History
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 new space.
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Use of the Collection
Library collections are open to the public. Monographs and bound periodicals are in open and separate stacks arranged by Library of Congress call number, a subject based system. Unbound issues of journals are shelved in title order on display shelving. Off-campus access to many electronic resources is restricted to current UCB students, faculty and staff through the Library proxy server.

Materials circulate to UCB faculty, staff and students. Others who wish to borrow materials may purchase a library card at the Privileges Desk location on the 1st floor of the Doe Library at the entrance to the Gardner stacks.
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Library Catalogs
Holdings for the UCB libraries are in the Pathfinder (UCB) and MELVYL (all UC) catalogs, from which users may save, print or email results. Library catalogs are on the Internet and available for anyone to use.
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Storage/NRLF (Northern Regional Library Facility)
Many older books and journals in the Environmental Design Library collection are in storage off campus due to lack of space and infrequent use. Library card holders and UCB students, staff and faculty may request materials from NRLF using the Pathfinder online catalog or complete a request form at 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 is available.
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Rare Books
The Environmental Design Library has a rare book collection of more than 3,500 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 1511 Vitruvius, M. Vitrvvivs per locvindvm solito..., the first critical illustrated edition of Vitruvius's Ten Books. 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.

Bibliographic access to this collection is available to researchers worldwide via the Library's catalogs.

Request rare books at the circulation desk. Rare books are Library use only, and may be used only Monday - Friday during reference hours at the designated table near the reference desk. Your photo ID will be held while you use the book. No photocopying is permitted. A photographic reproduction service is available. Instructions on restrictions and special handling will be provided to you at the time of your request. Only one rare book may be used at a time.
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Photocopiers & PC Printing
The Library has 4 self-service photocopiers including one color copier. Copiers enlarge, reduce, and can make 3 paper sizes. The public PCs print to the copy machines. See chart below for costs. UCB students, faculty and staff can purchase or add value to Copy Cards in the Environmental Design Library vending machine or at the Copy Service in 321 Moffitt Library, 238 Boalt or in the Bioscience Library.

Dimensions and Output Type	UCB Discount copy card price	Cash & Non-UCB copy card price
8.5" x 11" b/w photocopy	$0.10	$0.15
8.5" x 14" b/w photocopy	$0.10	$0.15
11" x 14" b/w photocopy	$0.20	$0.30
color photocopy	$0.40	$0.60
pc printer b/w	$0.13	$0.13
pc printer color	$0.60	$0.60

 

Research Advisory
During regular academic semesters Reference Librarians are available Monday/Wednesday/Friday 1-5 pm and Tuesday/Thursday 11am -5 pm. Hours may vary, so please call (510.642.4818) for the current schedule. Reference guides outlining research techniques and appropriate reference sources are available on the Environmental Design Library web site. Limited reference service is available by phone (510.643.7421) during those hours when librarians are not helping people in the Library. Call in advance for summer, holiday and intersession reference hours or go to Hours.

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