The UC Libraries are shifting operational and strategic oversight of our regional library facilities to become fully systemwide service centers. This change builds on the existing “one RLF, two locations” ethos and work practices; and our experts at both facilities already collaborate and partner closely. In now further shifting our strategic planning, budget management and service provision to the systemwide level, the UC Libraries will be better able to explore new operational opportunities while maintaining high-quality preservation and access services, UC-wide, for our Systemwide Library Facility (SLF) held materials. Both facilities will continue to be governed by the Systemwide Library Facilities Board (SLFB).
This kind of change reasonably raises questions for many of us, both about immediate practice and the future. Below please find some frequently asked questions (FAQs) and responses. If you have additional questions or comments to help us expand the SLFs FAQ, please feel free to complete this linked form.
General FAQs for UC Libraries employees
When is this name change taking place for the regional library facilities?
When will the OPAC/ILS reflect the new name?
Will my campus deposit allocation be different moving forward?
Will the new SLF director position be affected by the systemwide hiring freeze?
Will the two SLFs become more aligned in their practices?
When will the SLF director be hired?
Does this shift from regional to systemwide facilities actually bring about significant change?
FAQs for SLF team members
How will this impact my work as an SLF-South or SLF-North employee?
Will my immediate supervisor change?
What will the new reporting structure look like?
When is this name change taking place for the regional library facilities?
- It already has! The names of the two facilities officially changed in March 2025; the facilities are now SLF-North and SLF-South (SLF = Systemwide Library Facility). The transition to the new nomenclature on websites and onsite signage will happen in stages over time.
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When will the OPAC/ILS reflect the new name?
- The exact date has not yet been determined, but it will happen after July 1, 2025. The aim in implementing the name change is to be sensitive to existing reporting and statistics obligations and to minimize potential disruption. This change may be held until the SLF director position has been filled.
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When will the facilities’ websites, hosted by UCLA and UC Berkeley, be fully updated to reflect the name changes (SRLF and NRLF to SLF-South and SLF-North)?
- Edits to the websites will take place over time. Initial edits were made in March 2025; further edits still need to be scheduled. Some changes may wait until after the SLF director is hired, so that the SLFs can more fully consider whether to shift to a single webpage for both facilities.
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Will my campus deposit allocation be different moving forward?
- For FY 25-26, the allocation model and related processes will remain unchanged. However, the SLFB is already working in partnership with UC Libraries experts to develop new and revised systemwide policies and guidelines to govern campus deposits and allocations. Allocation-related analysis began in FY 24-25 and will continue in FY 25-26. This work is currently supported by representatives from the facilities, Shared Content Leadership Group (SCLG), Shared Print Strategy Team (SPST), and other experts to reassess the principles, workflows and methodology for SLF allocations.
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Will the new SLF director position be affected by the systemwide hiring freeze?
- At present, no. Each location (UCOP and the campuses) is implementing the hiring freeze based on their local budget landscape and needs. UC Berkeley is proceeding with the hiring process for the SLF director.
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How will this work? The SLF director will be based at the northern facility and UC Berkeley, but will oversee the work being done at the facility based at UCLA?
- Yes, that is correct. The SLF director will be a UC Berkeley employee and Bay Area based; they will oversee the work, services and strategy of both SLF-North and SLF-South, and will spend time (in-person) at both facilities. While this kind of oversight model is new for the facilities, we have many great examples within the UC Libraries and across the University where a director or program manager is based at a campus or CDL and oversees a systemwide service with team members at multiple UC locations. The SLF director will have many great examples to draw from to ensure the SLF staff and services are well supported.
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Will the two SLFs become more aligned in their practices?
- Yes, expanded SLF alignment is one core goal in shifting these facilities from being regional to fully systemwide service centers. When the new SLF director arrives, analyzing practices and opportunities for greater alignment will be an activity pursued in partnership with the campuses and SLF teams. Through the pursuit of new operational models, the SLFs will continue to focus on equitable and high-impact access and preservation services in alignment with the University’s mission and priorities.
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When will the SLF director be hired?
- Ideally by the end of summer 2025, though this is dependent on several factors. The AUL & SLF Director search officially launched in May 2025. Please see the UC Berkeley Open Recruitments page for the job posting.
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Does this shift from regional to systemwide facilities actually bring about significant change?
- Most definitely. Right now, some of these changes may feel small or medium in size. However, the Council of University Librarians (CoUL), SLFB and UC Office of the President are committed to what will be a series of changes that will necessarily unfold over time. We are starting with the naming convention, new leadership under the SLF director and expanded shared governance responsibilities (see SLFB charge, updated December 2024), which are being implemented alongside existing systemwide work initiated in recent years by SLFB, the facilities, SCLG and SPST. However, this transition from regional to systemwide facilities and services is not a one-and-done; it is an iterative, collaborative process — including during the 2022-2024 Project to Analyze RLF Operating (see SLFB website for additional details) and moving forward.
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Why is this change necessary?
- By design, the SLFs and their expert teams directly advance UC’s academic mission, while lessening campus space crises and securing significant operational efficiencies at scale. However, UC’s physical collection landscape has continuously changed since the regional blueprints for the facilities were first drafted in the 1980s, and campus and systemwide requirements have additionally expanded: UC-wide growth in degrees and disciplines requires commensurate growth in collections; new modes and priorities in preservation and access have emerged, including mass digitization and collaborative print management; and patron expectations continue to evolve. In 2022-23, the UC Libraries, UC Berkeley, UCLA and UC Office of the President recognized the strategic need to shift from the regional, host-managed models to a new, holistic systemwide operations and budget model. This transition will better support UC Libraries collective collection management and strategy, lead to more resilient systemwide preservation and access services for UC faculty, researchers and students, and expand the libraries’ operational efficiencies and cost avoidances.
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How will this impact my work as an SLF-South or SLF-North employee?
- Initially, jobs will remain the same. However, we are further shifting our services, work and planning to the systemwide level; the facilities will no longer operate as regional facilities with systemwide service parity. Service and operational changes will likely unfold over the next few years.
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Can I still attend meetings and events at my host campus? Participate in committees and community events?
- Most definitely, SLF-South and SLF-North employees can continue to participate in and attend meetings and events at their host campus. SLF-South employees will continue to be UCLA employees and SLF-North employees will continue to be UC Berkeley employees. Moving forward, under the leadership of the SLF director and the SLFB, there will also be further opportunities for SLF team members to participate in cross-facility committees and systemwide activities.
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Will my immediate supervisor change?
- Immediate reporting relationships will remain unchanged for the vast majority of the SLFs; when the SLF director is hired, the onsite operations managers (or equivalent) will report to the director. Moving forward, there will be a single director for both facilities; we will no longer have regional directors. When the SLF director arrives, through analysis and consultation with the SLF teams and governance, additional changes may be implemented.
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What will the new reporting structure look like?
- The organizational and governance structure has changed with the shift to systemwide oversight and management. At a high-level, the new structure will look as follows: https://ucsf.box.com/s/8zxsmzqnmmkejg5otmrfny7m87hersyi. Most immediate reporting relationships within the SLFs have not changed at present. When the SLF director arrives, through analysis and consultation with the SLF teams and governance, additional changes may be implemented.
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