Elizabeth Dupuis

The UC Berkeley Library has revealed its plans for the 2022-23 academic year, with all but 11 libraries reducing hours and services due to shortages in staff and resources.

The seismic renovation focuses on reinforcing columns throughout the building, according to Elizabeth Dupuis, senior associate university librarian.

The Physics-Astronomy Library will be closed starting March 21 due to ongoing staffing shortages. The library will likely remain closed through the summer semester. 

Staffing shortages are prompting UC Berkeley Libraries to make difficult decisions amidst budget cuts and sudden worker absences due to COVID-19. 

Several UC Berkeley libraries will be extending their hours once additional employees are hired to cover the required shifts.

As Moffitt Library and Main Stacks have extended their hours around the clock throughout Reading, Review and Recitation and finals weeks, library employees have reported staffing shortages and increased student misconduct.

UC Berkeley will be extending library hours at select locations in order to compensate for the closing of Moffitt Library next semester.

Moffitt Library will be closed to students next semester for a seismic strengthening project that will take place from January to August 2022.

Library staff saw a need to expand the course reserves’ digital collection as many students were impacted by financial burdens during the pandemic.

The University Library issued a call for public comment on its proposal for changes to the South/Southeast Asia Library, or S/SEAL, resulting in the UC Berkeley community expressing various concerns toward the proposed changes.