UCSD’s discipline-based libraries, which include the Biomedical Library and academic collections within Geisel Library, will be eliminated beginning June 30 as part of further internal restructuring for university libraries. Following these transitions, the Arts, Science and Engineering and Social Sciences and Humanities libraries within Geisel, in addition to the Biomedical Library, will become part of a single cohesive library structure in efforts to centralize the Libraries.

A campus notice was sent out last Thursday that informed all faculty, staff and students of the transition.

“We as an organization are transitioning from a decentralized, discipline-based branch library model to a leaner, more centralized, program-based organization,” Geisel librarian Brian Schottlaender said in the notice. “These changes will enable us to provide a more integrated and centralized suite of services and resources to our campus community, while maintaining the excellent and responsive user services our library users have come to expect from us.”

The internal restructuring process began last year and will continue through Fall Quarter 2013. As part of the most recent update, the name “UC San Diego Libraries”  — including Geisel and the Biomedical Library — will change to “UC San Diego Library.”

“This name better reflects our new organization and, we hope, our new structure will result in greater economies of scale and eliminate redundancies across our organization,” Schottlaender said.

The library reconstruction aims to meet the main needs of faculty and students, including the high demand for digital services and resources, as well as the request for a variety of study spaces. The trend in transitioning from print access to digital access across academic libraries nationwide has also influenced the internal reconstruction.  

According to the library website’s information on transitions and consolidations, restructuring is not anticipated to negatively impact faculty, students or other users. Access to library services, such as book check-out, course reserves and Interlibrary Loan, are scheduled to continue.

Although discipline-based libraries will no longer function as separate units, services and resources from Geisel Library, the Biomedical Library, the Scripps Archives, Library Annex and the Miramar Road Storage Annex will continue to be offered in the same building locations. 

Many staff members and librarians will remain in the same locations, although some will be reassigned and relocated to different areas. 

In addition, a new program devoted to “Library Spaces” will be included in the new organizational structure. The program will manage the user spaces in all library buildings, helping to identify ways to enhance and improve the spaces.