Libraries

Office of the University Librarian

Brian E. C. SchottlaenderWelcome to the UC San Diego Libraries.  As the intellectual foundation for the dynamic and innovative UC San Diego campus, the UCSD Libraries play an essential role in advancing the university's research, teaching, patient care, and public service missions.  The Libraries are ranked among the nation's top 25 public academic libraries and are the youngest library system in the nation to be invited to join the prestigious Association of Research Libraries.

While the Libraries provide access to vast amounts of digital and online media—more than 230,000 e-books, 23,625 e-periodicals, and nearly 20,000 video and film materials over the last year—students and other patrons continue to visit the Libraries in large numbers for individual and group study,  research, and checking out books and other materials. In 2008-09, approximately 2.6 million patrons visited the nine campus libraries, checking out some 672,800 books and other materials.

Far more happens within our library walls than the checking out of books. In addition to responding to queries and consulting about resources and services, UCSD librarians play an important role in instruction. Last year, our librarians provided instruction to approximately 17,500 students and held more than 1,700 instructional sessions on topics ranging from information literacy to bibliography building. The Libraries also host a wide range of exhibits and cultural events, both for the campus and the greater San Diego communities.

Much like the institution we support, the UCSD Libraries are an academic enterprise of the 21st century, delivering knowledge and information in an increasingly hybrid environment, where the physical and the digital coexist.  As the first of the UC campus libraries to partner with Google in its global book digitization project, the Libraries have played a leadership role in advancing digital resources at the university and beyond. We also, however, place a high priority on the maintenance and enhancement of our physical collections, ranging from the unique and rare manuscripts, books, and archives of our Mandeville Special Collections Library to the historic and scientific holdings of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography Library.

Whether or not you are a member of the UCSD community, a San Diego resident, or a visiting scholar, I hope you will enjoy using our resources, services, and facilities. Your support in building and sustaining our libraries and their collections, especially during these economically challenging times, is greatly appreciated.

With best regards,

Brian E. C. Schottlaender
The Audrey Geisel University Librarian

The Libraries' Administration & Organization