Unlocking Knowledge: A Guide to UCLA Library Card Benefits and Requirements

The UCLA Library stands as a cornerstone of academic life, a hub for research, collaboration, and intellectual exploration. Consistently ranked among the top academic libraries in the nation, it symbolizes the dedication to research and scholarship that defines UCLA. Boasting an impressive collection of over 12 million print and electronic resources, along with rare special collections, expert staff, and cutting-edge resources, the UCLA Library offers a wealth of opportunities for students, faculty, and alumni alike.

The Allure of the UCLA Library

Behind every paper, test, and group study session lies countless hours spent within the walls of the UCLA Library. To students, it's an essential facility that holds the answer to every question, a place where hard work and intellectual curiosity converge. The Library is renowned for its extensive holdings, unique special collections, expert staff, and cutting-edge resources. Access to these resources extends beyond the UCLA campus, inspiring alumni to give back and remain connected to this valuable institution.

Access for Alumni: Staying Connected to Knowledge

Recognizing the enduring value of the Library, the UCLA Alumni Association provides various levels of access to its resources. All UCLA Alumni Association members have access to open Library study space and public computers. Each of the eight libraries available to alumni boasts a number of amenities. Interested in art? Stop in to the Arts Library or Charles E. Young Research Library to view the latest exhibit. Music? Swing by the Music Library to listen to any one of the nearly 200,000 sound recordings. If you’re looking for a good summer read, the historic Powell Library has community book collections in the areas of recent fiction, travel guides, Science Fiction and cookbooks. Access to these types of resources is not limited to the UCLA campus.

Obtaining a Library Card as an Alumnus

Access to these resources should not end when you graduate from UCLA, which is why the basic Alumni Association membership allows members to receive a free library card which allows them to borrow up to five books. Members simply need to bring a photo ID and their membership number or card to the Charles E. Young Research Library circulation desk to receive their library card. The card is valid for one year and may be renewed each year. Long nights in the library may be a thing of the past as an alumnus but the UCLA Library is a valuable aid that can be utilized even after finals are over.

Privileges at Other UC Campuses

*UC Berkeley and UC San Diego only honor this library card benefit for Blue Level and Gold Level Alumni Association members. All members of the Association have access to the UCLA Libraries. Members have access to the Arts, Biomedical, College, Management, Music, Research and Science and Engineering (all locations) libraries. Note: Library privileges at all UC campuses are accorded to Gold, Life and Blue Membership holders.

Access for TAP Students

Students from UCLA TAP community college honors/scholars programs can receive library privileges at eight UCLA libraries with the free library card provided by Powell Library. Print the student library card authorization form and fill it out completely, including the name and contact information of a staff member from your TAP honors/scholars program. Access to online databases is only available to TAP students accessing the databases in-person at a UCLA Library. If you are TAP-certified by your community college honors/scholars program, you can apply for the UCLA College honors program without scrutiny or decision/qualification. To apply, MyUCLA by June 1.

Library Services and Resource Overview

The Library has a wealth of services and resources available for your use. Browse or search our offerings to find what you need.

Core Services

Accessibility Resources: Library staff members work to ensure that all materials, programs and services are accessible to users with disabilities.
Borrow, Renew, Return: UCLA Library holds a vast collection of physical items accessible to both UCLA and non-UCLA users. Learn how to check out books, laptops and other resources!
Citing Sources: This guide provides information on citing sources in various styles, citation managers and avoiding plagiarism.
Course Reserves: Wondering how the Library can help provide access to your course materials? Check out our resources for students and instructors on how to request, manage and access course reserves.
Data Services: The UCLA Library Data Science Center supports researchers in working with data throughout all stages of the research process. We offer consultations, training and practical resources to support data collection, management, analysis and sharing.
Document Delivery: Users who wish to obtain a scan from UCLA Library collection can utilize our document delivery service.
Equipment Lending: The UCLA Library lends a variety of technology equipment to support learning and research.
Find a Missing Item: Can't find the book on the shelf? UCLA Library staff will search for items missing from our collections.
Interlibrary Loan (ILL): Our interlibrary loan (ILL) service enables Bruins to obtain materials not physically available in UCLA libraries.
Library Cards: Looking to access UCLA Library's vast collections? Library cards are available to patrons both affiliated with and unaffiliated with the UC.
Library Instruction: Request an instruction session or instructional consultation to support your students' research needs.
Library Research Guides: Our research guides help users of all backgrounds discover resources by subject, course, format or topic.
Open Access & Publishing: Learn how the UCLA Library is helping ensure the accessibility of online research materials - and how you can be a part of it.
Open Science: We're here to help you make your research more reproducible, collaborative, transparent, equitable and impactful!
Print, Copy, Scan: Check out our options for self-service printing, scanning and copying of materials in campus libraries.
Research Consultations: We can help at every stage of the research process. Schedule a consultation or stop by a help desk!
Reserving a Study Space: Reserve a study space across our various library locations for individual or group work.
Suggest a Purchase: If we don't own it, we can purchase it for your research. Use this form to suggest the purchase of non-course reserve materials not already owned by UCLA Library.

Digital Resources and Online Tools

A-Z Databases: Find the best library databases for your research.
Accessing Online Resources: Learn how visitors, students, faculty and staff can access online databases, journals and articles both on campus and remotely.
CLICC Virtual Desktop Software: The CLICC Virtual Desktop provides access to various tools and software to help Bruins study, teach, learn and create using a Windows OS desktop from any laptop or tablet.
E-books at UCLA: Looking for an e-book? Browse our collections by database. In addition to scholarly collections, access popular sources through Libby by OverDrive.
eScholarship: This platform serves the scholarly publishing needs of all ten UC campuses, with an emphasis on open access.
Online Archive of California (OAC): OAC provides access to descriptions of more than 300 California institutions’ archives and primary resource collections, including UCLA Library.
Performance+ Virtual Desktop: The CLICC Performance+ Virtual Desktop, powered by Apporto, gives Bruins access to a Windows OS. It is ideal for specific graphics-intensive software applications such as ArcGIS Pro and SATA.
Rights Toolkit: Our rights toolkit provides key resources for answering copyright and intellectual property questions.
Scholarly Communication Services: Explore resources from UCLA Library to help you understand copyright, open access and other questions you may have about publishing your research.
Software+ Virtual Desktop: The CLICC Software+ Virtual Desktop, powered by Citrix, gives Bruins access to a virtual Windows OS. It is ideal for typical Windows desktop use for online resources, studying and research.
UC Library Search: Locate books, journal articles, course reserves and other content at UCLA, other UC schools and beyond.
UCLA Dataverse: Discover how you can preserve your research for the long term here at UCLA.
UCLA Library Digital Collections: The Digital Library houses UCLA's rare and unique collections online. Users can search and browse high-resolution digitized books, ephemera, images and artifacts.
Virtual Desktop: Bruins with an internet connection can access our virtual Windows desktops, loaded with software and programs.

Unique Resources and Spaces

Anatomy Models: The Louise M. Darling Biomedical Library has a collection of anatomy models available for check-out.
Carpentries Workshops: The Carpentries is a global community of instructors who teach workshops on essential coding and data science skills geared explicitly for researchers.
CLICC Classrooms: The Campus Library Instructional Computing Commons (CLICC) provides technology-enabled classrooms, helping instructors integrate technological tools into their curricula.
Faculty Carrels: Find out more about how faculty can reserve carrels on floors 3-5 of YRL.
Film & Television Archive Licensing: Footage licensed from the Archive has appeared in many projects for the big screen, television, museums and more. Learn how to license media for your production.
Film & Television Archive Loans: The Archive lends moving image media titles to theatrical venues, film festivals and cultural institutions around the world. Learn how to request a media loan.
Graduate Reading Room: Graduate students in health and life sciences can use this 24-hour study space.
Instructional Media Lab: The Instructional Media Lab is a versatile multimedia, multi-use space that supports self-study, group instruction and research.
Library Conference Spaces: One of the main research hubs on campus, the Charles E. Young Research Library offers multiple spaces to hold conferences, symposia, workshops and other programs.
Library Special Collections Exhibition Lending: UCLA Library Special Collections (LSC) lends items for exhibition to museums and cultural heritage sites worldwide. Read on for more information about how to request a loan to your institution.
Library Teaching Toolkit: Check out the Library's resources for instructors who want to incorporate research and writing skills in their courses.
Lux Lab: With 3D printers and laser cutters, the Lux Lab serves as a hub for emerging technology at UCLA.
Night Powell: Night Powell is an overnight study space reserved for current UCLA students, faculty and staff in Powell Library's first floor study hall.
OCLC SHARES Program: With UCLA's participation in this program, students, staff and faculty can access our partner libraries and their resources all over the world.
Powell Library Game Room: The Powell Library Game Room provides access to select old and new video game consoles and games, as well as board games available for in-house use.
Requesting Items Stored in the SLF-S: Requests for items stored in the SLF-S - which houses a variety of materials from multiple UC campuses - can be made both in person and online.
Studio A and Music Kits: With an abundance of audiovisual equipment, the Walter H. Rubsamen Music Library helps Bruins unlock their creative side.

Workshops and Training

Research Workshops: UCLA Library research workshops teach relevant skills and encourage critical thinking about the research process.
Science Research Workshops: Science focused research skills and topics workshops, aimed at STEM audiences but open to all students.
UC Love Data Week: UC Love Data Week is a week-long offering of presentations and workshops focused on data access, management, security, sharing and preservation.

General Public Access

The UCLA library is one of the largest academic libraries in the country, according to the American Library Association. Its services are not only limited to students and faculty in the UCLA community; in fact, many of its services are open to the general public. The libraries at UCLA serve the community by lending books, devices and providing other services. Below is a breakdown of the available library services.

Borrowing Books and Materials

UCLA libraries are open-stack; anyone has direct access to books and journals on the shelves of in-person libraries. Use the UC Library Search catalog for titles that are difficult to find. No ID is required for these services. To check out a physical book from the library, a BruinCard or a UCLA library card is needed. Members of the general public may purchase a UCLA library card at the Biomedical Library and Research Library circulation desks for $100 annual charge. For more information on borrowing books and other research materials, click here.

Borrowing Devices

The College Library Instructional Computing Commons (CLICC) loans devices like Chromebooks, Mac and Windows laptops, and iPads.

Read also: Navigating Tech Breadth at UCLA

Key Requirements and Guidelines

Association Member ID card: To check out books at the library, present your Association Member ID card at the circulation desk and you’ll be given a free library card.
Borrowing Limits: Members are allowed to borrow up to five books and can renew each book once.
Library cards allow patrons to access print collections.
Priority Admission Consideration: Completing the honors/scholars program & receiving TAP certification at a member community college provides priority consideration for admission to UCLA College and select professional school majors.

Read also: Understanding UCLA Counselors

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