Equipment Loan Policies

• If a piece of equipment is in stock, and not reserved, it is available to checkout.
• Reservations can be made for most items (some exceptions apply, see list of example items below).
• Most items are available for a 1-week loan, with 1 renewal (if not otherwise reserved).
  • Renewals are not guaranteed. MERIT reserves the right to decline equipment renewals, especially for high-demand items (for example: Canon mirrorless digital cameras and iPads or Apple Pencils).
  • Please be mindful of due dates and return equipment on-time.
  • 24 hours waiting periods may apply between checkouts.
  • Slightly longer loan periods will be considered on a case-by-case basis. To ask about an extended loan on MERIT equipment, please contact library@education.wisc.edu.
• NOTE ON LOANS: Our circulating equipment is often in high-demand and is intended to be a shared resource to all our patrons.  A week-long (7-day) waiting period between loans may be applied based on system allocation policies.  Please plan accordingly.

• Items are available from the MERIT Public Service Desk, located in the MERIT library (3rd floor Teacher Education building, 225 N. Mills Street).
• Equipment must be returned to the MERIT Public Service Desk
• All items must be returned at least one hour before closing on the day that the item is due.
• If you return equipment after the due date, you may be charged overdue fines. The standard maximum loan period is 1 week (with 1 renewal often granted).
• Renewals are not guaranteed. MERIT reserves the right to decline equipment renewals, especially for high-demand items (for example: Canon Mirrorless cameras and their components are not renewable).
• Our equipment reservation system implements a 7-day waiting period between checkouts (of same item type). Please plan accordingly.

• You can now reserve MERIT equipment online through the UW-Libraries InfoLabs circulation system!
• Reservations are not guaranteed; all loans are based on availability of item(s). If there is a problem we will do our best to contact you. You can contact us at library@education.wisc.edu or call 608-263-4750.
• You may reserve equipment in advance throughout the semester.  Keep in mind there is an automatic 7-day waiting period between checkouts (of same item type).  Please plan accordingly.
• All reservations, once confirmed, are held for 1 business day and will be cancelled at closing of that day; you will receive an email notification reminding you to pickup your reserved items.
• Communications regarding all MERIT equipment reservations and loans will come from the General Library System InfoLab Technology Group (“technologycirculation@library.wisc.edu”) with our contact information for followup (library@education.wisc.edu).

Most equipment can be reserved throughout the semester; however, chargers, dongles, adapters, and other peripherals are first come, first serve. For example:

• Headphones
• USB-C to HDMI
• USB-C to VGA
• Lightening to VGA
• Mac display adapters
• Power cords
• Card readers

• Once the equipment has left the MERIT Public Service Desk, you will be held responsible for any missing parts.
  • By checking out equipment, you agree to accept financial responsibility for the replacement of any missing parts and a possible processing fee of $10.
  • Replacement costs for some equipment exceeds $1,500 (and can be as high as $3,470)! Ensure that the equipment is well secured and cared for while on-loan.
• Equipment is only considered returned once all parts have been returned.
  • We strongly encourage you to double-check equipment before leaving the library.
  • You may be held responsible if any items are lost or damaged while under your care.
• Primary penalty applied for overdue equipment is a hold on your WebCheckout account, which blocks you from checking out any equipment from any campus InfoLab until hold is removed.
  • The hold begins the day when the item(s) is returned or fee paid, not when it is due.
  • These hold impact access to InfoLab equipment, not to general Library checkouts, such as books or tools.
  • If your equipment overdue exceeds 20 days (or 10 days for accessory items), expect:
    • To be charged a replacement fee, less than or equal to the cost to replace the item(s)
    • Have a hold placed on your registrar account (blocking class registration or graduation)
  • Detailed information on holds and fees available at: https://kb.wisc.edu/infolabs/131963
• If there is a fine on your account, you will not be able to check out any equipment (MERIT item or otherwise) from any location until all fines are paid in full.
• If you receive a fine for MERIT equipment, you may fill-out an Appeals form. To complete, please visit our website at https://merit.education.wisc.edu/equipment-fine-appeal/