Starr East Asian Library

Built 2008. Berkeley’s vast collection of East Asian manuscripts and artifacts -- assembled over the past century -- is housed in this library, the first freestanding structure at a U.S. university erected solely for East Asian collections. The library is home to more than 900,000 volumes, primarily in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, plus thousands of manuscripts, rubbings, and the largest and most valuable collection of historic Japanese maps outside of Japan. It is also the largest U.S. academic repository of materials on the People's Republic of China. It is named for the late Cornelius Vander Starr, an insurance pioneer with a deep interest in Asia and a major donor to the building fund for the library.

Building Details

Floors: 4

Accessible entrances: The accessible entrance is located on the east side the building. Coming from the south you can take an external elevator to reach the entrance.

Restrooms: Usable restrooms are located on all floors except the 2nd.

Designated waiting area: The designated waiting area is located directly adjacent to the main stairwell in the center of the building.

Emergency evacuation cabinet: NW: The emergency evacuation cabinet is located near the north emergency stairwell.

Pictures of East Asian Library

A southeast view of the East Asian Library. There is an upper and lower entrance on the east side of the building.

Southeast Face

A northeast view of the East Asian Library. There is an upper and lower entrance on the east side of the building.

Northeast Face

The upper entrance to the East Asian Library, facing east. The access path is on a hill, to the right of the entrance.

Upper Entrance

The access path to the lower entrance of the East Asian Library. It is a ramp south of the building.

South Access Path

The lower entrance to the East Asian Library, facing east.

Lower Entrance

Department(s):

[under construction]

Location