Information for visitors

Overview 

The Library welcomes visitors to the UC Berkeley campus.

General information 

Available to visitors to the libraries

Available to visitors remotely

  • UC Library Search — All 10 UC libraries, UC’s two off-campus storage complexes, and collections worldwide
  • Digital Collections — Online access to UC Berkeley Library’s rare and unique digitized special collections, books, manuscripts, images, photographs, newspapers, and more
  • Calisphere — Free public access to digital collections from California libraries, archives, and museums
  • Online Archive of California — Free public access to detailed descriptions of primary source collections (artwork, manuscripts, papers, historic photographs, and so on)
  • Library guides — Librarian experts have created these pages to help you find resources and services by subject, course, and topic at UC Berkeley.
  • Reference assistance — Ask a librarian questions via 24/7 chat, webform, email, and telephone.
  • Duplication services — Fee-based access to a variety of materials within the UC Berkeley Library collections.
  • Via your public library, you may be able to borrow materials from the UC Berkeley libraries.

Libraries and services not available to visitors

  • Art History/Classics Library
  • Graduate Services
  • Interlibrary borrowing
  • Media Resources Center
  • Moffitt Library
  • Items on reserve for UC Berkeley students
  • Remote access to licensed databases

Library card for California residents

Visitors who are California residents may purchase a library borrowing card from the Privileges Desk (Doe Library, Floor 1). 

  • Currently priced at $100 for one year ($95 for seniors)
  • You must show proof of California residence and a current government-issued ID. 
  • You may pay by VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, bank debit card, or personal check made payable to "UC Regents."
  • You may also apply for a library card online by emailing privdesk@library.berkeley.edu.

Available to California residents with a library card

  • A maximum of 20 books checked out at any one time
  • Access to most campus libraries, including the Main (Gardner) Stacks through Doe Library
  • Reference assistance
  • Databases, library catalogs, and other educational resources via public computers in the libraries
  • Many Library events and exhibits
  • Printing/scanning in the libraries

Libraries and services not available to California residents with a library card

  • Art History/Classics Library
  • Graduate Services
  • Interlibrary borrowing
  • Media Resources Center
  • Moffitt Library
  • Items on reserve for UC Berkeley students
  • Remote access to licensed databases

Institutional borrowers

The Interlibrary Loan department provides access to the material holdings of the UC Berkeley libraries to institutional borrowers in the United States and Canada, and the British Library.