Questions we get pretty frequently at the Library:
Do you have any fiction (or mysteries or science fiction or graphic novels)? The short answer is yes. However, our books are not arranged the way you would find in a public library, with sections like fiction and mysteries, nor do we necessarily have what's just been published or on the NY Times bestseller lists. See below.
Do you have audiobooks? No, but the public library does (see below)
Do you have movies? We have subscriptions to Swank Digital Campus (~500 films, from the 1930s to 2018), Kanopy (classics and foreign language films, to recent independent films), and Films on Demand: World Cinema. You'll need VPN or be on the campus network to access these.
Can I Get a Public Library Card?
Yes!. You can get a card for the San Diego Public Library (SDPL). They are in the process of reopening, and policies will vary. Some have in-person hours, while other branches are open for curbside pickup only.
Please review their Closure FAQs for the most current information about applying online for a library card.
The closest branch to the UC San Diego campus is the North University Community Library (Judicial Drive, between UTC Mall and I-805), followed by the University Community Library (Governor Drive, east of Genesee).
Leisure Reading at UC San Diego Library
The Library uses the Library of Congress Classification system, which groups literature by language. Works of American literature, regardless of genre, have call numbers starting with PS, while works by British (and Irish, Canadian, etc.) start with PR. For Spanish and French literature, it's PQ, and most graphic novels fall under PN for "general literature." So rather than browsing the shelves, like you'll be able to do when Geisel eventually reopens, you need to use the catalog.
There are 2 ways to find books in UC Library Search, using the Library Catalog scope.