About the Library
One of the premier architecture, landscape architecture, and city and regional planning libraries in North America, the Environmental Design Library is a subject specialty library of the UC Berkeley Library system.
Visiting: Hours | Directions | Floor Plan & Tour About the Collection | Rare Books | NRLF (materials in storage) Research Assistance More Resources: Other Campus Libraries | Interlibrary Borrowing Course Reserves Computers & Internet | Copiers & Other Equipment Policies: General Policies | Computer Use | Circulation
In 1964, when Wurster Hall was completed, the Environmental Design Library was formed by the merger of four departmental libraries: Architecture (founded by John Galen Howard in 1903); Landscape Architecture (founded by John Gregg, 1913); City and Regional Planning (founded in 1948 by Holway R. Jones); and Decorative Arts, formerly Household Arts (founded in 1919). In summer 1999 the Environmental Design Library was relocated to the fifth floor of the Moffitt Undergraduate Library while Wurster Hall was seismically retrofitted and the Library space was remodeled. The Library reopened in August 2002 in its current space.
A branch of the UC Berkeley Library system, the Environmental Design Library supports the research and teaching of the College of Environmental Design. In addition to a large selection of electronic resources, the Library's collection includes more than 210,000 volumes and subscriptions to more than 500 serials from all over the world. Students, faculty and staff also have access to the 10 million volumes on the Berkeley campus. The Library collects at the research level in most aspects of the subjects covered.
Architecture strengths include history, theory and practice; housing; vernacular architecture; building science; structures and construction; green design and sustainable architecture; social factors in architectural design; architecture in developing countries; and design methods and processes.
The planning collection's strengths are history, theory and practice; urban design; city, regional and state planning; land use planning; social services planning; regional and economic development; community development; developing countries; environmental planning and policy; housing; urban design; and transportation planning.
The landscape architecture collection includes history, theory and practice; site planning; environmental planning; place theory and history; site specific landscape design; landscape ecology and restoration; landscape modeling; park design; landscape plants; community participation in landscape design; and geographic information systems. Enhanced by the Beatrix Farrand endowment and Reef Point Gardens Library, the collection is noted for its 19th-century journals and the history of gardens and landscape architecture from the 17th through the 19th centuries.
The Environmental Design Library has a rare book collection of more than 4,000 volumes housed in the Sigrid L. Rupp Rare Book Vault. Established at the turn of the century by John Galen Howard, founder of the Department of Architecture, the Environmental Design Library rare book collection is unsurpassed by any publicly accessible library in the western United states. The collection is composed primarily of out-of-print, limited and first editions, fine press, and pre-1800 imprints in a variety of languages that cover the subject areas of architecture, decorative arts, city planning, landscape architecture, and gardening. In addition to books and journals, it also includes unique hand-made artists' books, and related ephemera, such as architectural and planning games, recordings, architectural construction kits and ViewMaster slides.
The earliest volume is a 1565 Alberti, L'architettvra di Leon Batista Alberti..., the first edition of L'architettura to be issued with La Pittura. In addition to other early treatises, the collection includes books from the libraries of many important California architects such as John Galen Howard, Willis Polk, Julia Morgan, Greene & Greene, Warren Perry, planner Catherine Bauer Wurster, and landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and his sons. A highlight of the rare book collection is the Reef Point Gardens Library of Beatrix Farrand, the eminent landscape architect who amassed an important collection of early treatises, herbals and other works on architecture and gardens. Significant contemporary titles as well as out-of-print purchases are made on an on-going basis.
Many older books and journals in the Environmental Design Library collection are in off-campus storage due to lack of space and infrequent use. Library card holders and UCB students, faculty, and staff may request materials from NRLF storage using OskiCat or request from the Circulation Desk. Retrieval usually requires 1-2 days, excluding weekends. Holders of valid UC library borrower's cards may visit NRLF in person. A shuttle bus service from campus is available.
During regular academic semesters research assistance is available Monday-Friday at the Reference Desk. Hours may vary. Limited service is available by phone (510.643.7421) if librarians are not already helping people at the Reference Desk. For summer, holiday, and intersession hours, check hours or call in advance.
Our website has over 100 Research Guides for environmental design subjects, courses, and research techniques. The Main Library website also has Help pages and 24/7 research assistance.
- Anthropology Library for vernacular architecture
- Art History/Classics Library
- Bancroft Library for archival material on California and Bay Area history
- Bioscience and Natural Resources Library for ecology, forestry, horticulture
- Business Library
- Earth Sciences and Map Library for maps and plans
- Earthquake Engineering Resource Center for seismic design
- Engineering Library for construction and engineering
- Environmental Design Archives for primary source archival materials on California and Bay Area architecture and landscape architecture. (By appointment only; call 510.642.5124. There is a charge for non-UC users.)
- Government Information for census and governmental data
- Institute of Governmental Studies Library
- Institute of Transportation Studies Library for transportation planning
- Law Library
- Main Library Reference Center
- Media Resource Center for audio-visual materials
- Visual Resources Center (formerly the Architecture Slide Library) for slides and digital images
Interlibrary Borrowing (ILB) allows you to request materials from outside the UC Berkeley Library. This service is available for UCB students, faculty, and staff, and only for items the UCB Library does not own. Most items in the Melvyl catalog may be requested online using the Request button. You can also submit a direct request using the ILB request form or by asking at the Reference Desk.
Computers with access to library resources and the Internet are available in all campus libraries. Priority for use is given to UCB students, faculty, and staff doing research. See the Main Library website for an overview of Computers in the Libraries. Library computer users must comply with the UC Berkeley Library's Computer Use Policy; in addition, users of the Environmental Design Library's computers must comply with our computer use rules.
The Environmental Design Library has 15 public computers for research. Full Internet access is provided for UCB students, faculty and staff via CalNet ID logon. Research access (limited Internet access) is available to all visitors and includes use of catalogs, article database and licensed library resources, as well as websites in the .edu, .gov, and .org domains.
Printing instructions are posted on the computers. Printing requires a Cal1Card or Guest Card; prices are listed under Copiers & Other Equipment. The Library's copy and print services will undergo major changes in Fall 2011. Check the Library's News blog for updates.
One Edit & Print computer without Internet connection allows you to print from a USB drive and to generate or edit documents in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Picture Manager to save to a USB drive.
More information:
- AirBears (wireless Internet access at UC Berkeley)
- Connecting from Off Campus (proxy server & VPN)
The Environmental Design Library has 2 self-service BookScan stations that can be used to make print copies or to save scans to a USB drive. The public computers can print to black & white or color printers.
Copying, printing, and scanning require payment via a Cal1Card card or Guest Card. Instructions are posted next to the public computers and in the printing/copying room. Value is added to the cards by going to the Cal1Card website at cal1card.berkeley.edu.
Copy Service Centers are located in 321 Moffitt Library and in the Bioscience Library.
8.5" x 11" b/w photocopy
8.5" x 14" b/w photocopy
11" x 14" b/w photocopy
color photocopy
pc printer b/w
pc printer color
copy card price
$0.10
$0.10
$0.20
$0.40
$0.13
$0.60
copy card price
$0.15
$0.15
$0.30
$0.60
$0.13
$0.60
Other equipment includes:
- Flatbed scanner with color inkjet printer. Export scans to USB drive or burn to CD/DVD. No Internet connection.
- Edit & Print station. Allows you to print from a USB drive and to generate or edit documents in Microsoft Word Excel, PowerPoint, and Picture Manager to save to a USB drive. No Internet connection.
- Multimedia PC for running library CDs/DVDs. Headphones available at the Circulation Desk. No Internet connection.
- Microform reader requires a Cal1Card to print.
- Paper cutter, stapler, 3-hole punch, pencil sharpeners.
The following policies apply to all UC Berkeley Library users:
- Policies for Library Users
- Library Code of Conduct
- Billing Broadsheet
- Library Computer Use Policy
- Privacy Policies
- Borrowing Privileges
- UC Copyright Education Web Site
Library collections are available to the public.
Materials circulate to UCB faculty, staff, and students. Others who wish to borrow materials may obtain a library card at the Privileges Desk on the 1st floor of the Doe Library at the entrance to the Gardner stacks. General information about Library borrowing policies is available on the Main Library website.
Research access to proprietary electronic resources is available to the public via the library computers. Off-campus access to many electronic resources is restricted to UCB students, faculty, and staff (see Connecting from Off Campus).
Bibliographic access to the Environmental Design Library Rare collection is available to researchers worldwide via the Library's catalogs.
Rare materials are Library Use Only and may be viewed only at the Reference Desk during Reference Desk hours under staff supervision. Request items at the Reference Desk. Your photo ID will be held while you use the book. No photocopying is permitted. Special handling instructions and other restrictions may apply. Only one rare item may be used at a time.
Patrons using library computers must comply with UC Berkeley Library Computer Use Policy. In addition, users of Environmental Design Library computers must comply with the following rules:
- Limit computer time to 20 minutes when others are waiting.
- Do not tamper with computers. Examples of tampering include adding software, changing configurations, and bypassing system restrictions.
- Playing games is prohibited.
This page primarily lists circulation policies particular to the Environmental Design Library. General information about Library borrowing policies is available on the Main Library website, including:
- Library Cards
- Renewals and My OskiCat
- Searches, Recalls and Holds
- E-mail Notification
- Responsibilities of Borrowers
- Policies for Library Users
- Visiting Scholars
Presentation of your library borrowing card when checking out materials signals your agreement to abide by library policies and procedures. Your Cal1Card serves as your library card for borrowing materials. Other library cards may include a UCB/Stanford faculty library card, or a current UCB library card issued by the Library Privileges Desk.
Undergraduate students may check out up to 100 items at a time, Graduate students 200 items, and Faculty 300 items. Most other patrons who have borrowing privileges may check out 20 items at a time. Items which are checked out for 1 year may be renewed up to 3 times, and items checked out for less than one year may be renewed up to 11 times. Short term loan items (including reserves) may not be renewed. Items requested ("recalled") by another patron may not be renewed.
| Type of Material | Loan Period | ||||||||
| Books |
|
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| Noncirculating Books | Faculty and graduate students only: 2 hours or closing time, whichever comes first | ||||||||
| Course Reserves | Items may be 2 hours library use only, 2 hours out of library, overnight, 1 day, or 1 week. (Loan period is determined by the faculty who place it on reserve.) | ||||||||
| Periodicals | Faculty and graduate student borrowers only: 2 hours or closing time, whichever comes first All other library users: Library Use Only |
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| Reference | Library Use Only | ||||||||
| CD & DVD Media | 1 week, with some exceptions | ||||||||
| Microforms | 2 hours or closing time, whichever comes first | ||||||||
| Rare | May be requested only during reference hours for use at the reference desk. |
Permanent reserves and course reserves are shelved behind the Circulation Desk and are checked out as short-term loans. There is a limit of 2 reserve items per borrower.
Two-hour reserves are subject to late fees of $2.50 per hour that the library is open, up to a maximum of $60 per item. Unreturned materials are subject to billing for replacement at a minimum of $150 per item. Additional fees may apply. See the Main Library's website for further details on Billing, Blocks & Payments.
More information on:
During hours when the library is open, return materials to the Circulation Desk. When the library is closed, return materials to the book return bin outside the main (west) entrance to Wurster Hall.
Library users with overdue reserve or recalled materials will have borrowing privileges blocked until the materials are returned. Overdue 2-hour reserves incur a fine of $2.50 for each hour the library is open up to a maximum of $60. Unreturned materials are subject to billing for replacement at a minimum of $150 per item. Additional fees may apply. See the Main Library's website for further details on Billing, Blocks & Payments.
Library fines and bills are to ensure that materials are returned and available for other library users. To avoid fines and bills, return short-term loans and recalled items by the due date/time. Most regularly circulating materials, if they haven't been requested by another patron, can be renewed online via My OskiCat.
To pay fines or bills, you must contact the Privileges Desk at the Main Library. If you wish to contest a fine or bill for Environmental Design Library materials, please contact our Circulation Supervisor.
Immediately report lost or damaged materials to the Environmental Design Library Circulation Supervisor.
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