General Information and Frequently Asked Questions

Are you open to the general public?
Yes! The majority of our visitors are horticultural professionals or home gardeners that have no affiliation with the University of Washington.

Do you answer questions over the telephone? By email?
Both! Contact us either way through Plant Answer Line, our quick reference service for gardeners. The library staff will be happy to let you know what information we have in the library on your topic and give answers and referrals whenever possible.

Are you part of the University of Washington Libraries system?
No, however our holdings are included in the University Libraries Catalog and can be searched separately (by selecting the CUH Library button) or as part of all the University of Washington.

Can I check out materials?
Anyone can sign up to borrow books and videos from our Lending Collection. A simple registration procedure is required the first time. All other materials are for library use.

Are you associated with the Elisabeth C. Miller Botanical Garden?
No, but Betty Miller was responsible for the founding of both the garden and the library that bear her name and they both receive support from the Miller Charitable Foundation. Visit the Miller Garden website to learn about this wonderful organization.

Do you want donations of books and magazines?
The Miller Library gratefully accepts donations of books and magazines. Much of the collection is made up of gift materials. All donated material is reviewed according to the same selection criteria applied to purchased material. If your donation is not needed for the library collection, it will be sold in a used book sale with the proceeds going to the library's book acquisition.

Can I donate a book in memory of someone?
Yes. All gift books will be processed with a memorial bookplate, if desired. You may contact us at 206-543-0415 for more information.

What are the main strengths of the library collection?
Over 10,000 books and 400 periodicals on gardening techniques, selecting and growing ornamental plants, vegetable and herb gardening, pests and diseases, garden design and history, gardens to visit, horticulture in urban environments, botany and plant ecology, environmental science and native floras from around the world.

Do you have nursery and seed catalogs?
Yes, we have nearly a thousand current, mail order catalogs from the United States and Canada with an emphasis on Pacific Northwest nurseries.

Where can I buy ...northwest native plants? ...water garden plants? ...or any particular plant?
The Miller Library's Guide to Sources for Plants will help. You can also ask the Plant Answer Line

Can you identify ...a plant over the phone? ...a plant brought into the library? ...a mushroom?
Positive I.D. over the phone is difficult. The Hyde Herbarium at UWBG typically has a staff member available for making identifications from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Mondays. The library staff can also recommend a number of books for this purpose. Or look at our recommended Web Resources for Plant Identification and Selection. For mushrooms, we recommend you contact the Puget Sound Mycological Society.

My plant is sick. If I bring it into the library, can you tell me what's wrong?
We recommend you contact the Master Gardener's Clinic or call the Master Gardener's phone clinic at 206-296-3440. The library staff will help you to use books from our reference collection on pests and diseases. You can also look at our recommended Web Resources for Plant Care and Problem Solving.

Do you make referrals to...pruners? ...garden designers? ...someone to weed my garden?
We can refer you to the appropriate professional organization for the service you need but we do not maintain referral lists to individuals or companies. Contact us through Plant Answer Line or look at our Web Resources for Organizations and Plant Societies.

When is ...the Arboretum Plant Sale? ...the Bainbridge in Bloom Garden Tour?
Visit our News and Events Page for complete listings of upcoming plant sales and garden tours in the region.

Last modified:
Thursday, 10-Apr-2008 14:17:16 PDT