UCLA Powell Library

History

Powell Library, one of the first two university buildings, was built in 1929 when UCLA moved to its current site. The building was modeled after Italian Romanesque, Byzantine, and Moorish architecture, and was then known as the College Library. Powell Library has served many purposes over the years in addition to its primary function as a library, from an administration building to a student health center, and was renovated both in 1993, and after the 1994 Northridge earthquake, to return the building to its original appearance. Powell's collections support the undergraduate curriculum, and have grown to include recent fiction, graphic novels, cookbooks, zines, and other materials. The Library also hosts events such as concerts, exhibits, and historical dances in its Rotunda.

Specialties

The Powell (College) Library's mission is to serve the academic needs of UCLA's approximately 29,000 undergraduates by offering a range of services -- including reference, instruction, and reserves -- and access to materials that support the educational activities of the College of Letters and Science. The collection is comprised of approximately 235,000 volumes and 550 serials and newspapers, and includes three specialized collections of contemporary fiction, graphic novels, and travel guides. Powell Library is the most heavily used of UCLA's libraries, with a turnstile count of over 1.2 million users/year, circulation of approximately 250,000 volumes/year, more than 48,000 information and reference questions answered per year, and instruction sessions and tours provided annually to around 5,000 patrons.