Animals in the Library

Because animals in the Library are incompatible with the essential purpose of the Library to serve as a quiet research and study facility, it is the Library's policy not to allow persons to bring animals into the Library with the exception of a service animal accompanying a person with a disability.

A service animal is any dog or miniature horse that is trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. In other words, the animal must be trained to perform specific tasks. Emotional support animals are not covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

While on university property a service animal shall be under the control of its handler. Usually this means the service animal must have a harness, leash, or other tether. Anytime a service animal is behaving in a manner incompatible with the essential purposes of the Library, the Library will immediately require that the service animal be brought into conformity or leave the Library.

Incompatible behavior includes:

  • barking
  • urinating/defecating on floor
  • running away or otherwise leaving the side of the owner
  • biting or other threatening actions such as growling, teeth bared, lunging at others besides animal owner
  • damaging property of university or others

Anyone bringing a service animal into a library may be asked the following questions:

  1. Is this animal required because of a disability?
  2. What work or task is this animal trained to perform?

The UC Berkeley Library provides assistance to Library users with disabilities in their use of the Library and its resources.