Closure of Carlson Health Sciences Library as a Library User and Study Space

Why is this change happening?

Use of the Carlson Health Sciences Library building as a library has been declining for many years, and use of library collections is increasingly digital or online. In addition, certain library functions, such as interlibrary loan, can be provided more effectively by a single, integrated team operating from one location.

How will this affect the library’s support of UC Davis’ animal and human health sciences departments?

The library has worked closely with the campus’ animal and human health sciences departments for many years, and we will continue to provide the same excellent library service we always have. While the print collections will be moved out over time, they will remain accessible for use via the library’s scanning and shipping services. Our librarians who provide research, instructional and clinical support to the School of Veterinary Medicine, and to the School of Medicine on the Davis campus, will retain office space in Med Sci 1B (the building where the Carlson Health Sciences Library was located).

How can I check out, renew or return materials from the Carlson Health Sciences Library collection?

Library users should request materials through UC Library Search.

• Book chapters and journal articles can be scanned and emailed to you.
• Books can be picked up on the hold shelf in Shields Library during library open hours or shipped to your home or other off-campus address. Learn how to use the library’s shipping service.

Items can be renewed online by signing in to your UC Davis Library account and navigating to the Loans section. You can also contact the library to renew items by phone (530-752-8792) or email (shieldscirc@ucdavis.edu).

Items can be returned in the book drop outside of the Carlson Health Sciences Library building (Med Sci 1B) or any other library book drop on campus, at Shields Library, or you may contact shieldsinterloan@ucdavis.edu to request a postage-paid mailing label and return your items by mail.

Is interlibrary loan still available?

Yes. Library users may continue to place interlibrary loan requests using the “Request through Interlibrary Loan” feature in UC Library Search. Books can be picked up on the hold shelf in Shields Library or shipped to your home or other off-campus address. Learn how to use interlibrary loan.

Where can I go to study or reserve meeting space for a group project?

Shields Library now offers reservable group study rooms. If you are enrolled in the School of Veterinary Medicine, you may also want to check out student-friendly spaces such as the Wellness Room and the school’s other educational and teaching facilities.

Where can I use a public computer station?

Public computer stations are available at Shields Library.

Where can I go to print, scan, or copy documents?

IET has printers at these campus locations and the IET Media Lab offers scanning and other services. Scanning and printing is also available at Shields Library.

The IET Virtual Lab allows remote connections to computers in the IET computer rooms on campus. This allows students to work on assignments using specialized software when the computer rooms are closed.

How do I request bibliographic citation checks (e.g., a historical article’s journal issue, figure number) for my research with items housed in the Carlson Health Sciences Library collections?

Library users should request materials through UC Library Search.

• Books can be picked up on the hold shelf in Shields Library during library open hours or shipped to your home or other off-campus address. Learn how to use the library’s shipping service.
• Members of the community without a library card and not affiliated with UC Davis can email Shields Circulation at shieldscirc@ucdavis.edu or call (530) 752-8792 for assistance.

When will library personnel and collections be relocated to Shields?

Library personnel who support building operations and interlibrary loan relocated to Shields in summer 2022.

The process of rehoming the print collections from Carlson Health Sciences Library to Shields Library will be staged over several years. Throughout the transition and beyond, the library catalog will reflect the current location of all materials, and the library commits to offering scanning and shipping services for collections that have not yet been rehomed from the Carlson Health Sciences Library. Collections still at the Carlson Health Sciences Library will not be directly browsable by users.

How will library employees be impacted?

Library employees responsible for building operations and interlibrary loan have been transferred to Shields Library and are being integrated with the corresponding teams there. Librarians who provide instructional, research and clinical support to animal and human health departments on the Davis campus will retain office space in Med Sci 1B (where the Carlson Health Sciences Library was located).

What opportunities are there for faculty input into the process?

A formal Request for Consultation with the Academic Senate was conducted in early spring 2022. Faculty with further questions should contact the library personnel listed below.

What will happen to the space if the Carlson Health Sciences Library is no longer operating as a library user and study space?

The Office of the Provost is considering options for future use of the building, including the rooms currently assigned for classroom use.

Who can I contact if I have further questions?

• For questions about access to library collections or the Veterinary Information Network, contact Rice Majors, Associate University Librarian for Scholarly Resources, ramajors@ucdavis.edu.
• For questions related to research and instruction, contact Nicole Capdarest-Arest, Interim Associate University Librarian for Research and Learning, ncapdarest@ucdavis.edu.
• For all other questions, contact Bill Garrity, Deputy University Librarian and Chief Operating Officer, wfgarrity@ucdavis.edu.