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In June 2025, UCR said goodbye to its longest serving University Librarian, Steven Mandeville-Gamble. 

See photos from Steve's last week. 

More News September 30, 2024

We’re excited to share the latest updates on ongoing projects at the UCR Library!

Both Rivera and Orbach Libraries are undergoing important renovations to improve our spaces for your study and research needs.

Tomás Rivera Library

• Special Collections & University Archives has reopened. You can visit Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the 4th floor. 
• The basement reopened in the afternoon on Monday, September 30.  
• Our group study rooms are getting a mini makeover—stay tuned for more exciting details!  
• Work continues on our HVAC system upgrade. We expect the project to be done by the end of the year.

Orbach Library

• Our full roof replacement project is underway. The 3rd floor will only be open to authorized personnel. We anticipate reopening the 3rd floor to everyone by the end of Winter Quarter 2025, when the project is complete. In the meantime, study spaces and public computers are available on the 1st and 2nd floors.  

We appreciate your patience as we work to improve our facilities and look forward to welcoming you back to these refreshed spaces!

More News December 18, 2024

A Smith Acorn Press, a historic toggle-style printing press made in 1828, is now on display on the first floor of the Tomás Rivera Library 

Patented by Peter Smith in 1821, the Acorn Press is known for its acorn-shaped frame and precise printing capabilities. 

The press on display was discovered in Philadelphia in the 1930s by Jackson Burke, who used it in San Francisco to produce “Pocket Press” editions. In the 1950s, Burke gifted the press to Lewis and Dorothy Allen of the Allen Press, where it was used to create 12 titles, including Dialogues of Creatures Moralised.

In 1967, the press moved to the University of California, Santa Cruz. There, poet and printer William Everson used it at the Lime Kiln Press from 1968 to 1981, producing works like West to the Water and Granite and Cypress. After the Lime Kiln Press closed, UCSC’s McHenry Library donated the press to UCR in 2005.

Previously kept in the stacks of Special Collections & University Archives on the fourth floor of the Rivera Library, the press is now accessible to all visitors on the first floor, located to the right of the Library Support/IT Support Desk. 

Visit during the library's operating hours to get a glimpse into the history of printing and the craftsmanship that went into making printing presses.

More News May 21, 2024

Fun FREE Stress-Relieving Events at the UCR Library 

The UCR Library's Finals Week Stress Relief is back, Monday, June 3 - Thursday, June 13. This quarter, we have craft events, food giveaways, contests, and more! Our partners this quarter are ASUCR Internal Affairs, The Well's Active Minds, Basic Needs, and the ARC!

Please note: Only currently enrolled UCR students are able to participate in Finals Week Stress Relief events (undergraduate AND graduate students). 

Spring 2024 Finals Week Stress Relief Event Series

Instagram Contests

• Mon., June 3 - Fri., June 7  |  Follow us on Instagram and comment on our daily contest posts for a chance to win a $20 Amazon gift card. Winners will be chosen at random.

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MONDAY, JUNE 3

• Tote-tastic Tote Bag Decorating
  • 2 - 3 p.m.  |  Orbach  |  *While supplies last  |  Keep the tote bag you decorate!

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TUESDAY, JUNE 4

• Taco Tuesday Giveaway
  • 1 p.m.  |  Rivera  |  *While supplies last
• Surprise Snack Giveaway with ASUCR Internal Affairs
  • Time is a SURPRISE  |  Rivera & Orbach  |  *While supplies last

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5

• Therapy Fluffies with The Well's Active Minds
  • Noon - 2 p.m.  |  Rivera & Orbach  | Please note, cats and dogs will be in Rivera. Orbach will only have dogs. 
• Study Jam Snack Packs with Basic Needs
  • Noon  |  Rivera  |  *While supplies last

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THURSDAY, JUNE 6

• Key-p Calm and Make Your Own Beaded Animal Keychain
  • 2 - 3 p.m.  |  Rivera  |  *While supplies last

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FRIDAY, JUNE 7

• DONUT Give Up! You've Got This Giveaway
  • 11 a.m.  |  Orbach  |  *While supplies last
• Painting and Planting
  • 2 - 3 p.m.  |  Rivera  |  *While supplies last  |  Decorate a pot, choose your seeds, and plant!

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SUNDAY, JUNE 9

• R'Finals Study Jam (Tutoring) with The Academic Resource Center (The ARC)  
  • 4 - 8 p.m.  |  Orbach  

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MONDAY, JUNE 10

• Boba Boost Giveaway
  • 2 p.m.  |  Orbach  |  *While supplies last

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TUESDAY, JUNE 11

• Bingo
  • 2 - 3 p.m.  |  Orbach  |  *Winners receive an Amazon gift card

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12

• Virtual Kahoot! 
  • 2 p.m. & 6 p.m.  |  RSVP on Eventbrite to save your seat. Play via Zoom to win an Amazon gift card. 

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THURSDAY, JUNE 13

• Surprise Snack Giveaway
  • Time is a SURPRISE  |  Rivera & Orbach  |  *While supplies last

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Virtual Stress Relief Activities

Need virtual stress-reducing activities now? Our FWSR committee has curated a list of activities and services available remotely through online platforms that you can enjoy all quarter long! Visit our Virtual Stress Relief Activities page for more information. 

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Library Finals Week Hours

Study 24 hours in Orbach from 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 6 through 7 p.m. on Friday, June 14

During Study Hall, Orbach Library will be open for studying, scanning, and printing, including the use of public computers. The borrowing of materials and equipment (reserves, books, calculators, and/or chargers) will NOT be available during Study Hall.

Thursday, June 6
Service hours for Rivera & Orbach: 7:30 a.m. - 12 a.m.
Study Hall for Orbach Library: 12 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.

Friday, June 7
Service hours for Rivera & Orbach: 7:30 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Study Hall for Orbach Library: 10 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Saturday, June 8
Service hours for Rivera & Orbach: 8 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Study Hall for Orbach Library: 10 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Sunday, June 9
Service hours for Rivera & Orbach: 1 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Study Hall for Orbach Library: 9 p.m. to 7:30 a.m.

Monday, June 10 - Thursday, June 13
Service hours for Rivera & Orbach: 7:30 a.m. - 12 a.m.
Study Hall for Orbach Library: 12 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.  

Friday, June 14
Hours for both libraries: 7:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. (Orbach ends 24-hour Study Hall)

More News January 30, 2017

Most 16 year-olds are taking the SAT and starting to apply to colleges. Victoria Scott is already living the dream as a first-year student here at UC Riverside.

The youngest of three children raised by a single mother in Berkeley, California, Victoria showed academic promise very early in life. “I went straight from preschool to first grade. I also skipped my junior year of high school,” she explained. “Starting in seventh grade, when I got bored during summer break, my mom would send me to community college to take elective classes. So I started earning transfer credits very early.”

She applied and visited four different UC schools before deciding to become a Highlander. UCLA’s campus was too big and she didn’t feel “at home” there, whereas Berkeley was too close to home. Victoria felt that moving away from her hometown would allow her to branch out and do things on her own. With the rest of her family based in northern California, “My mom wanted me to come here to be close to my grandma, who lives in Palm Springs,” Victoria smiled. “Plus, the financial aid package here was really good, so that means I won’t have to take out any student loans.”

Victoria works at the Rivera Library Circulation/Reserve Desk, helping patrons check out library materials including course reserves, organizing books, answering phones, and assisting patrons with directional and informational questions. “She is smart, gifted, and a diligent worker. She is never late and exceeds expectations,” Access Services Desk Supervisor Leslie Settle said of Victoria. “She even had her car stolen from the dorm during finals week, right before Christmas, and was still able to be positive, report to work and excel in school. She is one remarkable young lady.”

 “Working at the library was a job I wanted to acquire before I even stepped on campus,” Victoria stated. Not having spent much time in libraries before college, she figured that knowing where the textbooks are and how to check them out would be a valuable skill to learn. “Working at the library makes it easier to navigate,” she said. “It’s given me a sense of responsibility. I primarily work with other students, but there’s always a supervisor on staff, so we can call on them if we need to,” she added. “I like UCR because everyone is willing to help you.”

The giving nature that Victoria sees in her UCR Library colleagues is mirrored in her own generous spirit. In addition to being a student employee at the library, Victoria also works in the Financial Aid Office and volunteers with an on-campus program called KID (Kindling Intellectual Development). “In KIDS we travel to homeless shelters on Wednesday and Thursday nights and work with kids between the ages of one and twelve,” she described. “Over winter break, around Christmas time, our lesson plan covered what they’re thankful for, making Christmas trees, and teaching them the importance behind Christmas.”

Victoria has plans to found her own service organization on campus before she graduates. “My organization will teach the youth science and technology, to inspire them to learn, advance their knowledge, and change our communities. My goal is to run my program through an elementary school,” she explained. “I love kids! Kids are my favorite thing in the world. They make my days fun, energetic, and happy!”

Aligned with her helping nature, Victoria’s decision to major in neuroscience or biology was inspired by her family’s experience. “My stepbrother was in a motorcycle accident and he suffered significant loss of brain and body function. That experience sparked my curiosity and persuaded me to want to study and learn more about the brain,” she said.  Because she came to UCR with a lot of transfer credits, Victoria plans to take a quarter off sometime during her senior year to start applying for medical school.

Before that time, however, Victoria plans to do a medical mission in Haiti. “I would go for one week with a doctor during spring break, to provide them with IVs, blood transfusions, wrap up their ankles, and anything else they need assistance with,” she explained. Victoria is excited about the prospect of cultural immersion as well as the opportunity to serve others. “It would be an incredible and eye-opening experience to go to a third world country and provide them with healthcare that we take for granted.”

In addition, Victoria hopes to study abroad, but has not yet decided whether to go to Mexico, Spain, Italy or France. “I want to go several places,” she said. “I was also thinking about doing a Semester at Sea, because you get to cruise either the Atlantic, Caribbean, or Pacific. You do your studying on a ship and then, when you’re off the ship, you have time just to explore.”

With a service-oriented spirit like Victoria’s, the more places she can visit, the more people she will benefit with her skills and her presence.

• Read more about Course-Related Instruction

More News January 15, 2018

This month, Associate University Librarian for the Digital Library Diane Bisom received notice that the UCR Library was the single largest contributor in 2017 to the online digital collection of governmental records that is part of the HathiTrust Digital Library.

The UCR Library provided more than 8,000 book-length digitized U.S. government publications to HathiTrust in 2017 as part of our efforts to digitize our holdings with the Google Books project.

University Librarian Steven Mandeville-Gamble said, “This is a significant milestone for HathiTrust, and a testament to the important role that UCR has played in this initiative. We have been informed that HathiTrust plans to acknowledge this achievement in their forthcoming 2017 annual report.”

HathiTrust is a partnership of academic and research institutions that offers a collection of millions of digitized titles from libraries around the world, which helps researchers meet the technical challenges of dealing with massive amounts of digital text. More than 130 individual institutions and six consortia / state systems are also contributors to HathiTrust, including several universities that belong to the Ivy League, Pac-12, and Big Ten Academic Alliance.

In 2008, HathiTrust was created by the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (now the Big Ten Academic Alliance) and the University of California system to establish a collaborative, online infrastructure and website to provide access to their digitized book collections and journal content.

More institutions quickly began to join HathiTrust, and the shared infrastructure provided those partners with an easy way to archive their digital content. The goal to build a comprehensive archive of published literature from around the world began to take shape, in tandem with the development of collaborative strategies to manage both digital and print holdings.

The primary community that HathiTrust serves is the faculty, students, and users of its partner libraries, but the materials in HathiTrust are available to all to the extent permitted by law and contracts, providing the published record as a public good to users around the world.

More News May 25, 2017

UCR Library patrons have a new, convenient way to pay online for reproduction services.

Did you even know that you can request copies of materials from our Special Collections department? Indeed, you can, and library staff will provide them for you in research or publication quality, as high-resolution TIFFs, JPEGs, or PDFs. (Details about our reproduction policy are available here.)

Before, library patrons could only pay for reproductions by check, which presented challenges for many library users. “We have collections that are well-known internationally and that have high use by researchers outside the U.S.,” Robin M. Katz, Outreach & Public Services Librarian explained. “People from all over the globe want to consult our materials, and so when we only took checks they had to deal with bank fees and currency exchanges, and mailing checks overseas, so it took a long time. Now it’s faster and better for everyone, but especially for our rather large population of international researchers.”

With the new online platform, Special Collections can accept payments via credit cards, debit cards, or funds in your PayPal account. They new system should also reduce the risk of compromising bank account information if a check got lost in the mail.

To request a reproduction of Special Collections materials, first create an account in our request system. Then submit your request. You will receive an invoice through the request system, which you can pay online. Library staff will deliver a link to your account within the request system, and you will have 30 days to download your documents or images.

For any questions about our holdings or how to access them, please email specialcollections@ucr.edu.

More News April 10, 2020

Need a book for your research, but can't physically get it from the UCR Library buildings due to the COVID-19 closure?

We have a solution!

Until Sept. 7, 2021, UCR faculty, researchers and students can get many of the books they need online through the HathiTrust Emergency Temporary Access Service (ETAS), which grants lawful access to digital copies to over 50% of the physical books held by the UCR Library.

Even better, HathiTrust recently added access to digitized volumes from all libraries in the ten-campus University of California network, raising the total number of e-books available to UCR Library patrons to more than 10 million.

Through the HathiTrust ETAS, UCR faculty, staff, and students can:

• Read books owned by the UCR Library (or other UC campus libraries) online in a web browser. There is no option to download the work in full.
• "Check out” a copy for one hour, with an auto-renew feature for books still in active use (turning pages, clicking, or scrolling).
• Access items 1-1: One copy on the member library shelf, one individual access to the digital copy. Two copies, two concurrent users of the digital item.

How to access UCR print materials via HathiTrust

1. Go to hathitrust.org and select the yellow “LOG IN” button.
2. Select University of California, Riverside from the list of partner institutions. Select “Continue."
3. You will arrive at UCR’s Central Authentication Service. Enter your UCR NetID and Password.
4. When you have successfully logged in, you will be returned to the HathiTrust website.

Review the HathiTrust FAQ and Use Guide before you get started.

Remember: The UCR Library staff are still available to answer questions and provide support! Review this new LibGuide on Expanded free access during the COVID-19 closure for more details. Visit our Ask a Librarian page if you need further assistance, after review.