The Library Offers a Space for Everyone

In the past year, the UCSF Library has improved its spaces and services to better serve the needs of students. In spring 2013, the Library opened the Living Room, a redesigned area of the Parnassus Library’s main floor, which includes comfortable furniture, computers and printers and drop-in group study rooms.

The Library also installed two walking workstations, or treadmill desks, in the Tech Commons on the second floor, allowing students to walk comfortably, burn calories and feel more energized while working at a computer.

This month marks the launch of EZproxy, a streamlined method for off-campus access to online  resources. With EZproxy, students can go directly to the Library website (www.library.ucsf.edu), click on any online database, ebook or journal they need, and then enter their MyAccess login to view the resource. For more info, visit www.library.ucsf.edu/ezproxy.

What changes can students look forward to in the future?

The Library continues to enhance the Collaborative Learning Environment (CLE), UCSF’s online course system. Over the next academic year, the CLE will reflect a new design that makes it easier for students to view courses on a mobile device.

“In fall 2014, students will gain a brand new study space at Mission Bay,” said Jim Munson, Director of Administration, Access and Delivery. “The new Learning Commons, located in Mission Hall, will include a 24/7 study space with separate areas for collaborative work and quiet study.”

To keep abreast of library developments, follow the UCSF Library on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ucsflibrary.

Day or night

The Library is sensitive to the study needs of its diverse student population. Some students may prefer to study in absolute silence, while others want a more flexible, collaborative workspace. To accommodate these varied preferences, the Library will soon designate its study areas as either “quiet study,” “considerate study” or “active learning” zones — for absolute silence, minimal conversation or group discussions, respectively.

The UCSF-only quiet study space, located on the fifth floor of the Parnassus Library, offers beautiful views, plenty of light and ample study space. UCSF students can use their campus ID cards to enter.

The Hearst Reading Room on the main floor of the Parnassus Library is open for individual and group study 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When the Library is closed, students can use their campus ID cards to directly enter the Hearst Room (to the left of the main entrance when facing the building).

The group study rooms on the second, third and fourth floors of the Parnassus Library are ideal for collaborative study and group projects. Nine rooms have wall-mounted monitors for group viewing of laptop displays, and all rooms have whiteboards and wireless access. Students can reserve these rooms at http://tiny.ucsf.edu/reserve. Classrooms on the second floor, and elsewhere on campus, double as study rooms when classes are not in session.

The Mission Bay Flight Attendant Medical Research Institute (FAMRI) Library in the Rutter Community Center stays open until midnight on Mondays through Thursdays. After 9 p.m., students can enter via the computer lab doors to the left of the Library’s main entrance.

Getting Started guide to Library services

New and returning UCSF students can learn more about library accounts and services in this handy online guide: http://tiny.ucsf.edu/students.

About the UCSF Library

The Library’s collection covers most aspects of the health science disciplines, consisting of approximately 670,000 volumes, more than 30,000 journals in print and online formats and selected online databases in a wide variety of subject areas.

If you can’t find what you need among these vast holdings, the Library can always get it for you. Visit the website to access a wealth of health sciences resources, including digital collections developed by the Library: www.library.ucsf.edu.   

The Education Services group offers in-person and online help with research and citation management. Education librarians also provide customized instruction to support the curricula of each school.

Home to the UCSF Teaching and Learning Center (TLC), the second floor of the Parnassus Library contains technology-enhanced classrooms (which are open as study rooms when a class is not in session), computer and multimedia labs and the Kanbar Center for Simulation, Clinical Skills and Telemedicine Education.

Students in all programs can expect opportunities to attend classes in the TLC, including engaging in inter-professional learning activities. Learn more about the TLC at http://tlc.ucsf.edu.

The Library’s Learning Technologies group, located in the Tech Commons, supports the application of instructional technology to teaching and learning at UCSF. Hardware, software and consulting support are available for the development of educational materials.

Students and other UCSF personnel can borrow iPads and other multimedia equipment from the Tech Commons on the second floor of the Parnassus Campus Library. The Library also maintains computing facilities in the Medical Sciences Building and the Mission Bay Community Center.

Questions?

Contact the Library in person, by phone at (415) 476-2336, or online at www.library.ucsf.edu/contact.