UC Berkeley Library

UC Berkeley’s library buildings are open. Here’s what you need to know.

Information for

Using the Library during COVID-19

UC Berkeley’s library buildings are now open. To stay up to date on the Library’s policies and services during the pandemic, visit the Library’s COVID-19 webpage.

Information for Visiting Scholars and Postdocs

Content section: 

Access

The Library provides borrowing privileges and other services to our community of visiting scholars and postdocs. Visiting scholars must receive official appointments with a UC Berkeley Department or Organized Research Unit, and register with the Visiting Scholars and Postdoc Affairs (VSPA) Program.

  • After registering with VSPA, your registration card should be taken to the Library Privileges Desk (Doe Library, Floor 1) to set up Library borrowing privileges.

  • Borrowing - Your Cal 1 Card serves as your library card for borrowing materials and for access to the Main (Gardner) Stacks, Moffitt Library, and the Media Resources Center.

  • General loan terms:

    • Visiting scholars can borrow monographs for 1 month, with a maximum of 20 items at a time.

    • Postdocs can borrow monographs for 3 months, with a maximum of 200 items at a time.

  • Off-campus access to licensed electronic resources - Access online resources from home via links found in UC Library Search, the Library website and guides, or install the campus VPN client.

  • Interlibrary Borrowing Service can help visiting scholars and postdocs obtain materials that are not available at UC Berkeley.

  • Pay for printing - Use your Cal 1 Card to pay for printing in the libraries.

  • Renewals - Familiarize yourself with the options and rules for renewing materials.

Research Support

  • Contact your subject librarian - Specific librarians are designated to support each academic department and program, and serve as your first point of contact for all research-related inquiries.

  • The Library welcomes suggestions for titles to consider purchasing. Use the Purchase Recommendation form to send us your suggestions.

  • Graduate Services in Doe Library (Room 208) offers a core non-circulating research collection in the humanities and history and a quiet and congenial study space for graduate students, visiting scholars and postdocs.

Data services

Library and Berkeley policies

  • Database conditions of use - It is the responsibility of individual users to ensure their use of Library electronic resources does not breach the terms and conditions specified in the license agreements.

  • Library code of conduct - Read about standards for Library use intended to create a safe and pleasant research environment for all patrons.

  • Library privacy policy - The Library is responsible for safeguarding the confidentiality of a borrower's transactions, as mandated by the California Information Practices Act of 1977.

  • UC Copyright Education - A wide range of materials related to the use of copyrighted and public domain materials at the University of California.