Tamiment Library Research & Tools

Using the Collection:

All researchers wishing to use archival collections and researchers unaffiliated with NYU wishing to use NYU Special Collections must register for a Special Collections Research Account and show a valid photo ID when they arrive at NYU Special Collections.

We ask that researchers observe the following:

• Register for a Special Collections Research Account
• Sign in each day
• Store all coats, outerwear, and bags, including camera cases and laptop cases, in the lockers provided
• Use pencils, laptops, or tablets to take notes
• Handle materials carefully
• No food, beverages, or gum are allowed in the reading room
• Cell phones must remain silenced in the reading room

Requesting Materials:

All researchers are required to have an appointment to view materials in the Special Collections Reading Room. Requests for archival materials, books, serials, printed ephemera, and oral history interviews are made through your Special Collections Research Account. You can request books and serials directly through NYU Libraries Catalog records. You can request archival collections via finding aids available in the Archival Search Portal.  For more information consult the SCRA FAQ.

Off-site materials:

A number of archival collections and some serials and monographs are housed in offsite storage. Depending the location of the materials, it can take 2 business days for the materials to arrive to the library, and in some cases up to 7 business days. Contact our staff at special.collections@nyu.edu.

With the exception of a few reference titles on open shelves in the Reading Room, NYU Special Collections books, serials, oral history interviews, printed ephemera, and archival collections are held in closed stacks. All materials must be used on site and do not circulate.

Computers & Wifi:

There are two PCs in the Reading Room on which researchers may access their Special Collections Research Account, our Archival Search Portal, New York University's library catalog, the NYU Special Collections website, and other electronic resources. 

Guest Wifi is available to all researchers. Please ask for more information in the reading room about how to register.

Instruction Sessions:

NYU Faculty and Graduate Assistants may request an instruction session at NYU Special Collections tailored to the research needs of the class. Please send an email to special.collections@nyu.edu if you would like to bring your class to the library. 

To visit NYU Special Collections, come to the Bobst Library at 70 Washington Square South (on the southeast corner of Washington Square Park).

• More information about getting to NYU can be found in NYU's general "Getting Here" guide.
• The subway instructions will give you information about how to walk to Washington Square Park.
  • Once you get to the end of Waverly Place, take a left onto Washington Square East, and walk to the corner.
  • Bobst Library is the tall, red building on the corner of Washington Square South and Washington Square East (which turns into W 4th Street).
• Once you arrive at Bobst, locate the library privileges desk to your left when you come in the doors.
  • There, show a photo ID and tell them you're coming for an appointment at NYU Special Collections.  
  • They'll give you a day pass and you can come up to the 2nd floor, where we're located in between the banks of elevators.

Requesting Copies of Archival Materials:

Researchers may request reproductions of collection material via their Special Collections Research Account. Please contact our staff at special.collections@nyu.edu for assistance. There is a hard limit of 250 pages per researcher per semester for low-resolution scans and 10 images per researcher per semester for high-resolution scans. NYU Special Collections Staff have the right to refuse reproduction requests at any time in the process.

Cost of Copies:

• Photocopies or low-resolution PDF scans are $0.20 per page.
• For physical copies there is an additional $10 mailing fee.
• Low-resolution PDF scans can be sent immediately via email, Google Drive, or WeTransfer.
• High-resolution scans are $15 per page and can also be sent immediately via email, Google Drive, or WeTransfer.

Payment can be submitted by credit card, cash, check, money order. Materials will be released after payment has been received.

Estimated Time to Make Copies:

The typical turnaround time for orders is 6-8 weeks. Please note that complext or large requests will require additional time to process

Access Copies of Audio Visual Materials:

NYU Special Collections holds audio recordings on CD, cassette, and reel-to-reel tape. Because of preservation concerns, access copies must be made before researchers may listen to recordings. Please reach out to the library directly at special.collections@nyu.edu for additional information. 

Publishing Images from Archival Collections:

Researchers wishing to publish images of materials in the Library's collections or quote from unpublished materials must request permission to do so in writing from library staff and the copyright holders. Contact reference staff at special.collections@nyu.edu for more details.

Personal Reference Photographs:

You may bring your own camera to the library to take still photographs of library materials for reference purposes only. All copyright laws apply. This service is free, but prior to taking reference photographs of collections, researchers must fill out and sign an application form and read the accompanying guidelines. A camera stand is available for researchers.