UCSD Biomedical Library

La Jolla, United States

4.9

Open now

20 reviews

Free Wi-Fi

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Telephone:
+1 858-534-3253
Website:
biomed.ucsd.edu
Address:
9500 Gilman Dr Suite 0699, La Jolla, CA, 92093
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
0.3 miGilman Dr & Villa La Jolla Dr
0.4 miUCSD West/Pepper Canyon
0.5 miVA Medical Center
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Wi-Fi
Free

Today

Today 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Open now
Local time (La Jolla) 13:03 Friday, 13 June 2025

Business hours

Monday 8:00 am – 12:00 am
Tuesday 8:00 am – 12:00 am
Wednesday 8:00 am – 12:00 am
Thursday 8:00 am – 12:00 am
Friday 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday 12:00 pm – 12:00 am

Description

Specialties

The Biomedical Library at UCSD supports teaching and learning, research and patient care for the UCSD life and health science communities. It provides quality biomedical books and journals in print and online formats, expert helpful staff, a state of the art building supporting a range of study and working environments, and a range of services including course reserves, workshops, reference and consultation services. We are open to the public, although we do not tend to focus heavily on consumer-​oriented materials.

History

Established in 1969.

The Biomedical Library was constructed in 1969 to support the then-​new UCSD School of Medicine. It was built to support a total user population of around 800. Today, we support the Schools of Medicine and Pharmacy, as well as the Division of Biological Sciences which is the largest undergraduate major at UCSD. We now serve over 4000 students and faculty. The Library underwent a major renovation and expansion in 2005 – 6, and we reopened with a much larger and more up-​to-​date building in 2006. The Biomedical Library is administratively one of the UCSD Libraries, and the UCSD Medical Center Library located in Hillcrest is considered a part of our organization.

Meet the Manager

Jenny R.

Manager

Hi, I’m Jenny, one of the librarians here at the Biomedical Library. We’re happy so many of you enjoy using the library. You can keep up with news tidbits from us on Twitter @ucsdbiomed

UCSD Biomedical Library also recommends

University of California, San Diego /​UCSD

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Colleges & Universities

Jenny R. says,

«It’s where you are when you visit us — look around!»

Geisel Library

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Libraries

Jenny R. says,

«The Big House on campus, the Geisel Library houses the Social Sciences & Humanities and Science & Engineering Libraries. Plus it’s cool.»

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20 reviews of UCSD Biomedical Library

No registration required
Place rating: 5
Granite Bay, CA
Love this library compared to geisel. Everything looks way more sophisticated, clean, and just overall better. It’s quiet here too so its a great place to study when you gotta buckle down and concentrate. Not as big as compared to geisel however with there being only two floors. Theres study rooms available throughout.
Place rating: 4
Morgan Hill, CA
Really clean and quiet. As a science major, I really appreciate the clean décor and ease of finding books related to health science. It also has a bunch of cool study rooms for working in groups. The perfect place to study and hit the books.
Place rating: 5
La Jolla, CA
Quiet/​fancy/​graduate version of geisel! Come here if you are distracted by noise. That being said the library is usually pretty packed so come early to save yourself a seat.
There are many study rooms and the library provides head phones. There are also many computers and really nice bathrooms unlike geisel haha.
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
Background: Throughout my first 2 years at nearby community colleges as an engineering major, I frequented this library during the weekends to study. Although I initially intended on transferring into Jacobs School of Engineering, I ultimately had to pick SDSU since Jacobs does not have an ABET accredited Environmental Engineering program. The library at SDSU is a nice place to study as well but it is a completely different atmosphere. Even as an Aztec, I respect UCSD for their commitment to academic excellence and research. This relates to why I am giving this library such a stellar review.
Pro’s: It’s QUIET and Comfortable. This is what I love most about this library, if I really had to get work done or accomplish some intense studying, this was an excellent place to do so. Everything from the rug, chairs, desks, book shelves, and windows all provide a really great atmosphere to focus. Every time I’ve gone to this library, every student there was quiet and considerate of everyone else around them. I wish I could say the same about Geisel Library or even Love Library at SDSU. The most obvious reason I can point to as an explanation would be explained by the library’s name – biomedical. I have a sneaking suspicion that this where many of the pre-​med and med students go to be productive. Thanks med-​students!
Con’s: Location, parking, crowds, and Wifi. Even if you’re a student at UCSD, I think the closest parking structure is Gilman. If you’re not a Triton, you’ll either have to pay for parking during the week or try to come early to grab an empty free spot during the weekends. During finals and midterms for both quarter and semester based students it can get crowded since the library is considerably smaller than Giesel. Also, you’ll have to put up with janky guest wifi if you’re not a student.
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
This place is nice, and books are nice, so why not come to a nice place. Plenty of space to study and admire nice books. You can also read them too. So come on down.
Place rating: 5
La Jolla, CA
There are times you need to be able to think, write, and have great research backing you. This is the place to go to focus. The staff is amazing at helping you find even the most innocuous materials. There are computers to use, stacks and stacks of books, plus they can get a hold of about anything you want.
Research done here is made accessible, open-​source, easy. Plus the setting is just wonderful. Although you may be stuck for hours with your head and some book or journal, you can still enjoy the beauty of the outdoors with the wonderful architecture design of this library.
Place rating: 5
La Jolla, CA
One of my favorite study spots! I actually get work done here! (Seriously.)
I study here whenever I can and I remember on the Tuesday of Finals week, I was here for about 6 hours straight. I’m surprised not a lot of students know about this place.
Biomed is quiet, clean, and nice on the inside. The individual desks have two outlets each, which is perfect for my laptop and charging my phone if need be. What I like the most is that it’s barely crowded. There are plenty of desks and chairs on the second floor while the first floor is where all the computers are located.
It is located in the UCSD School of Medicine so it’s nice to be in a quieter area of campus and not have to face the craziness of Geisel. (ie: noise level, more people, students camping out and not showering during finals week, etc.)
Basically, if you need to get work done, go to Biomed library!
PS: There is a Fairbanks coffee cart across the library at the biomedical research center if you need that caffeine boost for your studies :)
Place rating: 5
La Jolla, CA
My friends and I call BML the «productive library» and Geisel the «social library.» And honestly as students, I think we all know it, too.
I used to be obsessed with Geisel and I’d go there everyday to study, but it honestly made me feel grimy. The library is so large that it’s difficult to maintain and there’s such a large flux of people that go to Geisel that it’s often difficult to find places to sit.
BML doesn’t make you feel like you’re trapped in a dungeon. There’s huge glass windows that allow lots of sunlight and decent views as well. Although the first floor is supposed to be the «collaborative» area, BML in general is pretty quiet. The second floor is the silent floor (equivalent to 8th floor Geisel), but there’s also tons of study rooms to do group study in. This library is also very well maintained and stays very clean. There’s only 2 bathrooms but they have tons of stalls (well, at least for the women’s bathroom).
The first floor has mostly computers and the second floor is very spacious with lots of tables to choose from.
ALSO! BML has a no cellphone policy (where you can’t take/​make calls inside). They’re pretty lenient on that policy but BML tends to be a dead zone for cell service– even for Verizon.
Place rating: 5
La Jolla, San Diego, CA
Ucsd’s Biomedical library is a hidden gem. It’s mostly for the med students and has a graduate separated section but undergrads who are courageous enough to step in here must be quiet. Part of it’s best charm is the fact that it is so quiet especially when compared to it’s giesel counterpart. While Geisel is cool, you’re studying in a spaceship, it’s dirty, loud, and busily filled with students.
Here at biomed it’s always quiet, the markers in the rooms actually work and the bathrooms are clean and useable. Plus the extra inspiration you get by studying next to the best and brightest keeps you going strong to keep on studying until you’re ready for that test!
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
I LOVED the biomed library as a student at UCSD.
It was the only library where I could get some really decent studying done.
Everyone here is SERIOUS about their studies and it is clean and QUIET, perfect for me since I get distracted easily.
Careful if you have noisy shoes or keychains because people WILL glare at you.
My favorite spots were the tables upstairs by the windows or first floor towards the back, 4 person tables with outlets.
Place rating: 5
Los Angeles, CA
Probably one of the best Biomedical libraries I’ve seen so far! Granted, I’ve only spent most of my time at the UCLA Biomed library but the UCSD one surpasses UCLA’s biomed library! I’d love to study here if it wasn’t so far!
Place rating: 5
Mission Viejo, CA
not so sure about the book selection, but I guess not many students go here to check out books.
I go here every tuesday and thursday between classes in york to either nap (!) or study. this place is great for both. It’s tucked away in the quiet med school and there are SO many empty chairs and tables (les mis?).
anyway, you can find somewhere to sit without being uncomfortably close to other people like at geisel and it’s so quiet. plus the bounty of glass windows is beautiful and calming without being distracting.
also, for those who might care, the ac is just right. I can wear shorts and a tee or jeans and a sweater without being too hot or too cold.
this library is a gem compared to geisel which gets crowded and difficult to study at with people typing loudly on their laptops, eating food, chatting with friends, and webcamming (seriously, on the sixth floor?). Also the science and engineering part of geisel gets kind of rank with all of the nasty students who are too busy studying to apparently go shower or throw out their food.
If you have class in york or center and need somewhere to rest, go here. trust me. it’s wonderful.
Place rating: 4
San Diego, CA
This is my favorite library to study at UCSD. What I like about BML is that the students here actually study. One of my pet peeves is when students go to libaries to socialize. I feel like there should be a librarian to shush some of these kids up on the higher levels of Geisel. I need absolute quiet on level 9!
Go early if you want to grab a table or later in the evenings. Usually on the weekends, the peak hours are 12−6p; it tends to die off after then so pick your time wisely.
It is so quiet that you can easily take a nap, chill out or relax by looking outside through the glass panels.
Place rating: 5
Mountain View, CA
Do come here if you need to get work done.
It’s a guarantee that you’ll get more work done than if you promise yourself that you’re going to at home (unless you sit at a computer booth… maybe not).
This is the quietest library on campus.
Think 8th floor Geisel with a greater number of students, all keeping the silent atmosphere, each one cramming or studying for a midterm.
I like this library, because during the day, sunlight hits pretty much all of the seats inside (there’s big windows that surround the library). You won’t get depressed if you have to hit up those books all day. There’s an upstairs and downstairs.
On the first floor, there are computer booths where you can use the computers for reading powerpoints from ted, or just have for music from Pandora, or any other site.
On the second floor, there are no computers for long-​term use, but more individual seats that line windows on one side of the library, group study rooms w/​whiteboards, and couches (that some people catch a snooze on). There are also bigger tables for silent ‘group studying’.
A Fairbanks coffee cart is located right outside the library if you need to load up on some caffeine.
Price Center is only half of library walk away, if you need snacks/​or food breaks.
Place rating: 5
Montclair, CA
Great place to study. Lots of windows, clean workspace, comfortable chairs, and a pretty view. Spacious as well. and super duper quiet. Perfect place to do some hardcore studying.
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
During my UCSD years, it was my favorite place in campus.
I don’t know why a library needs Unilocal reviews, it does not serve the best bbq or anything. But as far as a roomy, comfortable, quiet, and clean study environment to be concerned, UCSD biomedical library is the most awesome.
Place rating: 5
New York, NY
I love this place so much! Here are my top reasons:
1. The only quiet library on campus. The other libraries are now closed or loud and should be closed.
2. You will get work done.
3. This place is rarely packed. The freshmen & young kids on campus don’t know this place exists.
4. Grad students: get a card up front for 24-​hour access to their grad lounge. They sometimes do a sweep of the place to make sure everyone is a grad student, so beware undergrad with grad friends.
5. Reserve a study room online!
6. Park in the big lot near Rita if you have a B/​A permit or after-​hours with an S. Can’t park overnight during the weekday though! (Weekends are always free!)
7. Nobody will ever bother you or be obnoxiously loud (like Geisel 2nd floor).
Come here and get stuff done! Get those As!
Place rating: 5
Detroit, MI
My fave library. EVER!!! Reasons why BML is better than any other library at UCSD:
1. It has huuuuuuuge windows that allow natural sunlight to flood the library. You also get to stare at the pretty grass when you need a 15 second break. Huge windows + tall ceilings = no claustrophobic feelings! Yay!
2. No cell phone reception. Automatically means you’ll be more productive.
3. It’s actually quiet here. You can think.
4. The chairs are nice and comfy. Your butt won’t hurt after sitting in the same spot for 8 hours. I speak from experience.
5. It’s a walk from Clics/​Geisel/​the main part of campus, so by the time you get to BML, you actually feel compelled to be productive enough to make the journey worth it.
6. All my upper div science classes had reserves here.
7. Grad student study lounge!!! I heard they started checking ID cards for the lounge though.
8. Parking is super close! It’s just a short walk down the hill!

My fave spot to study was always downstairs at the circular tables by the restrooms/​printers. :)
Place rating: 5
Brentwood, Los Angeles, CA
I love libraries, period. I have to have absolute quiet when I’m reading or trying to transcribe a lecture from my digital recorder so a library is the ideal place. I like visting various libraries because they’re not all created equal.
Since my bf lives really close to UCSD, we’ve been taking advantage of their awesome libraries! I like Geisel for the view and the large individual tables right up against the windows. I like BML for the selection of textbooks on health science and medicine.
This library has a whole room devoted to Grad students. There are only 2 floors for studying, but they’re very spacious with tons of tables and comfy looking couches. I haven’t dared to sit in one of the couches as I’m afraid of falling asleep in them!
The group study rooms are cleaner than the ones at Geisel and they really take advantage of the natural light here. Overall, a great place to get your work done!
Place rating: 5
La Jolla, CA
It feels suck that I have to stay in library studying GRE and not going to the beaches in this sunny day in San Diego!
But all the sunlight hits into bml and I can see the beautiful sky while suffering in GRE!
I love bml! The best place to study!