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Association of Wisconsin Special Librarians

Special Library Profile: Wisconsin Department of Transportation Library and Information Commons

Contact information:

Hill Farms State Transportation Building
4802 Sheboygan Ave.
Room 100 P.O. Box 7915
Madison WI 53707
(608) 264-8142
library@dot.wi.gov

http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/library

Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 9:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. DOT Library

Home to one of the larger collections of transportation-related information in the country, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation Library and Information Commons (or "iCommons") offers easy access to the latest published research materials, periodicals and daily newspapers, along with transportation videos, DVDs and CDs. Featuring a convenient location and comfortable seating, the WisDOT Library iCommons provides transportation professionals, the academic community and the general public a common area to find information and answers to virtually any transportation question. The WisDOT Library iCommons is a central collection point for transportation materials on bicycling, pedestrians, railroads, waterways, public transit, airports and highways, along with motor vehicle and public safety issues. The library is a founding member of the Midwest Transportation Knowledge Network and is also a member of OCLC and the Transportation Library Connectivity and Development Pooled Fund Study, providing access to a wealth of transportation information of all types from libraries throughout the world.

DOT Library

The WisDOT Library iCommons has three full-time librarians and one-part time librarian who serve WisDOT employees located in Madison and throughout the state, private sector partners, and the citizens of Wisconsin, the nation and the world. Inquiries range from "what modifications do I need to make to turn a former school bus into a camper" to a request from a researcher in England for historical WisDOT reports. The general public is welcome to visit the library for reference assistance and to use the computers and the physical collection. The public may borrow items from the WisDOT library by placing an ILL request through their local public or academic library.

As part of a departmental reorganization in 2006/2007, the WisDOT Library was relocated from a cramped space on the eighth floor to a remodeled space off the lobby which would provide easier access for employees, private partners and the public. One definition of an information commons is a shared, open space where technology, comfort, aesthetics, and expert assistance are situated in close proximity to provide a patron with an enhanced learning experience. This definition certainly applies to the WisDOT Library and Information Commons.