Navigating the Vast Resources of the UCLA Library Database

The UCLA Library system stands as one of the largest academic research libraries in North America. With a collection exceeding twelve million books and 100,000 serials, it is a vital resource for students, faculty, and researchers. This article delves into the extensive database resources offered by the UCLA Library, highlighting key collections, access methods, and support services.

An Overview of the UCLA Library System

The UCLA Library is not a single entity but a network of facilities spread across the campus. It encompasses 12 libraries, 12 archives, reading rooms, research centers, and the Southern Regional Library Facility, a remote storage location for southern UC campuses. Among the notable libraries are the Eugene and Maxine Rosenfeld Management Library, the Hugh and Hazel Darling Law Library, and the Walter H. Rubsamen Music Library, housed in the Schoenberg Music Building.

Historical Context

The University Library at Los Angeles has deep roots, beginning in 1883, two years after the establishment of the California State Normal School. The library's first acquisition was "Survey of Wyoming and Idaho" by Dr. Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden. Elizabeth Fargo became the university's first librarian in 1910. By 1919, she managed the library with a staff of four.

John E. Goodwin succeeded Fargo in 1923, inheriting a collection of 42,000 volumes and a staff of 12. Goodwin initiated the reclassification of books from the Dewey Decimal System to the Library of Congress Classification System to facilitate orderly expansion. He also oversaw the construction of the Main Library in Westwood, starting in 1929, and the bequest of the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library to UCLA in 1934.

In 1942, the UCLA Walter H. Rubsamen Music Library was established. Lawrence Clark Powell, who replaced Goodwin in 1944, implemented significant changes and acquisitions to elevate the library system's prestige. His tenure saw the completion of the central book stack and focused on expanding collections to support academic research. Powell was named the founding Dean of the School of Library Service in 1959, a position he held until 1966. The Undergraduate College Library was later named after him.

Robert Vosper became University Librarian in 1961, and construction began on the University Research Library (now the Charles E. Young Research Library) the following year. Completed in 1964, the Research Library became the administrative center for the UCLA Library system, necessitating the movement of approximately 4 million index cards and 14 miles of books. The Main Library was then converted into the College Library. By 1964, the Library ranked 11th in the country, with over two million volumes.

Page Ackerman succeeded Vosper in 1973, becoming the first woman in the U.S. to head a library system of such scale. She oversaw the development of the Library's administrative network, which became a model for library management systems. Ackerman also increased coordination with other UC campus libraries due to state budget constraints. During her tenure, the UCLA Library acquired collections on figures like Ralph J. Bunche, Gertrude Stein, and Anaïs Nin. In 1976, the music library was named after Walter H. Rubsamen.

Since Ackerman's retirement in 1977, UCLA has continued to expand its collections, facilities, and staff under librarians Russell Shank (1977-1990), Gloria Werner (1990-2002), Gary E. Strong (2003-2013), Virginia Steel (2013-2023), and Athena Jackson (2024-present). In 2020, the Contemporary Music Score Collection, the first major open access collection of new music, was established by music librarian Matthew Vest.

Accessing Online Resources

The UCLA Library provides access to a vast array of online research materials, including electronic journals, eBooks, articles, maps, and datasets. The UCLA community can access this content both on-campus and off-campus via the Virtual Private Network (VPN) or Proxy Server. A comprehensive A-Z list of databases and a subject-based browsing option are available to facilitate access.

Electronic Resources and Databases

The library's electronic resources, or databases, are governed by licenses that restrict access to academic use by UCLA faculty, staff, and current students. Some resources are limited to Anderson School use only. Users are advised to review the UCLA Library policy on Appropriate Use of Licensed Electronic Resources.

Read also: Navigating Tech Breadth at UCLA

Business Source Complete: This database offers full-text access to over 7,500 scholarly, peer-reviewed journals, along with indexing and abstracts for general interest and news magazines, trade/industry periodicals, monographs, reports, and conference proceedings. It also includes over 2.3 million job listings. The Enhanced Business Searching Interface provides easy access to content by publisher name, publication title, and format.

Financial Databases: Several databases from the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago (FRB Chicago) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) are available:

The Commercial Bank Database: Contains quarterly data from 1976 on banks filing the Report of Condition and Income (Call Report), regulated by the Federal Reserve System, FDIC, and the Comptroller of the Currency.
The Bank Holding Companies Database: Collects financial data from bank holding companies included in the FRY-9 reports.
The FDIC/OTS Deposit Database: Collects deposit data on each office of every FDIC-insured bank and savings association.
The Merger Description Database: Provides acquisition/merger data and other records about financial institution closures.
The Research Information System (RIS) Database: Contains financial data and history of entities filing the Call Report and the OTS Thrift Financial Report (TFR) from 1984 to 1998.

WRDS (Wharton Research Data Services): UCLA WRDS accounts, granting SSH access, are provided at the discretion of the UCLA WRDS Representative. Current UCLA faculty, PhDs, and Master's students can request an account. WRDS access is limited to academic and non-commercial research purposes. It contains copyrighted material and proprietary information. Several WRDS datasets are available:

Compustat: Offers financial data on companies. The industrial annual formats offer both historical and restated data, while the industrial quarterly formats offer restated data as reported by the company.
CRSP (Center for Research in Security Prices): Provides historical stock market data.
Thomson Reuters: Covers global securities markets, including equities, money markets, currencies, bonds, commodities, derivatives, private equity, and mergers and acquisitions.

Other Business Databases:

Business Plans Handbook: Presents actual business plans compiled by entrepreneurs seeking funding for small businesses.
Gale Directory Library: Searchable by keyword, geography, company, SIC code, and more.
CB Insights: Requires a registered account and Anderson Network Account. Offers reports, infographics, and briefings that integrate with the platform’s data.

ProQuest Research Library: A multidisciplinary database that includes academic journal articles as well as popular trade and consumer publications.ProQuest Publicly Available Content Database: collection of scholarly resources brings together or links to full text for publicly available content from a number of different sources from around the world.Coronavirus Research Database: a free health and medical research database for openly available content related to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Access Restrictions and Appropriate Use

Access to these databases is governed by specific terms and conditions. Use of WRDS, for example, is limited to academic and non-commercial research purposes. The right to access licensed databases and copyrighted material on the WRDS system is only for UCLA academic research. Users may not use data downloaded from WRDS for any commercial endeavor. In addition, users may not reveal, disclose, transfer, or share username and password information with anyone. Additional restrictions apply. and international copyright laws and treaties. It contains copyrighted material, trademarks and other proprietary information belonging to WRDS, its suppliers and others which may include, but shall not be limited to text, data, software, graphics, images, photos and video ('Proprietary Material').

Read also: Understanding UCLA Counselors

Similarly, access to the ProQuest Research Library is granted under the condition that materials are used for personal use only, and content is not sold or used for commercial purposes. Excessive or systematic downloading may result in revoked access privileges.

Support Services and Resources

The UCLA Library offers a variety of services to assist users with their research and writing needs.

Research Assistance

The Library provides multiple avenues for research support:

Scheduled and drop-in research assistance
24/7 online “Ask a Librarian” chat service
Online research and writing tutorials
Classes, workshops, and online research guides by subject or course

CLICC (Campus Library Instructional Computing Commons)

CLICC offers technology and support for UCLA students, faculty, and staff, including:

Laptop lending
Printing and scanning
Study room reservations
Projector loans and video kits
Computer stations with instructional software

CLICC's student consultants can assist users in finding computing resources and using technology effectively.

Subject-Specific Support

The library offers specialized support for various disciplines:

Law: The Hugh & Hazel Darling Law Library provides access to legal databases, study aids, and research assistance. Harvey, an AI platform for lawyers, is available for law school students.
International Law: Oxford Scholarly Authorities on International Law (OSAIL) contains major treatises and works published by Oxford University Press.

Additional Resources

The UCLA Library provides various online guides and resources to aid in the research process:

How do I…? Explanations of how to find books and online/print articles and periodicals, develop research topics, select and evaluate sources, and cite sources.
Electronic Resources: Links to article databases, e-journals, and e-resources by subject area and type.
Graduate-Level Research: Services, Resources, and Tips: Information on researching professors, finding theses and dissertations, researching funding sources, and submitting theses/dissertations.
Research Help: Options for research support, including contacting librarians through an online messaging system.
Road to Research: A self-paced online tutorial on identifying, locating, evaluating, and using research effectively and ethically.
Research Paper Planner: A guide to planning paper-writing with suggested schedules for various course lengths.

Physical Collections and Special Resources

Beyond its digital resources, the UCLA Library houses a wealth of physical collections and special resources.

Library Locations

The UCLA Library comprises multiple physical locations, including:

Powell Library (undergraduate)
Charles E. Young Research Library
Biomedical Library
Science and Engineering Library
Music Library
Arts Library
Special Collections

Access to these collections and services requires a BruinCard.

Featured Collections

The library features several notable collections:

Ray Bradbury Papers: Manuscripts, correspondence, and ephemera by and related to the author and screenwriter.
Richard and Dion Neutra Papers: Architectural drawings, photographs, correspondence, and travel sketches from the architect.
Collection of anatomical models: Housed at Louise M. Darling Biomedical Library.

Public Libraries as an Alternative

When campus resources are crowded, public libraries offer an alternative study environment and access to non-academic books. Library cards are free to California residents with a state-issued photo ID.

tags: #ucla #library #database #resources