Abby Scheel

UC Library Search Turns 5 Years Old

Posted on August 31, 2026 by Abby Scheel

5 Things You Need to Know

In July of 2021, the Library launched UC Library Search, a new way to discover everything the library has to offer. UCLS represented a significant shift in our approach to searching the library. In honor of the five year anniversary, here are five things students, faculty, and staff need to know about UCLS.

1. More than just a catalog

Instead of searching multiple systems depending on what you’re looking for and where it’s located, UCLS lets you find articles, books and every other format with one search query. In addition to the traditional library catalog, UCLS includes a massive index of articles, videos, data, ebooks, audio, images, etc. from libraries around the world. The default search setting (articles, books, and more) returns results whether or not UC Berkeley has a copy. It is still possible to search the traditional local catalog by going to Advanced Search and selecting UC Berkeley catalog under Search for.

2. More than just UC Berkeley

Why show results that aren’t on campus? Because you have access to resources from every UC library and libraries around the world through interlibrary loan. UCLS is a shared system used by all the UC libraries. You can see and directly request what is available from UCLA and all other UC campuses. Regardless of whether the resource you need is in Berkeley, elsewhere in the UC system, or held by another library even further afield, we can get it for you. To limit to UC Berkeley resources only, select UC Berkeley under UC Libraries in the Refine your results menu.

3. Sign in with your CalNet Login for full results

Yellow banner alerting UC Library Search users to sign in. — This yellow banner appears when searching without signing in to UC Library Search.

Many digital articles, books, videos, datasets, etc. will only appear in your search results when you are signed in. You can also view your account to see what you have checked out, any outstanding requests you’ve made, or save complex searches for later use.

4. Focus your search with facets

Start with a basic search then use the menu of options to the left of your search results, known as facets, to refine your results. Select facets to show only items available online or limit your search by date, resource type, language, location, and more. Need accessible resources? Our newest facet, Accessibility Information, limits to results with features like braille, subtitles, audio description, etc. More accessibility formats will be added as this facet is further developed.

5. Use UCLS with confidence

Want to learn how to search UCLS better? See our UC Library Search User Guide for an in-depth overview of features and tips.

Want more advice from Library staff? Chat with, email, or book an appointment with one of our librarians to discuss best tactics for your searches.

Want to share your experience with UCLS? Fill out our UCLS feedback form to submit your thoughts directly to our UCLS team.

Morrison Library Undergraduate Curator: Ashley Taylor

Posted on December 12, 2025December 12, 2025 by Abby Scheel

In Fall 2025, a small cohort of UC Berkeley students served as inaugural Undergraduate Curators in a new internship from Morrison Library. They met with Morrison Library staff and visited local bookstores to curate a set of selections for the library’s collection. Interns were tasked with reflecting on their experience and sharing their selected titles. Read on to hear from Ashley Taylor about her experience and see her list of recommendations. Be sure to check out Maya Looney’s recommendations, too. Find your next read by checking out Ashley’s and Maya’s books now on display in Morrison Library!

Undergraduate Curators sit at a table in Morrison Library with Morrison staff discussing the internship and what goes into curating a library collection. — Abby Scheel, right, leads the first meeting of an undergraduate student internship based in Morrison Library on Oct. 14, 2025. Three interns will help select books for the Morrison collection. (Photo by Jami Smith/UC Berkeley Library)

Ashley Taylor

Film and Media, Creative Writing, 2026

Q: Tell us about yourself.

“While I was born in San Diego, CA, I was raised in Mexico before I eventually moved back across the border for my education. English is my second language, and I learned it through books and movies. Since then, I’ve had a passion for sharing book recommendations, including those outside my preferred genres(romance and fantasy), when I worked as a Barnes & Noble Bookseller. I currently run UC Berkeley’s romance book club–Love Stories Book Club– where we’ve built a romance community and host social events for readers of all kinds. After I graduate, I hope to continue by either working directly in the book publishing industry or helping to adapt some of my favorite novels into film or TV.”

Q: How did you experience interning as a curator for Morrison Library?

“As a student who has always relied on libraries when I couldn’t afford new books, this internship was an amazing opportunity to be a part of the book curating process. I’ve always admired the elegant beauty and comfort of Morrison library with it’s range of fiction new releases.

During our first library meeting, we got to meet the staff and learn the history of the library. By far the most interesting part was learning about how they decide which books to keep by keeping track of how many times a title has circulated. Unlike other public libraries, Morrison doesn’t need to have multiple copies of the same book or older titles. Instead they only keep super popular ones like The Goldfinch and are constantly processing newly published books.

Continue reading “Morrison Library Undergraduate Curator: Ashley Taylor”

Morrison Library Undergraduate Curator: Maya Looney

Posted on December 12, 2025December 12, 2025 by Abby Scheel

In Fall 2025, a small cohort of UC Berkeley students served as inaugural Undergraduate Curators in a new internship from Morrison Library. They met with Morrison Library staff and visited local bookstores to curate a set of selections for the library’s collection. Interns were tasked with reflecting on their experience and sharing their selected titles. Read on to hear from Maya Looney about her experience and see her list of recommendations. Be sure to check out Ashley Taylor’s recommendations, too. Find your next read by seeing Maya’s and Ashley’s books now on display in Morrison Library!

Maya Looney

Astrophysics & Planetary Sciences, 2026

Q: Tell us about yourself.

“Hi I’m Maya, I’m in my final year at Berkeley and I do research on planetary interiors and melting permafrost. I grew up in Oakland and outside of school I work as a visual artist for low income housing projects there. I try to read as much as I can and I love reading sci-fi, literary fiction (when I get tired of space stuff) and poetry, especially from Bay Area writers.”

Q: How did you experience interning as a curator for Morrison Library?

“In my time as a curator intern at Morrison Library I’ve really enjoyed learning more about both the Berkeley library system and visiting my favorite local bookstores to find new additions. Taking the time to learn more about the Morrison collection and the considerations that go into the Berkeley library catalogue has changed the way I walk through a library. I love thinking about the ‘lifetimes’ of books I pick up, from why they were selected to how much they’ve circulated and how many times they’ve been read. Doing visits to Moe’s Books and East Bay Booksellers has also been personally exciting for me, beyond learning more about the different considerations they have to make about their selections, because I’ve been going to those stores since I was little and growing up in Oakland. Hearing about the inner workings and the highs and lows behind the scenes of being an independent bookstore owner has made me appreciate these community spaces. It reminded me that the books on their shelves aren’t just inventory – they’re the result of constant, thoughtful curation, risk-taking, and love for readers. This internship has made me more attentive to the stories behind how books travel through the world, and it’s deepened my connection to the literary spaces that shaped me. It’s been meaningful to feel like I’m contributing, even in a small way, to the future of those spaces and to the experiences of readers who will discover something new because of the work we’ve done.”

Continue reading “Morrison Library Undergraduate Curator: Maya Looney”

Filipino American History Month 2025

Posted on September 22, 2025September 19, 2025 by Abby Scheel

Celebrate Filipino American History Month this October with our featured collection of novels and memoirs by Filipino American authors. Find these and more in our UCB Overdrive collection.