Shields Library

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Shields Library is the biggest library in Yolo County and is the third biggest library in the UC system. It contains over 3.1 Million volumes ([WWW]src). The library is named after Peter J. Shields, who helped establish UCD.

It is located across the UC Davis Quad from the Memorial Union. If the book you're looking for isn't available in the Shields Collection, worry not — "Books not available at UC Davis can be ordered through the interlibrary loan system from the other UC campuses. [...] A shuttle bus makes daily runs from UC Davis to UC Berkeley to enable students to use the that campus's 8 million-volume library system." - [WWW]UCDavis VTour.

Shields was built in three parts/stages, and if you circle the building completely, you can see the three distinct architectural styles. The north wing facing the Quad where the 24 Hour Reading Room and the Main Reading Room are comprise the oldest wing of the library. The main entrance at this time was located on the north side. When the campus was closed during WWII, the Army Signal Corps took over, and training took place in the Main Reading Room.

During the 1960s, the east and south wings were built, and the library's orientation changed. The main entrance was now on the east end. This is one reason why there is ample bike parking on this side of the building. The entrance was eventually "connected" to Olson by the redwood bridge, which was built so that bike traffic and pedestrian traffic wouldn't lead to chaos. For the next 20-odd years, the Undergraduate Reading Room (also called the Undergrad) was located in the southeast corner of the library in the basement (the stairs leading there are still present, even though the doors are no longer accessible from outside, and the area has been converted to other uses). The Main Reading Room became the periodicals section, and the microfilm machines were located just outside the east entrance to the room.

About fifteen or so years ago, construction began on the western addition. Once expansion was completed in 1992, the entrance shifted yet again to its present location. The 24 Hour Reading Room was moved to the older north section. These changes coincided with the age of computers. The card catalog area that used to be just inside the main entrance on the east end became obsolete; the computers now continue this function, and require less space. Other changes included the reversion of the Main Reading Room to its original namesake function.

Students that wish to save money on textbooks can check out the reserves, where you can check out textbooks and other class materials that may be left by instructors.