The Herbaria are on the campus of the University of California in Berkeley. Hours are 8:00 to 5:00, Monday through Friday.
The doors are locked during the
lunch hour (12:00 to 1:00.).
Digital Access to Herbaria Resources
You may be able to get the information you need through the
UC/JEPS Specimen Portal, powered by CollectionSpace,
or our type specimen images and catalogues.
DIRECTIONS
The University and Jepson Herbaria are located on the ground floor of the central atrium of the Valley Life Sciences Building. The entrance is prominently marked, flanked by planters, and directly in front of a Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton. The Valley Life Sciences Building is a large building easily identified by its "neo-Babylonian" bas relief, located east of the prominent eucalyptus grove that is near the West Gate entry kiosk at the east end of University Avenue.
By car: From Interstate 80/580 in Berkeley, take the University Avenue exit and drive east (away from the Bay). University Avenue ends at the University of California campus. Parking is at a premium in Berkeley during business hours; the following options are available to visitors (see also
campus website):
- Metered street parking adjacent to campus (20 minutes per quarter; 2 hour limit).
- City and commercial parking lots and structures (see
map and look up "parking" in the map index).
- Parking in residential area north of campus (2 hour limit, Monday - Friday).
- Central campus parking
- Student Union Garage at Bancroft & Telegraph
By BART: The University and Jepson Herbaria are within a few blocks of the downtown Berkeley BART station. Follow Central Avenue to the east (the main flow of students) to campus, and then continue east on the walkway that crosses the bridge and goes through a wooded area. This will take you to the south side of the Valley Life Sciences Building.
A
campus map is available online, as well as directions to campus by transit and directions to campus by car.
Public and
Visitor Parking Information
If you want to use the collection, and you have not received
a formal orientation from us previously, we strongly suggest that you
make an appointment ahead of time to ensure that an appropriate staff member will be available to
orient you. You will not be allowed to use the collection without
an orientation.
If you have specimens that you want to use in the Herbaria,
consider mailing them ahead of time so that they may be frozen to
kill pests. Please call 510-642-2465 or email the
collections staff for an appointment.
VISITOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND HERBARIUM POLICIES
- When arriving at the
Herbaria please check in at the front desk.
- Please sign the Visitor
Logbook. (Note that there are two pages that need to be filled out.)
- In order to prevent
accidental introduction of pests all specimens brought into the herbaria
must go through the appropriate pest control treatment.
- Each visitor must undergo
authorized orientation for use of the herbaria.
- There is no food or drink
allowed inside the collections area.
- Do not remove anything
(ie. specimens, books, equipment) from the herbaria without consent of
the collections manager.
- Information for
photocopying, phone use, etc. can be provided at the front desk.
- The building must be
evacuated if the fire alarm sounds.
LIBRARY POLICY
- The non-circulating
herbarium library is open only to in-house staff, students working under
the sponsorship of the herbaria, and visiting researchers.
- New visiting researchers
need to make an appointment with Amy Kasameyer at (510) 642-2465 or
email her at
akasameyer@berkeley.edu.
HANDLING SPECIMENS
- Keep folders horizontal
when removing from the cases.
- Keep herbarium sheets
specimen-side-up. Do not turn them over like pages in a book.
- Please refile specimens
correctly; misfiled specimens are effectively lost.
LOANS
- Please pull specimens you
would like to request on loan, and let the collections management staff
know that you have done so.
- When you return home,
please have a formal letter of request for the loan sent. The loan will
then be packaged and shipped to you.
PUBLIC EXHIBITS AND TOURS
Have you been wanting to visit the University & Jepson Herbaria (UC/JEPS)?
Well, you’re in luck! We are officially announcing the beginning of regular
public herbaria tours.
Four times a year, there will be the opportunity to come learn all about
UC/JEPS and herbaria. We’ll discuss how we started,
how herbarium specimens are collected and how they end up here,
our curation practices, ongoing projects, and so much more!
Beautiful specimens will be on display, and curators from the
different collections will be available for questions.
There are two tours coming soon:
Thursday, April 25th at 10:30AM and Thursday, July 11th at 10:30AM.
Spots are limited! Sign up here today if you’re interested in a tour:
https://forms.gle/xoWv57RD3TTNtRNG6
Tour groups will meet at the front of the herbaria, located at:
1001 Valley Life Sciences Building
Berkeley, CA 94720-2465
We look forward to seeing you!
|