Your Library Account
Click on “My Account” in the upper right corner of our website. This takes you to LINKcat, the library system’s catalog.
Enter your full barcode number. Your default PIN number is the month and day of your birthday, formatted as four digits (MMDD).
Call "Harriet" at (608) 242-4700 and use your LINKcat library card to renew items, get a list of all items you have out, when they are due, items currently on the hold shelf for you, and more.
The LINKcat App is available for Apple and Android devices. Once downloaded, log in to your account by tapping “My Dashboard,” then “Log In to LINKcat.”
The app lets you check the catalog, place holds, renew materials, use a digital barcode, and more.
Checking Out
You can have up to 100 items checked out at a time. Some items, like Lucky Day materials, have limits on how many items can be checked out at once.
Different item types have different checkout periods.
Books: 4 weeks
New Adult Fiction Books: 2 weeks
New Adult Nonfiction Books: 4 weeks
Audiobooks: 4 weeks
DVDs and Blu-rays: 1 week
Lucky Day Books: 2 weeks
Magazines: 2 weeks
Music CDs/LPs: 2 weeks
Video Games: 2 weeks
Library of Things checkout times vary depending on item type.
You can renew items by using your LINKCat account, either on our website or on an app, by calling “Harriet” at (608) 242-4700, or by speaking to a librarian. Most items can be renewed twice before they must be returned. Please note that if the item is on hold, it may be unable to be renewed.
Fines & Fees
We do not charge overdue fees, but ask that items are still returned in a timely manner so that others may enjoy them. If an item is lost or damaged, you may be charged for that item.
Items checked out at other libraries may be subject to fines, depending on that library’s policies.
You can pay for lost or damaged items over $10 with a card through your LINKcat account. Alternatively, you can pay at the library by cash or check.
Materials & Holds
You can use your library card at any library in the South Central Library System.
Place holds using the online catalog, mobile app, or by speaking to a librarian at the desk or on the phone (608-849-4217). You will get a notification when your hold is ready and have seven days to pick it up.
Materials checked out from an SCLS library may be returned to any SCLS library. The Waunakee Library has a drive-thru bookdrop that is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
OLLs and Library of Things materials should be returned to a librarian during open hours.
We do not automatically keep records of what you’ve checked out. However, you can choose to turn on your reading history in your account to keep track of titles you check out going forward.