Powell Library UCLA
The main UCLA library for the Bruin community
Powell Library UCLA, colloquially known as Powell, is the campus hub for the Bruin community who utilize the library to study, rest, conduct research and learn more about their creative endeavors on campus. To read more about Powell Library, including its resources, collections and hours of operation, click the button below.
Powell Library UCLA is the main undergraduate library at UCLA and is open to all Bruins, located at the southwest end of Dickson Plaza. Access to computer and laptop lending, 24-hour study spaces, help with research, ADA stations and opportunities to print, copy or scan documents are among the many services, resources and opportunities Powell Library provides at UCLA. For inquiries about the library services, email AskUs@library.ucla.edu or call (310) 825-1938.
Powell spaces
Powell holds many study spaces and classrooms to support undergraduate curricula from humanities to sciences and mathematics of all programs, according to the Powell webpage on the UCLA Library website. Some working spaces include Night Powell, Powell classrooms, lab spaces, several reading rooms, the Rotunda and group study rooms. To book a reservation for one of the six Powell group study rooms, with space for six to eight people, click the button below.
Powell also has a Powell Library Circulation Desk for directional or book inquiries. In addition, the library has Instructional Media Collections and Services (IMCS) for faculty who require instructional media. For a full list of the miscellaneous spaces within Powell Library UCLA, click the button below and scroll to the “Spaces” subheading.
Services and resources
Powell Library UCLA provides numerous services and resources, including consultations for research, course reserves, lending equipment, event requests and more. To read more, click here and scroll to the “Services & Resources” subheader, or click the button below for the broader UCLA Library services and resources.
Events and exhibitions
Powell staff host events and exhibitions for the Bruin community to attend. To stay up-to-date on upcoming events to check out at the library, click the button below and scroll to the “Events & Exhibitions” subheader.
Powell as a historical building
As Powell Library UCLA was built just under a century ago in 1929, the building itself holds much history of UCLA’s campus, as it is one of the four original buildings on the Los Angeles property. To read more about the history of the Powell architecture, click here. Or, to view Powell Library through archival photographs from the UCLA Library University Archives, click here.
Powell Library, named after writer and UCLA’s chief librarian during the latter half of the 20th century Lawrence Clark Powell, has a history of sparking academic and literary creativity. According to a UCLA Library news webpage, Ray Bradbury, an acclaimed author of the 20th century, wrote a draft of his famous novel Fahrenheit 451 within Powell Library. The legacy of creativity in Powell can be found all over campus. For instance, ASUCLA restaurant Café 451, located in the Charles E. Young Research Library, is named after Bradbury’s draft.