Use of the Center
Interlibrary Loan of Materials
Recalling Materials from Storage
Commercial use of MRC materials
Reserving Materials for Classroom Use
Putting Personal Copies on Course Reserve
Use of MRC's Group Viewing Rooms
- Hours
MRC Staff
Introduction
- The Media Resources Center (MRC) is the UC Berkeley Library's primary collection of materials in audio and visual formats, including DVDs, videocassettes, streamed audio and video, compact audio discs, and audiocassettes. The MRC collection is intended to support the broad range of study and research interests on campus with particularly strong holdings in humanities and social sciences materials, as well as a broad range of general interest materials in the fields of science and technology.
For a description of collections, catalogs, and reference services, SEE separate page
Who May Use the Center
- UC Berkeley Students
- Materials in the MRC collection may be used on-site (in the Center) by current UC Berkeley students and staff. Materials may not be checked out for home use by students or non-teaching staff. Students wishing to use MRC materials for classroom presentations should arrange with the course instructor to reserve these items in advance.
MRC materials are not available for extra-curricular screenings by student or community groups.
- DECAL Classes See separate page
UC Berkeley Faculty and Graduate Student Instructors
Current UCB faculty and graduate student instructors may make arrangements to borrow materials for same-day classroom use on the Berkeley campus, or for overnight previewing. Reservations may be made via emailing our circulation supervisors (avmccirc@library.berkeley.edu), in person in the Media Center, or by phone (510-642-8197). Overnight circulation of certain materials may be restricted, depending on the current demand for the material or the rarity and physical condition of the item. Requests for limited exceptions to these policies should be directed to our circulation supervisors at avmccirc@library.berkeley.edu.
Materials in the Media Center may in no case be used off-campus. Use of MRC collections in extra-curricular academic programs and events must be arranged in advance with our circulation supervisors (avmccirc@library.berkeley.edu). Most MRC materials cannot legally be used for screenings other than those held in connection face-to-face classroom teaching in credit-bearing courses.
Use of MRC by Non-UC Individuals
Individuals not affiliated with the university may be granted one-day use of the Center for valid research purposes by contacting our circulation supervisors (avmccirc@library.berkeley.edu). Permission to use the Center depends on the nature and availability of the desired materials, and the availability of viewing stations. Permission to use the MRC is not generally granted for viewing popular or widely accessible titles, including those available through NetFlix or local video stores.
UC Extension, GTU, Vista College
Faculty teaching UC Extension classes that are also credit-bearing on the UC Berkeley campus (cross-listed in the UCB course catalog), have the same privileges as regular UC teaching staff. MRC materials are never made available for use in non-credit-bearing Extension classes.
MRC collections and facilities are not available for use by faculty of the Graduate Theological Union courses or Vista College.
- Materials in the MRC collection may be used on-site (in the Center) by current UC Berkeley students and staff. Materials may not be checked out for home use by students or non-teaching staff. Students wishing to use MRC materials for classroom presentations should arrange with the course instructor to reserve these items in advance.
Interlibrary Loan
- MRC materials are selectively made available for borrowing by other UC campuses, based on rarity of the requested item and its current use on the Berkeley campus. Materials in the MRC collection are not available for borrowing by institutions outside of the University of California System. Requests to borrow MRC materials should be made through the interlibrary loan/borrowing departments of the requestor's campus library.
Recalling Materials from Storage (NRLF)
- A large number of materials in older formats, such as VHS, and lessr-used titles in the MRC collection are stored off-campus at the Northern Library Regional Facility (NRLF). Materials in NRLF are indicated in the Library's catalog (OskiCat). Materials may be recalled from NRLF for viewing in the Media Center or screening in classrooms by primary clientele only (UC Berkeley students and instructors) by applying at the MRC circulation desk. Turnaround time for recalling materials is generally three to five working days.
Commercial Use of MRC Materials
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The majority of materials in the MRC collection are acquired from commercial sources. Most of these materials are under current copyright. Because the library does not own rights to these materials we cannot legally copy or redistribute them, even if they are no longer available for purchase commercially. MRC staff can often provide information regarding sources for purchase of materials in the collection. For distribution information, contact Gisèle Tanasse (gtanasse@library.berkeley.edu).
Reserving MRC Materials for Classroom Use
- Most materials in the MRC collection may be checked out for classroom use by current UCB faculty or graduate student instructors for same-day use in regularly scheduled classes on the Berkeley campus. Faculty or GSIs wishing to use materials in classroom teaching should make a reservation at least two days in advance by calling 642-8197, or emailing your request to our circulation supervisors (avmccirc@library.berkeley.edu).
Putting Personal Copies of Materials on Course Reserve
- Instructors may place personal copies of LEGALLY-ACQUIRED materials on short-term course reserve in the Media Resources Center. (MRC will not accept television programs copied off the air, or illegally made copies of copyrighted works). In order to streamline check-out and to better keep track of course reserve materials, MRC staff will put barcode labels on personal copy materials deposited with MRC for course reserves (unless otherwise instructed).
Please be aware that intensive reserve viewing can result in considerable wear or damage to tape or DVD. Titles in the MRC permanent collection damaged in the course of on-site or classroom use are replaced at our expense; we cannot, however, be responsible for personal copies of videotapes or other materials that are damaged in the course of regular reserve use.
Use of MRC's Group Viewing Rooms
- The Media Center has two media-equipped group rooms that will accommodate from 15 to 20 viewers. The rooms may be reserved for one-time use by UCB faculty or graduate student assistants wishing to screen MRC materials to their classes, or by a group of three or more students for course-assigned viewing. MRC group rooms are not booked for protracted periods of time or for regularly/frequently occurring events. Reservations for use of group rooms may be made in person at the Media Resources Center, or by contacting our circulation supervisors (avmccirc@library.berkeley.edu), (510)642-8197.
Hours
- For a complete, up-to-date listing of the MRC's hours, go to The Library's Hours Page (scroll down to Media Resources Center and click on "Calendar")
