The University Library collects books, periodicals, microform, video, and other materials in support of the Theatre and Dance Department at UC Davis. This includes general performance research of interdisciplinary interest to researchers in Art, Film and Media Studies, Literature, History, and Rhetoric, among other related fields. Dramatic Art, stagecraft, and technical aspects of theatre are collected along with more theoretical and historical texts. History and theory in the areas of Gender Studies and Ethnic Studies are of particular interest, as are materials on contemporary political theatre in California and Europe. Vaudeville, puppetry, circus, and classical theatre performance are also covered in the collection scope. Some current collecting concentrations include Twentieth Century performance, East and South Asian theatres, and ethnic dance.

The library houses a number of video and audio performance recordings in Reserve Services (located on 1st floor Shields Library), where most can be checked out for up to three days. Other videos are located in the Instructional and Educational Technology Film and Video collection, and some audio recordings (particularly soundtracks) may be found in the Music Library; both of these collections have their own catalogs, which must be searched separately. The Special Collections Department at Shields Library is particularly rich in Theatre materials, and houses the Abbey Theatre Collection, the Woodland Opera House Archive, the Bread and Puppet Collection, the Living Theatre and Karl Bissinger Collection, and the Archives of both the San Francisco Mime Troupe and Squat Theatre.