Dear colleagues,
As we enter fall quarter, the mission of the Library remains focused on supporting the success of our students and faculty to advance transformational research, teaching, learning, and creative endeavors. In service of this mission, the Library invests in and provides access to information resources, supports research and learning through instruction and outreach, and provides safe, academically-focused spaces to work and learn.
Along with many other areas of campus, the Library has experienced a reduction in staffing and resources, and the adjustments we have made in preparation for Fall Quarter 2025 are intended to preserve our ability to fulfill our mission.
Along with all of my Library colleagues, I welcome your feedback in the coming months so we can explore ways to adjust our approach in response to your needs. Please email ucsdlibrary@ucsd.edu with any questions or feedback you have.
What changes will you see?
Library Hours: In response to student feedback during the 2024-25 academic year, the Library redesigned our staffing model for Geisel Library. I’m pleased to share that we have been able to extend Library hours until midnight Sunday through Thursday. The most up-to-date Library hours across our locations are available online.
Information Resource Investments: The Library has reviewed our investment in information resources and has made the difficult decision to reduce our expenditures. We undertook this work with a focus on preserving access wherever possible. You can learn more about the impacted collections and our approach on our Collections Changes page.
Instruction: The loss of employees in a number of key roles has led us to redesign our approach to providing academic support services. The Library still provides curriculum-integrated information instruction. We ask that you use the Request Library Instruction form to schedule instruction for your classes rather than contact an individual librarian. This will allow us to preserve a consistent level of service for all schools and academic departments. Requesting your classes as early as possible will help us to best accommodate your needs.
Research Advisory Services: The Library continues to offer research advisory services. Submit reference questions through our Email Us form. Book Zoom or in-person consultations through our Research Consultation form. Other specialized research support, including research data management, scholarly communications, and data and GIS services, is available through the same methods. The scope of some services, such as our systematic review support, is being adjusted to reflect our staff capacity. Drop-in reference services are no longer available.
Course Reserves: In order to work within available resources, the Library has adjusted our course reserves price limits. We continue to offer limited physical course reserves for in-library use only. Streaming media is not available to put on reserve, and requests should be made through our Request a Purchase form. Additional details about the request form are available on the Course Reserves Information page.
The Library prides itself on being a user-centered organization that is guided by our campus community’s needs and feedback. We look forward to continuing to support your work in the upcoming academic year.
Sincerely,
Erik T. Mitchell
Audrey Geisel University Librarian
UC San Diego