of Wisconsin library in 1895, it was the seed of a re...
05/19/2026

When 39 Buddhist scriptures arrived mysteriously at the University of Wisconsin library in 1895, it was the seed of a relationship that would blossom into the creation of the first Buddhist studies program in North America, right here on the UW–Madison campus.

The story of the gifted texts — known as the King of Siam’s edition of the Tipitaka, the first printed Tipitaka in the world — continues today thanks to UW–Madison doctoral student, Napakadol Kittisenee. In fact, he says the Buddhist studies program launched at UW in 1961 was only the beginning of a legacy of learning.

Read about Kittisenee's journey through UW Libraries’ holdings to tell the enduring story of this rare artifact: https://www.library.wisc.edu/news/2026/05/15/how-a-rare-buddhist-text-led-to-a-legacy-of-learning-at-uw/

On May 13, Libraries staff from across the UW–Madison campus gathered at the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery for a day...
05/14/2026

On May 13, Libraries staff from across the UW–Madison campus gathered at the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery for a day of connection, gratitude, learning, and even a little magic. Check out some scenes from our annual Staff Appreciation Day.

🧪 The legendary Dr. Bassam Shakhashiri performed a series of chemical demonstrations that inspired oohs and aahs from the crowd.

🎩 James the Magician stumped Staff Appreciation Day chair Christopher Perez with a card trick.

⭐ Libraries staff participated in a series of questions and answers during a speech from Erla Heyns, dean of libraries at UW–Madison.

🪡 A mending workshop was one of many activities coordinated by the Staff Appreciation Day planning committee.

🏆 Some staff also participated in a fierce bout of pub-style trivia. Congrats to first-place winners, Team Hawthorne!

As part of UW–Madison Libraries Staff Appreciation Day, many of our locations will be closed or have reduced hours on We...
05/11/2026

As part of UW–Madison Libraries Staff Appreciation Day, many of our locations will be closed or have reduced hours on Wednesday, May 13. This day of celebration gives our hardworking staff time to reconnect and recognize everything we’ve achieved throughout the year.

Visit library.wisc.edu/locations/ to check location hours.

On campus this summer? So are we! But many Libraries locations have updated hours starting Monday, May 11. Find the full...
05/11/2026

On campus this summer? So are we! But many Libraries locations have updated hours starting Monday, May 11.

Find the full schedule of our hours at library.wisc.edu/locations/.

Congratulations to the University of Wisconsin–Madison 🎓 class of 2026 🎓! No matter your library of choice, it has been ...
05/08/2026

Congratulations to the University of Wisconsin–Madison 🎓 class of 2026 🎓! No matter your library of choice, it has been an honor to serve as your campus destination for study, research, and discovery (and some fun, too!).

Pictured, from 1983: A woman holds on to her mortar board, which has a balloon attached to it reading "I'm over here Mom and Dad" at commencement in Camp Randall Stadium.

UW–Madison Libraries is here to support University of Wisconsin-Madison students who need extra time finishing their wor...
05/08/2026

UW–Madison Libraries is here to support University of Wisconsin-Madison students who need extra time finishing their work following the nationwide Canvas outage, including evening hours at College Library on Friday, May 8, and open hours at Memorial Library and the Wisconsin Historical Society over the weekend.

Find the full schedule of hours at library.wisc.edu/locations/.

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