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Geisel Library

Designed to look like hands lifting knowledge into the air, Geisel Library offers eight floors of silent and collaborative study spaces, over 1 million printed works, and librarians ready to help you track down exactly what you need.

Geisel

Reserve a Group Study Room

Use our online group study room reservation system to browse group study rooms, scope out availability, and book the right space for you.

Reserve a Group Study Room

Policies in Building

UC San Diego Library is dedicated to providing a welcoming, comfortable, safe, and civil environment for library users, visitors, and university employees. In addition to the Noise Policies for each respective space, users are expected to follow all Library Policies as well as the UC San Diego Principles of Community, when using Library spaces and resources.

About Geisel

Geisel Library is more than just an architectural marvel. Its expansive eight floors house a wealth of knowledge and provides inviting environments for a community of knowledge makers. Collaborators have dozens of group study rooms and multiple open seating areas to choose from for sessions that require multiple thinking caps. Solo studiers can find quiet retreat amongst floor-to-ceiling windows on the upper floors. Need to step away from work for a bit? Library de-stress spaces are strategically designed for you to unwind and re-ground. Need to dig deep into a niche topic? Expert staff are there to guide you through vast research collections of over 7 million items. Specialized hubs like the Teaching + Learning Commons, Special Collections & Archives and the Data & GIS Lab are there to help support you wherever you are in your academic and research journey. 

Building History

On December 1, 1995, the University Library Building was renamed Geisel Library in honor of Audrey and Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss) for the generous contributions they have made to the Library and their devotion to improving literacy.
The Library addition, designed by Gunnar Birkerts, was deliberately designed to be subordinated to the strong, geometrical form of the existing library. The Library, designed in the late 1960's by William Pereira (original report), is an eight story, concrete structure sited at the head of a canyon near the center of the campus. The lower two stories form a pedestal for the six story, stepped tower that has become a visual symbol for Geisel Library. Whatever its metaphorical connotation, its image is preserved and enhanced by the concept for the addition.

Building Details

Geisel Library was designed by William L. Pereira Associates and opened to full occupancy in September 1970. Located at the center of UC San Diego directly north of Price Center, the eight-level building stands 110 feet tall and spans 248 feet at its widest, containing 176,000 square feet of reinforced concrete and glass. Total project cost was $5.4 million ($25 per square foot).

The existing building had not been renovated since it was built in the 1960. During 1992 the building was functionally updated and the tower, as it is called, was restored to a floor plan similar to the one originally designed by Pereira which allows for more reader stations. A new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system was installed, the elevators were renovated, and a third public elevator was added. The book stacks received additional reinforcement for seismic occurrences. In July 2015, the Geisel Library Revitalization Initiative was launched as a major effort to transform and revitalize the most heavily used interior public spaces on floors 1, 2 and 8.

The Carillon

Throughout history, chiming bells from high towers have provided the function of telling the time and announcing civic gatherings. UC San Diego's carillon, which sits atop Geisel Library, first rang out on September 20, 1989. The instrument was a gift from educational patron Joe Rubinger, who saw our young campus' need for the warmth and function of a carillon. Joe named the carillon the Irene Rubinger/Institute for Continued Learning Memorial Carillon, after his late wife Irene with whom he founded The ICL.

The carillon chimes on the hour from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on the weekends. Short noon concerts are featured throughout the week with university carillonneur Scott Paulson playing "live" from the rooftop carillon room. (Yes, there really are chimes up on the roof of the Geisel Library. It's not a recording!)

New works are commissioned for the instrument several times during the year. Some of those premiere occasions include: First day of classes (spring, fall, & winter quarters) and Joe Rubinger's Birthday (June 1). If you have any song requests, please direct them to Scott Paulson.