Oh, Geisel, my home away from home, where people actually attempt to study, and one can get dirty looks for free. I swear that half the electrical outlets don't work in this gigantic structure. I also believe that the people in here need to get out into the fresh air. However, the librarians are nice and helpful. Oh, and did I mention the dirty looks for being too noisy, even on a conversation floor? I study here because it's not home, but I wonder if there's a better solution ... when I graduate, I might actually miss this place. read more

Geisel is one of those buildings that you learn to hate. Yeah, it was kind of cool when I took my first campus tour, if only because it was used as a spaceship in a movie. And it seemed like an interesting building to house books. But when you're a student, and Geisel becomes the center for stressed, overworked drones who shhhh you every five minutes, you realize it's not the happy place you once thought it was. Although I have to admit, every time I force myself to go and study at Geisel, I actually get good work done. Maybe being in the presence of so many focused people forces me to do the same. There are always seats available, maybe with the exception of finals week. And their no food no drink policy isn't strictly enforced if you're smart about it. Oh, and I guess it fulfills its main purpose of supplying books. I usually find what I need. read more

Featured on Star Wars...or was it Star Trek...don't remember, it's just one of those super nerdy sci fi movies.... I loved sneaking food in and eat it there...hehehe, don't tell! Best floor to study: 6th floor b/c it's big enough to accommodate everyone so you can get a good seat/good view. If you face the front of the library, then you can see the mormon church and a nice skyline view. I saw a rainbow one time and it was awesome! Very nice view! It's a good and bad thing though. Good because it's pretty/relaxing. Bad because it's very distracting! Check out the cool snake path to the side of the library and where Dr. Suess' statue is! read more

Oh Geisel. You and I have had a love-hate relationship for years now! Geisel is always cold. Frigid. To induce concentration and studying? I don't know. The librarians are always kind and helpful. They'll look for a book for you in the abyss of Geisel for days. Thanks guys. :-) As you go further up, the floors get larger, than smaller. I really don't recommend the highest floor. Too claustrophobic. Fun Fact: Geisel was the alien spaceship in the B grade movie "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes". read more

Uhhh why wouldn't I give this place five stars? First and foremost.... it was basically in the movie Inception, that's all I need to say in this review. Just kidding! Of course there's more! And second it's one of the most interesting libraries I've ever been in. Not only does it look incredibly interesting and, yes, very weird externally, but the interior is very modern and has so much space to study it's ridiculous. This was basically my home during all the midterms and finals I've had and it offers you every type of peace and quiet. The bottom floors are loud and as you progress up the floors, it gets quieter and quieter until you enter the tomb that is the 8th floor. If you DARE cough or breath louder than an ant walks on concrete you will draw harsh stares. So choose your floor wisely and study up! Cheers! read more

I hate this place #finals but actually it's really pretty The glass is tinted so you can't look in during the day but can see inside at night -it's pretty cool. As you go higher, it gets quieter except during finals week. People study but there's a bit of chatter everywhere. Go to 2nd floor for the art exhibits and the dr. Seuss collection!! read more

I've studied here before. Why did I come here to study? Simple, it was because studying helped me pass my classes. It was practically cheating since I was able to recall the facts I read. Spice is the variety of life. Why go elsewhere when you can "cheat" on the 4th floor (that's where all the cool kids went) but I studied on the 1st floor. read more

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The architecture of this library is incredible. As a UCSD student, I feel excited and grateful that we have such an amazing centerpiece on campus! As for the inside, it can be dirty, busy, and so many seats are stained. Since we only have two libraries on campus, Geisel gets a lot of use and it shows. Would highly recommend to visit but would only reccomend studying here if you are a student. read more

Oh Geisel...you were one of the first things (maybe the only thing, actually) that I feel in love with on Admit day back in '08. You were just so freakin' cool to me. And I don't think it had to do with your appearance either. I just really liked the different levels with a different loud/quiet range on each level. And you get to look out a window from every different side (except if you choose to study in the basement or main floor). Maybe that's why I liked you - you didn't make me feel cramped while I studied. I spent a good deal of time here my first two years actually "studying" (read: procrastinating), but then it just got too loud and chit-chatty during finals week, as it usually does. Believe it or not, but I also checked out books here, besides the 3 hour reserves loan I had to get every now and then. Mostly it was Russian books I checked out - Russian lit in Russian, in English, and Russian history. It wasn't like the 7th floor was overflowing with Russian books, but their selection made me proud. Farewell Geisel, but I hope we can remain friends. read more

This place is a great place to study. I mean, it can crazy and stinky here during finals and midterms season, but especially on the second floor, it's a great place to do group study. Make sure to reserve rooms. This library looks like a giant broccoli. read more

It looks like a UFO The library is a nice place to study during the year, but once finals week starts it is impossible to find a seat, and even harder to find a plug to charge your laptop! The hours for the library were cut down to 12pm, so if you're planning to pull an all nighter this library is not the place to do so. Also, if you want a quiet place to study it is best to go up to the higher levels, because the higher up you go the more quiet it is. read more

This place is WAY too cold. Geisel always blasts AC in the middle of winter when it's freezing outside already. It sucks enough that we have to come study.. why make it even worse by making it flippin cold?! And it sucks that I always have to pack a sweater or blanket with me when I come study here even during the summer when it's perfectly warm outside. I heard they keep the library cold to preserve the books.. Why not preserve the students.. Other than that. Good place to study. If you can study with noise, go to the 2nd floor SSH section. That place is like the most sociable place on the entire campus.. and it's loud. read more

I never go here to study because there's too many people and I just get distracted easily. Only time I come here is for the books on reserve for my classes. I probably socialize here more than actual studying. Study rooms can be reserved online and they're good for group projects read more

The building is legit for sure, but it's loud and dim on first floor. The best place to study in Geisel is 7th floor! However, people sometimes joking around. I think Biomedical Library is the BEST! read more

I USED...to come here a lot when I needed to study. It's quite on the upper floors but some people still talk on the phone or chat a little. The 2nd floor is usually pretty lively with people walking around and discussing, greeting and stuff. But in general, you can pick the lower floor if you feel like talking today or just pick 8th floor if you feel like being a loner today. One thing I hate about Geisel is that it gets super super super cold! I think something is wrong with the AC and it just gets cooler the longer I sit there. I like 6th floor the most because if you sit by the window, you get a view of the school. Depending on which side you are facing, you get a different view of the environment. It's just nice to stare out when I feel tired of studying. I don't go as much anymore...because I just procrastinate at home. read more

3.5. Geisel is a great place to get some studying done. If you're not on the first floor. I usually go to the 4th floor for my "I need to get my shit done" shenanigans, but during finals and what not, the 7th floor is my friend. But BE WARNED! You gotta stay quiet after the 4th floor.. or people are gonna glare at you. I'm one of those people. The down side? It's almost impossible to find free computers to go on in both S&E and SSH, and I always feel like there's way more socializing going on in SSH than S&E. If you're at the library to socialize, Geisel second floor (ground level) is the place to be OR take your shit and go to CLICS to avoid the stink eye from everyone around you. read more

We had our eshoot here after taking our photos at our first location, Salk Institute, and it was a perfect location to end our day. The massive library boasts many photo ops and thankfully our photographer, Jason Perryman, took full advantage. We had a lot of fun and the students were nice enough to move away and not photo-bomb our photos as well as congratulated us. If you ever want to have an architectural-themed eshoot, I highly recommend Geisel Library. But then again, it's just my opinion.. read more

I really like this library. Floors 4-8 has beautiful views during the day time (that can be a bad thing sometimes because I catch myself looking up at the view then down at what I should be studying). At night time, you won't get a view, the windows are like mirrors in the night time so anytime you look up, you'll just be looking at yourself. Only thing I don't like about those floors is that the floors are not carpeted. For some reason I like to have carpeted floors at the library. It gives it a more homely comfortable (non-hospital) like feel. As for the first 2 floors, (yes they are carpeted, so I get the comfy library feel) they do tend to get a bit noisy (for studying) at times. Talking is allowed on the first 2 floors though, so you have to go in with the expectation knowing your going to hear people talking on those floors. I never really experienced noise though, on those floors where I just couldn't focus at all. read more

What can I say? I love and miss this place. This structure lies at the heart of UCSD both figuratively and literally. So many wonderful..and not so wonderful memories made here. Honestly I don't know how people can study here hours on end, day after day after day. It's too cold. Sure, I was there everyday. But that's cuz I worked there :p And I had fun. Before I started working there and the novelty wore off, I used go up to the 8th (topmost) floor to look out the window and contemplate life. Or take naps. Most people I know avoid that floor because it's too quiet, too claustrophobic or what not, but where else can you get such a spectacular view on all sides of campus? But if you are up there, make sure to adhere to the super quiet zone rule. Or else you will be shot daggers at. The selection of books is quite impressive (although you have a better chance of finding popular literature at Clics). I love that I could find most of the books I'm looking for in one location. It's too bad that some stupid people decided last academic year to taint the place with racial paraphernalia :( Anyway, I will always have respect for the awesome UFO-like building that is Geisel Library. Clics can eat it. People love studying there (prob because they're open 24 hrs during finals), but it's so loud and gross. Geisel is a waay better study spot in my opinion (though I personally preferred to study in neither). Just be careful not to leave ur stuff unattended. I've seen so many cases of thefts. One girl got her laptop stolen in the span of a few minutes. O and for those of you wanting to checkout reserve materials, please have the call number ready before getting in line. It's really annoying when you don't. read more

The parking sucks here, be careful how you park here. Why do I see signs around here that you need a permit? It was very difficult to get here to get a parking spot to have a place to come enjoy and go to a quiet place to read and cool off in this extreme heat. I thought parking is free here at UCSD always on the weekends! read more

Geisel Library - Gisel Library! - Libraries Near Me - La Jolla, California

Didnt get a chance to go in because of construction so just got to admire the architecture. Nice place and surroundings with walk-up. read more

Geisel Library - Libraries Near Me - La Jolla, California

Geisel Library is easily the best library I've been to (I haven't been to many). That aside, it's an awesome place. Geisel seems to have almost everything. They have self-serve printing services, computers to use and easily millions of books. Additionally, I love the study areas on the higher floors with the floor-to-ceiling windows and silence. It's my favorite place to study in quiet so far (I'm a freshman). read more

I don't go out to a library to study unless I have a group. Geisel is pretty loud sometimes, especially during finals week. If you have a nice place to study at your own place, don't bother coming here. Unless this spot is close to everybody, it's a nice alternative. read more

From my years at UCSD, these are the trends that I've noticed for geisel. 1st floor west is the korean floor both americanized and international. You'll think you're in korea if you're on this side. 2nd floor is just packed all around and really loud with different people. 4-5th floors don't really know too much about them except theres not that much space available. 6th floor is packed with all the greek people. Bathrooms here are extremely nasty. 7th floor similar to 4-5th floors. 8th floor is pretty spacious and extremely quiet but will be packed during midterms and finals. 2nd floor is 24/7 except for fridays/saturdays. Wish the library interior could be upgraded cause it seems so plain and boring. But meh it's still a great place to go to if you need to study but know that if you plan on studying here during finals, glhf because it's gonna be packed read more

ahh Geisel. hate to love you, love to hate you. i can't study in absolute silence, but clics is just too damn far from anything. i've tried studying in my bed, but that never works out well. i've tried price center, but i end up just eating. so i settle for Geisel. i avoid the tower, and stay on the first floor...actually, i tend to go to s& e (science and engineering, 1st floor) library. why? let me tell you why. s & e library has this really hot girl worker at the front desk. i constantly find myself stalking this girl named yvonne. i memorize her schedule and ONLY study there if she's working..i wonder if she even knows i exist..i like to ask her to grab me the books on the bottom shelf and oh how i love the feel of her soft hands as it grazes mine when i return my vibrating buzzer thing to tell me my book is checked in. oh, did i mention i'm not a science OR engineering major? =D finals week , book a study room here! sure, i get study rooms with my friends and we end up just snacking and talking and getting nothing done, bombing our finals, but it's ok, the important thing is..Cs get degrees! seriously though, geisel is not bad. it's a good place to study and NAP in between classes. yes, i'm that girl napping in the corner or the 7th floor. AND WHAT? i love geisel, plus, it looks cool! =p read more

It's pretty hard to find a quiet library to study for my boards. But, I'm glad I found Geisel! It's my favorite studying place with beautiful views of San Diego. - Very quiet - Lots of seating space during the summer - Enjoy the views from 7th and 8th Floor - 6th floor has better comfortable seats and cleaner bathroom. - 8th floor has a stuffy, unisex, smelly and extremely small bathroom. This is the only reason, why I do not want to study on the 8th floor. - The other reason I give it a 4 star is because parking is horrible and expensive. Saturday and Sunday is free, so you can park anywhere. Wished parking was a little better. read more

as a student at UCSD for 4 years, i am a little bit biased, but i love this library. always use the books on reserve so i don't have to buy my books for every class, always study here for finals. breakdown: -for people who "study" with friends & mainly just wanna talk=basement, unless you're at the cubicles or computers -for people who wanna work in groups, of study in between classes etc.=2nd floor S&E or S&S -get shit done floors=4-7 (quiet floors, but people talk occasionally...) -trying to kill yourself floor=8 (quiet floor, and they mean silent) DOWNFALL: IT CLOSES AT 12...my first year it was open until 2am, and hopefully now that clics is closed down it will be open late, but we are students in college...we study passed 12!! also, its effing cold!! bring a sweater, no matter how hot it is outside! read more

My second home - I spend way more time in here than I wish I needed to, but it's a great central place to meet up and study at. I love that the 2nd floor is so social because it's the perfect place for group projects and situations where people need to be allowed to talk. S&E is where I spend most of my time and I love it - lots of tables and a printer conveniently located in the center. I just wish there were more computers, less computers under maintenance, and more computer labs (last year's lab is no more) read more

It's a good place to study. The selection of books is vast, as there are books on each of the 7 ( accessible ) floors. If you're looking for something to research or something to read, this is the place to go. My sister has a camp here this week and while she's doing her thing, I get to study here. The internet is good, it's rather quiet even on the active study floors, and there's lots of places to study. Once you understand the book codes, you'll be able to find a single book out of thousands quickly due to the way the books are organized. The two things I'll complain about, though, is that the first floor air conditioning is colder than a movie theater and that the glass on the upper floors doesn't serve a good purpose other than aesthetic. What I mean by the glass only there for aesthetic is that they're not soundproofed and you can quite clearly hear the landscapers on the sixth floor, and sometimes even get small snippet of phone calls if you're the fourth floor. Other than that, this is a great library and you should come here if you have the time. read more

Geisel is ridiculously cold!!! Sometimes it is 50F outside, and it's 45F inside. I can't even stay in the library and study because I freeze there after the first 30 minutes. However, later I found there some really cool spots to study. read more

UCSD alum! I remember my days when I would spend hours here during finals week. Most of the students studied in the basement. But as you ascended into the higher levels, it got progressively quieter. Getting to the higher floors was a little tough during the busy hours, but those stairs gave you a workout. read more

Has been my home for 3 years. Haha. First floor is good for hanging out with friends, but if you wanna study HARD, go on 6-8th floor. read more

I was doing my research work there at Geisel for a over a year. I was dedicated and very productive for a while. I was translating a historical memoir using three languages to achieve the English finished product. I was using translation software and historical reference materials in the stacks. One day, a man carrying two large backpacks sat next to me with greasy, smelly food in his hands. His body odor was not very pleasant either, and he started watching videos. This was not good for my concentration. I asked the man if he could sit in another place, since I was very busy with my project. He left his bags, and he went to security to complain. Two security guards arrived. It was not a good interaction. I told them that I would leave the library, since they were rude to me. I expressed to security that they should not be manipulated by the homeless people attending the library and that there was plenty of seating for him in other spots. I was escorted out of the library by security. The end result was that I never returned to Geisel Library again. I paid a yearly fee to use the library for my research work. If I was going to be treated unfairly at the library, my money to them would come to a screeching halt. It did. read more

I'm not actually a UCSD student, so I don't know what it's like to study here, but from an outsider's perspective Geisel is really cool for a library. I go to a small university, so we have nothing even close to a building of this magnitude. From the outside it looks a building you would see in a sci-fi network series. The inside is fairly typical for a library, nothing too fancy but well spaced out. From what I saw there were plenty of tables and computers but not a whole lot of study rooms. We took a quick ride to the 6th floor (sorry people who were studying), and it had a nice view of San Diego. Only problem is that the windows are rather dirty, which obscures the view somewhat. read more