Destinations

Memorial Library

Black and white photo of students sitting outside of Memorial Library on the UW–Madison campus

Norman Lenburg

The library was the state’s biggest building project since the Wisconsin Capitol in 1917. In the 1980s, plans for an eight-story addition were reduced by one floor to avoid blocking views of the capitol.

Student seated at table in one of the collections at Memorial Library on the UW–Madison campus

Jeff Miller

Memorial Library is home to 3.5 million volumes — the largest single library collection in the state. Before the building’s construction in 1953, the library shared space with the Wisconsin Historical Society.

1960s image showing locked carrels in Memorial Library

UW Archives S00269

Locked carrels, frequently called “cages,” are visible in this 1960s image. Second-year graduate students looking to avoid lugging books back and forth to the library can apply for one of the solitary study spaces.

Sign reading "quiet study" on table at Memorial Library

Jeff Miller

The library is known as one of the best places on campus to power through solo studying, a reputation reinforced by one review posted on Google: “Quietest public place for UW students. Not suitable for group work.”

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