New Year, New Library

The UCSB Library expansion and renovation project is heading down the homestretch, with 150,000 square feet of new and remodeled space set to open on January 4, 2016.

A ceremonial grand reopening will take place soon after winter quarter begins, with the entire university community invited to visit the reinvented UCSB Library, situated at the crossroads of campus.

During the final weeks of 2015, library staff members will be moving furniture and technology into the new spaces to ensure that everything is operational when students and faculty and staff members return from winter break.

Construction-related activities will continue in and around the current library as final preparations are made, but the library remains open and fully functional, with all services offered.

Here’s what you can expect in the next few months:

Circulation Desk

Circulation activities have moved to a Temporary Circulation Desk in the elevator lobby of the eight-story tower until the opening of the new library.

Collections

Several collections have moved, and floor plans have been updated to reflect this. Staff members are on hand to help visitors find relocated collections.

Until the opening, the following collections (which, eventually, will be located in the new library) are accessible only by paging. For now, these materials can be requested through the online catalog and picked up at the Temporary Circulation Desk: art (except for Art Cage materials, which are viewable in the Music Library); current serials; government publications; newspapers; reference materials; sciences and engineering (call numbers G-GE, Q-V); Z call number.

Music Library

The Music Library remains in its location on the second floor of the Music building until a subsequent project relocating it to the main library is completed.

Post-Construction Activity

Within the year, and following some renovation, the space currently occupied by Special Research Collections on the third floor of the main library will become the new home for the Map & Imagery Laboratory and the Music collection.

Preview of New Spaces

The Paseo is the new grand entrance to the UCSB Library. With doors on both the east and west side, it provides a thoroughfare through the heart of campus. The Paseo houses the Reference Desk and Services Desk, where users can check out Course Reserves, Interlibrary Loans, laptop computers and other circulating materials.

The UCSB Library’s art collection — with publications on architecture, sculpture, drawing, painting, prints, decorative arts and photography — will be situated on the first floor of the renovated historical two-story library building.

A new state-of-the-art home for the library’s unique and rare materials features a seminar room, reading room, exhibition gallery and digitization and conservation labs.

The Interdisciplinary Research Collaboratory will support data creation, curation and analysis across disciplines. It will offer space for individual or collaborative use of data resources.

The 24-hour Learning Commons is designed to foster student success by offering two floors of individual and group study space, group study rooms that may be reserved, PC and Mac computers, peer assistance and the sit-down Summit Café.

Four Reading Galleries are light-filled areas offering prime research and study locations with west views out to the Library Plaza.

The Faculty Study is a large modern reading room for faculty members that features individual, group and lounge seating. An access card is required for entry.

A new dedicated quiet Graduate Study (in addition to the two in the current library) includes study carrels, tables and armchairs for UCSB’s graduate students. An access card is required for entry.

In the Instruction and Training Room, basic and advanced classes will be offered with the aim of helping students become adept at identifying, locating and accessing print and electronic information in the UCSB Library and beyond.

The east-facing Sunrise Room encloses the original UCSB Library entrance from the 1950s. Architects preserved the historic exterior Library building sign in this light-bathed open study room.

More information about the library expansion and renovation project, including regular updates, is available at http://www.library.ucsb.edu. To sign up for CROSSROADS, the library’s monthly e-newsletter, go to http://www.library.ucsb.edu/general-news/subscribe.

The UCSB Library thanks you for your patience and understanding in coping with the inconveniences of this complex building project. We look forward to celebrating with you when the construction is finished and we open the doors to new and inviting spaces empowering research and scholarship.