Library Service Center - Visiting

Onsite Facilities:

The Library Service Center has a small reading room, for use by Rice card holders, strictly by appointment. For details about making an appointment, please contact the Library Service Center manager at 713-348-3880 or jamess@rice.edu. A confirmation of your appointment is required.

Hours of availability are Monday through Friday 9am-4pm.

You must request Library Service Center materials a minimum of one full work day in advance of your intended visit. No on site reference assistance is available, and requests for additional retrievals from the closed stack must be submitted through the standard request process, to be fulfilled per our standard service commitment (next business day).

The LSC reading room has network access but has yet to be equipped with computer workstations (installation pending, 5/16/05). There are no photocopiers, public telephones, or snack/beverage dispensors at the facility.

Tours of the LSC:

Tours of the LSC may be arranged by contacting the LSC manager at 713-348-3880 or jamess@rice.edu

Detailed Directions to the Library Service Center

The Library Service Center is not serviced by the Rice shuttle system. It is reachable by private vehicle or METRO bus.

Driving from the main Rice University campus:

Turn south (right) onto Main street and continue approx. 4 miles to 610. Continue south on Main - the street becomes elevated briefly but returns to grade.

Take the "Willowbend/Stella Link" exit. (Main/290A immediately becomes elevated again, with no ability to exit until well past the Library Service Center and no path to "double back".)

Follow the "access" road parallel to the elevated Main/290A through 2 lights (Willowbend and Stella Link) and across the railroad tracks. Proceed another long block-and-a-half, and look for the bright green buildings on your right.  (As of summer 2007, a second bright green building, housing another university support function, has been constructed at the South Annex - the LSC is the building to your left.)

 
July 15, 2004 image by Debra Bailey

An intercom system at the property gate may be used to contact the building - LSC staff will open the gate to scheduled visitors.

Via METRO BUS:

The bus line providing closest service to the Library Service Center is route number 70 (approx. 0.4 miles to the security gate and 0.5 miles to the building - please note there are no sidewalks along this segment of Main). Consult METRO for current schedules, connecting lines and rates.