Dear campus community,
As we look forward to a return to in-person instruction at the start of the fall semester, changes are afoot at the UC Berkeley Library.
The Library’s reopening plans
On July 12, three campus libraries will open with limited services:
- Moffitt Library will be open to the UC Berkeley community as a place to study. The Free Speech Movement Café will also be open.
- The C. V. Starr East Asian Library will be open for study space and on-site browsing of collections. Before Aug. 25, patrons should use Oski Xpress, the contactless pickup service, to request items for checkout and pickup.
- The Bancroft Library will be open for UC Berkeley and non-UC Berkeley patrons to schedule research appointments for on-site use of collections.
Starting Aug. 25 — the fall semester’s first day of instruction — patrons can return to all of UC Berkeley’s libraries. Reservations will not be necessary, but hours of operation may be temporarily shorter than usual. Specific access policies (to be announced) will align with public health guidelines. Learn more on the Library’s COVID-19 portal
Introducing UC Library Search
Starting July 27, it will be easier to find and borrow books and other resources from libraries across the University of California system. Berkeley’s existing search platforms, OskiCat and Melvyl, will retire. In their place will be UC Library Search, a new system that will bring all UC campus libraries together under the same virtual roof, just as a public library system uses one catalog for its many branches.
Your library account will become a UC Library Search account automatically. No further action is required unless you have saved lists, saved searches, bookmarks, or links to OskiCat or Melvyl pages. Learn how to prepare for UC Library Search
Service announcements
As a result of these changes, the Library will experience some temporary adjustments to its services:
- Oski Xpress contactless pickup: Service will be paused July 16-30; service concludes Aug. 13, which is the last day for pickups.
- Checking out materials: Suspended July 26-27 and Aug. 13-24.
- Access to NRLF (storage facility) materials: Suspended Aug. 13-24.
- Interlibrary loan services for e-resources (borrowing from other libraries): Suspended July 27-Aug. 25.
- Interlibrary loan services for print materials (borrowing from other libraries): Resumes Aug. 25.
- HathiTrust’s Emergency Temporary Access Service: Concludes Aug. 24.
Soon, we’ll once again be able to visit the libraries and the stacks, study spaces, and staff that we cherish — something we all look forward to as we continue our safe and thoughtful return to campus.
Sincerely,
Jeff MacKie-Mason
University Librarian and Professor
This message has been sent to all faculty, staff, and students
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