Overview

The Biological & Agricultural Sciences Reference Department and biological, agricultural and mathematics collections occupy the third floor of Peter J. Shields Library, the main campus library for the University of California, Davis. The building entrance is on West Quad between Peter J. Shields Avenue and Hutchison Drive.

The book collections in biology and agriculture are among the country's most extensive for these fields and are particularly strong in bee biology, nematology, viticulture and enology. The collections include thousands of current journals. Bound journals and books are shelved by call number and housed on the third floor of Shields Library. Current issues of these journals are on display in the Current BioAg Periodicals Collection, adjacent to the BioAg Reference Desk, also located on the third floor of Shields Library.

BioAg offers services in four areas: reference, education, collection development and document delivery. Five departmental bibliographers share responsibility for providing guidance to users of the collection, either in locating materials or developing strategies for users to find information. The Department is actively engaged in classroom lectures, tours, and seminars on the use biological and agricultural information. Bibliographers work with the faculty in developing the collection. Recommendations for books to be added to the collection can be made via the Recommend a Book form. The Department has also developed programs with other UC campuses to expedite delivery of library materials between libraries for students and faculty.

Drop by the 3rd Floor Reference Desk

If you would like in-person assistance, the reference desk is staffed 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, or call the reference desk between 9:00-5:00 at (530) 752-9781.