Systemwide Library Facility-North
The UC Systemwide Library Facilities (SLFs), formerly known as Regional Library Facilities, are cooperative high-density shelving facilities located at the UC Berkeley Richmond Field Station (SLF-North) and the UCLA main campus (SLF-South) that store, preserve, and provide access to persistent and special collections on behalf of all UC libraries. For more information about the change, please see the SLF FAQ.
SLF-North holds millions of items, mostly books and journal volumes, but also microfilm, maps, audio discs, manuscripts, archives, and other materials. The facility has a comfortable reading room where you can view items you’ve requested, and public service staff readily available to help.
This library is wheelchair accessible.
Hours
| Location | Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Regional Library Facility monthly calendar | Closed | Closed | 12 p.m.-4 p.m. | 12 p.m.-4 p.m. | 12 p.m.-4 p.m. | Closed | Closed |
At this library
Services
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Use online tools or connect with a librarian to achieve your research goals.
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The UC Berkeley Library provides special assistance to Library users with disabilities as they engage with the Library and its resources.
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Make use of the printing and scanning options available at most library locations.
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Learn how to access or place textbooks and other materials on digital course reserves.
- nrlftech-library@berkeley.edu
- Public services(510) 665-6738
- Access services(510) 665-6731
nrlfreq-library@berkeley.edu
Contact
Location
Richmond Field Station Bldg 400
Meade & South 47th Street
Richmond, CA 94804-4698
This library is wheelchair accessible.
More about SLF-North
About SLF-North
SLF-North is one of two cooperative high-density shelving facilities owned and operated by the University of California that store, preserve, and provide access to persistent and special collections on behalf of all UC libraries. It is located at the UC Berkeley Richmond Field Station.
The facility spans 274,000 square feet of operational and shelving space, and was constructed in phases between 1982 and 2020. It offers high-density, low-cost shelving for infrequently used library materials belonging to UC libraries. SLF-North holds millions of items, mostly books and journal volumes, but also microfilm, maps, audio discs, manuscripts, archives, and other materials. Staff at the facility receive, process, and create machine-readable records for newly deposited materials (typically about 100,000 items per year) and provide circulation, interlibrary lending, and document delivery services on approximately 50,000 items per year.
Building and shelving
In addition to public service, administrative, and processing areas, the buildings have a total of 12 floors of shelving, with a total capacity of 10.5 million volumes, and specialized storage areas for microforms and maps. To provide the best possible environment for the books, the stack area is climate controlled to maintain a constant temperature and relative humidity. Materials are organized in the stacks by their physical size and format (not by intellectual contents) to optimize use of the space. This means that collections, and even runs of a single journal title, may not be shelved together.
Facility equipment features
- Redundant chillers, boilers, and fans allow the HVAC system to maintain temperature and humidity within specified ranges in varying weather conditions. Loads are distributed between tandem pieces of equipment, minimizing wear and allowing downtime for maintenance. The equipment is monitored by an integrated building management system, reducing energy consumption.
- Automatic wet-pipe sprinkler system and dry standpipe system.
- Smoke detectors, an air-sampling smoke detection system, pull stations, and sprinkler flow detectors are connected to a continuously monitored addressable fire alarm system.
- A continuously monitored intrusion alarm system.
- Fluorescent lights in storage areas are filtered to eliminate ultraviolet wavelengths.
Services for Library users
The facility has a comfortable reading room for use of requested material and public service staff readily available to assist. Computers provide access to online Library collections and resources via UC Library Search, and to the Internet. A book scanner, a microform reader/scanner, and networked print station are also available. Food is not permitted in the building; drinks are allowed in covered containers.
The Richmond Field Station and SLF-North comply with UC Berkeley’s Tobacco-Free Campus policy, prohibiting smoking or vaping of any substance on all Berkeley property.
Visit
Driving directions
From Berkeley/Oakland/SF (I-80/580): Take I-580 toward the Richmond–San Rafael Bridge. Exit at Bayview, turn left at the light, continue onto Meade Street, then turn left on South 47th Street and immediately right into the main gate. Continue straight to SLF-North (Building 400).
From Sacramento (I-80): Exit Carlson Blvd, turn right. At Bayview, turn left and go over the freeway. Continue onto Meade Street, turn left on South 47th Street, and immediately right into the main gate. Continue straight to SLF-North (Building 400).
From Marin (I-580): Exit at Regatta Blvd, continue straight onto Meade Street. Turn right on South 47th Street, then immediately right into the main gate. Continue straight to SLF-North (Building 400).
Parking
Free, accessible parking is located in front of the building.
Shuttle service from UC Berkeley campus
The Bear Transit RFS Line has been discontinued. Alternative public transit service routes can be found on the Parking and Transportation website.
Borrow
UC Berkeley Library cardholders, faculty, staff, and students
- To borrow material shelved at SLF-North, submit an online request by selecting ‘Request from UC Berkeley’ in the ‘Get It’ section of your selected title in UC Library Search.
- To receive electronic copies of book chapters, journal articles, or conference papers, submit an online request by selecting ‘Request partial digital copy from NRLF’ in the ‘Get It’ section of your selected title in UC Library Search.
- Circulation staff at any campus library's public service desk can assist you with further questions.
Members of the public
If you are not affiliated with the University of California, please request material through a public, corporate, or other library.
Loan periods
Most materials are checked out for 90 or 180 days, depending on the borrowing privileges of the library user. Items are renewable via UC Library Search, telephone, or e-mail.
Borrowing restrictions
Items with a “Restricted Use” circulation status can not be viewed at SLF-North. You must request “Restricted Use” items at the owning library.
Items with “Building Use Only” circulation status may be viewed at any University of California library, but may not be borrowed.
Libraries and institutions not affiliated with the University of California (Berkeley)
- SLF-North provides access to its persistent collections via physical loan and photoduplication requests received via OCLC Tipasa (OCLC symbol ZAP).
- Regular and rush service is available.
- We accept payment via IFM only.
Physical loan (three weeks; nonrenewable)
Material restrictions
- Books: Will not lend double/triple folios, rare books.
- Dissertations and theses: If second copy is available, will lend to California non-public libraries and out of state academic libraries. Library Use Only, copying not permitted.
- Newspapers: Will lend if on microfilm for Library Use Only.
- Microform/other media: Most microfilm available for loan. Microfiche, software, audio/visual material, maps are non-circulating.
- Government documents: Generally available for loan. Census material and congressional hearings are non-circulating.
- Our facility will not lend items subject to other circulation restrictions.
Shipping
Material is shipped via FedEx Ground Service. For expedited shipping, provide your FedEx account number (Rush fees may apply). For returns, a traceable method of shipping is preferred.
Fees
We accept payment by OCLC IFM only. Consult the OCLC Policies Directory (OCLC symbol ZAP) for the fee schedule.
Other information
Loan service outside California suspended for the last two weeks of December.
Photoduplication
Copyright
All reproductions are supplied in compliance with U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S. Code). The Library can neither grant nor refuse permission to use material to which it does not hold copyright. The Library retains all rights to commercial reproduction of material to which it does hold copyright.
Delivery
Electronic transmission via Article Exchange in OCLC WorldShare ILL.
Fees
We accept payment by OCLC IFM only. Consult the OCLC Policies Directory (OCLC symbol ZAP) for the fee schedule.
Dissertations
Doctoral dissertations from September 1962 to December 1970, and from December 1975 on, are available from ProQuest.
Deposit
Information for depositing libraries
- Depositing guidelines — Basic information for depositing material at SLF-North.
- Operating principles (PDF) — Basic principles governing the operation of the Systemwide Library Facilities.
- Persistence policy (PDF) — This document describes the policies pertaining to persistent deposits at the Systemwide Library Facilities.
- Statistics
- Circulation/Document delivery — Statistics by year for circulation and document delivery.
Deposits — Year-to-date allocation usage; statistics by campus and year for deposits and deaccessions.
Reading room
The SLF-North circulation desk and reading room are open 12-4 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, except university holidays.
Library users visiting the facility may use unrestricted or Building Use Only materials in the reading room, or, depending on their library privileges, may borrow unrestricted materials directly from SLF-North.
SLF-North does not have media playback equipment available for use (VHS, DVD, CD, phonodisc, cassette player, etc.).
Members of the general public must obtain a valid UC Berkeley library card prior to visiting SLF-North if they wish to borrow material. SLF-North does not require a valid library card for onetime or occasional on-site use of material, but asks for a valid library card if research needs result in more frequent access to material.
Users wishing to check out and/or use material at the facility are encouraged to request the material via UC Library Search, telephone, or email at least a day in advance of their expected visit; material will be ready for use upon their arrival. For same-day requests, please allow up to two hours (up to five items per day) for the requested item(s) to be available for use.
SLF-North has the following equipment available for use in the reading room:
- 1 ScannX book scanner
- 1 microform reader/scanner
- 1 print station
Please see Print + scan for more information on printing and scanning services.