Welcome to UC Irvine’s Science Library. To begin this tour, you should be standing in the middle of the library courtyard. Stand so that the entrance to the Interactive Learning Center is on your right and the entrance to the Science Library is on your left. This library, one of the largest consolidated science, technology, and medicine libraries in the nation, contains the collections and services that support research and teaching in the schools of Biological Sciences, Engineering, Information and Computer Science, Physical Sciences, portions of Social Ecology, and Medicine.
Looking straight ahead through the breezeway and across the pedestrian bridge, you’ll see the Health Sciences Complex. This is where students in the first two years of medical school attend classes. There is also space for research and patient care on this 121 acre portion of the campus.
Behind you, near the entrance to the courtyard, there’s a door that leads to the Science Library Study Center . Because of its separate outside entrance, the Study Center is open extended hours when the rest of the library is closed. It’s also open 24 hours a day during finals! In addition to the open study tables, there are nine group study rooms in the Study Center . There are over 50 small group study rooms like these throughout the entire Science Library. These rooms are ideal when you need to work on a group project, or when you just want to study with some friends. The Science Library offers a wide variety of open seating arrangements too, and in fact, a lot of students say it’s their favorite place to study on campus.
To your right is a door that leads to the Interactive Learning Center . This space is open to UCI students, staff and faculty with valid UCI ID. The ILC features three computer labs, where library workshops and classes are often held. It’s also where the library houses DVDs, videos, CDs and other types of media on a variety of science topics. There are televisions with headphones for viewing video, and computers loaded with advanced software. Also, students, staff, and faculty can check out wireless laptops from the ILC with their UCI ID.
On your left, you’ll find the entrance to the Science Library itself. Go ahead into the building through the big glass doors. The first thing you’ll see when you get inside is the Directions Desk. It’s just what it sounds like- a place to ask for directions to anything in the library! This is also where UCI students, staff, and faculty go to reserve and check out study room keys. A UCI ID is required.
In a moment, you’ll be pausing your mp3 player while you go to the next stop on the tour, the second floor. There are elevators and a staircase to your right. It’s up to you which way you want to go, but when you get to the second floor, turn right, find a place to stand near the top of the staircase, and resume the tour.
Please pause your mp3 player now.
You are now on the second floor of the library. This floor is where you can check out books, request materials from other libraries, and ask for help from a Reference librarian. You’ll notice that this part of the building is shaped like a circle. Its circular shape is the reason we call it the Drum. You’ll see glass doors to your right and left. No matter which door you enter, you’ll eventually end up in the same place if you keep walking.
If you’re standing with your back to the windows, you’ll see the Loan Desk straight ahead. This is where you can go to activate your library card and check out and return books. This is also where you’ll find course reserves material. When a professor wants his or her students to read a certain book or journal article, they’ll often put it on reserve, which means that each item has a brief, 2-hour loan period, so each student in the class has a chance to check it out. Also, some reserve materials are available electronically. Check the Course Reserves section on the Libraries homepage for more information.
Now, turn so you are facing the windows looking down on the Science Library courtyard. The library’s Reference Desk and Grand Reading Room are located through the glass door to your right. Take a few steps that way so you can get a better look! The Reference Desk is where you go to get your research questions answered. Friendly librarians are eager to help you out, so don’t be shy! If you are in need of personalized research help, make a half-hour, one-on-one Research Consultation appointment with a librarian.
The reading room is where you’ll find most of the public computers in the library, These Windows XP PCs feature Internet Explorer, Firefox, the Microsoft Office suite, and are available for anyone to use -- no ID or sign-up necessary.
Just inside the glass doors to the left is the science reference collection, which includes resources like science encyclopedias and dictionaries. Just beyond the reference books, you will see many shelves of current science magazines and journals. On the last row of shelves, you will find the newest science books that have just been added to our collection. You may browse these titles in the lounge chairs nearby, and if one interests you, you can take it directly to the Loan Desk and check it out. You will also find lots of seating and study space as you walk around the 2 nd floor drum. By the way, wireless access to the campus network is available throughout the Science Library.
Because reference materials and magazines and journals can only be used inside the library building, many students make copies of the information they need using one of the copy machines located throughout the library. Networked printers are also available on each floor of the building to allow printing from library computers. You can use these copiers and printers by purchasing a pre-paid card from dispensers located next to the Reference Desk, near the elevators on the fifth floor, and on the first floor in the ILC.
The next stop on the tour is the 6 th floor. We’re going to skip the 3 rd floor because it’s for library staff only. We’re heading up to the 6 th floor because it has one of the best views on campus! So when you pause your mp3 player, head back over to the elevator and take it all the way up to the 6 th floor. When you arrive, take a few steps away from the elevator door and resume the tour.
Please pause your mp3 player now.
Welcome to the 6th floor. You’ll find books and journals on the 4 th,5 th and 6th floors of the building, and the layout of all three floors is basically the same. Signs near the elevators will show you what floor to find items based on their call numbers. Take a walk toward the windows that look out over the Health Sciences Complex. You’ll notice that there are rows and rows of books on your right and left. We call this section of the building the Bar, and it’s where you’ll find books. Now turn around and walk toward the windows that look out over the library courtyard. You’ll notice that the corridor curves off to your right and left. As you now know, this section of the building is called the Drum and on 4 th, 5 th, and 6 th floors, it’s where you’ll find science journals. So remember, books are shelved in the Bar, and journals are shelved in the Drum—but don’t worry if you forget… our ANTPAC Catalog will always tell you where items are located in the building.
The 4th, 5th and 6th floor Bar and Drum study halls are officially designated quiet zones, perfect for focusing on individual study, whereas the 2nd floor, ILC, and Study Center are ideal if you like a little background noise.
This concludes your library tour. Remember, if you need help finding a book or article, ask a librarian! We hope you’ve enjoyed this tour and will make the library your home away from home here at UCI. |
