The library building and grounds have served as a shooting location for a number of films and television projects over the years:
- Star Trek
- Feature film, 2009. Filming included Oviatt Library (as part of Star Fleet Academy), and Sierra Quad.
- Knight Rider
- TV series, 2008. Filming included Oviatt Library, and Sierra Quad.
- CSI: Las Vegas
- TV series, 2007. Filmed at Oviatt Library, and Sierra Tower.
- Close to Home
- TV series, premiered Oct. 4, 2005. Filmed in front of west wing, front steps and Oviatt lawn on 1/10/06.
- Hewlett-Packard (commercial)
- Study carrels and bookstacks on the second floor served as a background; a segment out on the grand staircase was also filmed. The finished commercial is expected to air late spring/early summer 2006.
- Night Stalker
- TV series, premiered Sept. 29 2005. Exterior shots.
- Commander in Chief
- TV series, premiered Sept. 27, 2005. Filming included the front lawn, grand staircase, and the front portico area leading up to the library doors. Episode airs May 2006.
- Sky High
- Feature film by Disney, 2005. Oviatt cast as a high school for superheroes. Exterior and interior shots.
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer
- TV Series, 2003. Filmed at the Cleary Court Breezeway.
- Joan of Arcadia
- TV series, 2003-2005. Interior shots.
- Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blue
- Feature film, 2003. Exterior shots.
- Roswell
- TV series, 1999-2002. Episode: "Baby, It's You" filmed March 2001, Oviatt Lawn.
- The Princess and the Marine
- TV movie, 2001.
- Star Trek Voyager
- TV series, 1995-2001. Oviatt Library is features as part of the Mari homeworld in the episode "Random Thoughts" (1997)
- Columbo
- TV series, 1974-2001, starring Peter Falk. Garden level interior.
- The Profiler
- TV series, 1996-2000. Garden level interior.
- Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
- TV series, 1993-1996. One of the Power Rangers jumped off the front portico to the Oviatt lawn to catch the villain.
- Son-in-Law
- Feature film, 1994, starring Pauly Shore.
- The Intentional Stranger
- TV movie, 1986. Mark Harmon played Ted Bundy. The Oviatt was used as the location where Bundy was shot.
- The Misfits of Science
- TV series, 1985-1986. Library Dean’s office poses as the office of a eccentric, mad professor. Oviatt Library became the Department of Anthropology at "California Science Institute."
- Timewalker
- Film, 1982. One scene captures the roof of the old South Library.
- Cliffhangers
- TV series, 1979. Episode: "The Curse of Dracula." The concept was that Dracula was alive and well and teaching a night course in California.
- Battlestar Galactica
- TV series, 1978-1979. Episode: "Living Legend," 1978, starring Lloyd Bridges and Anne Lockhart. Aired December 3, 1978. In part II, the Oviatt posed as a Cylon base.
- Project UFO
- TV series, 1978-1979. The Oviatt was used in an exterior shot as part of the "University of Los Angeles."
- McMillan and Wife
- TV series, 1971-1976, starring Rock Hudson. Episode: "Dark Sunrise," Jan 1977, with Karen Valentine.
- Medical Center
- TV series, 1969-1976, starring Chad Everett.