The Library maintains a collection of archival legacy media resources formats, including VHS, DVDs, LaserDiscs, and various audio formats. For more on the history and significance of these collections see the About us page. Legacy physical media collections are available by appointment to UC Berkeley students, faculty and staff with Cal IDs when alternate streaming access is not available. Research access can be arranged by emailing avmccirc@library.berkeley.edu.
UC Berkeley students
Legacy physical media may be used in the library by current UC Berkeley students when alternate streaming access is not available. Materials may not be checked out for home use by students or non-teaching staff. Students wishing to use legacy physical media for classroom presentations must arrange with the course instructor to reserve these items in advance.
Legacy physical media materials are not available for extracurricular screenings by student or community groups.
DeCal facilitators
DeCal facilitators must have authorization from their faculty sponsor on file for the current semester before requesting or reserving materials to show in their DeCal.
Faculty sponsors are asked to confirm via email to avmccirc@library.berkeley.edu that the head facilitator (and any co-facilitators) are authorized to use media for the DeCal.
The DeCal facilitator must provide the following information via email to avmccirc@library.berkeley.edu:
- Course name (Department and #)
- The names of any co-instructors
- The time your class meets
- Your phone number
- The number of students in your class
Legacy physical media is only to be taken out for same-day DeCal classroom showings on the Berkeley campus. Privileges to borrow materials for DeCal classroom showings may be revoked if not returned on the date due.
Legacy physical media collections may not be used off campus. Requests to use these collections in extracurricular academic programs and events must be arranged in advance via email to avmccirc@library.berkeley.edu. Most legacy physical media materials cannot legally be used for screenings other than those held in connection with face-to-face, credit-bearing classroom teaching.
UC Berkeley faculty and graduate student instructors
To make reservations, request media reserves or inquire about media access for your class, please email avmccirc@library.berkeley.edu. Current UC Berkeley faculty and graduate student instructors may make an appointment to borrow materials for classroom use on the Berkeley campus, or for overnight previewing, when alternate streaming access is not available.
Legacy physical media collections may not be used off campus. Requests to use these collections in extracurricular academic programs and events must be arranged in advance via email to avmccirc@library.berkeley.edu. Most legacy physical media materials cannot legally be used for screenings other than those held in connection with face-to-face, credit-bearing classroom teaching.
Non-Berkeley individuals
Individuals not affiliated with UC Berkeley can request access to legacy physical media that is not otherwise available by emailing avmccirc@library.berkeley.edu. Permission to use legacy physical media depends on the nature and availability of the desired materials, and the availability of viewing stations. Permission to use legacy media formats is not generally granted for viewing popular or widely accessible titles, including those available online.
Graduate Theological Union and Berkeley City College
Legacy physical media collections and facilities are not available for use in courses offered by the Graduate Theological Union or Berkeley City College.
Interlibrary Loan/Resource Sharing
Legacy physical media materials are selectively made available for borrowing by other UC campuses, based on the scarcity of the requested item. Legacy physical media materials are not available for borrowing by institutions outside of the University of California System. Requests to borrow legacy physical media materials must be made through the interlibrary loan/borrowing departments of the requestor's campus library.
Requesting legacy physical media items (formerly Media Resources Center or Audio-Visual Media Center collections) from storage (NRLF)
Legacy physical media collection items, including DVD, VHS, and other media items, are primarily stored off-campus at the Northern Library Regional Facility (NRLF), and in restricted-use storage.
Physical media items stored at NRLF:
- Are included in UC Library Search
- May not be requested via UC Library Search
- Must be requested via email to avmccirc@library.berkeley.edu
- May be viewed in the library, by appointment only
- Are generally available for appointment based viewing in four to five working days
Commercial use of legacy physical media materials
The majority of materials in our media collections are acquired from commercial sources and most of these materials are under current copyright. Because the library does not own rights to most of these materials we cannot legally copy or redistribute them, even if they are no longer available for purchase commercially. The Media Services team can often provide information regarding sources for purchase of materials in the collection. For distribution information, email avmccirc@library.berkeley.edu.
Use of legacy media playback equipment
The Library maintains individual viewing stations that support research viewings of physical media formats (including BluRay, DVD, VHS, and audio cassettes), with other legacy playback equipment potentially available upon request.
UC Berkeley students, faculty and staff may make an appointment to view either library or personal physical media, when alternate streaming access is not available. Research access for non-UCB affiliates can be arranged by emailing avmccirc@library.berkeley.edu.