Frequently Asked Questions about the library and our services

Choose a category for answers to commonly asked questions:

1. About the Library
   Hours and locations, volunteering or working at the library, and getting in touch with us
2. Reference & Research Help
   Finding books, NYPL catalogs, online databases, e-journals, e-mail and chat reference, and genealogy
3. NYPL Library Cards
   Access cards, Branch library cards, PIN numbers
4. Branch Library Borrowing Privileges
   Renewing books, fines and overdues policy, reserving or "placing a hold" on items
5. Services
   Classes, English classes for Speakers of Other Languages, books by mail, tax forms & literacy programs

About the Library

The New York Public Library consists of 86 libraries in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island: four world-acclaimed research libraries, a large network of neighborhood branch libraries, four central libraries with in-depth subject collections, and a library for the blind and physically handicapped. All libraries in the NYPL system may be used free of charge by all visitors.

Materials in our four research libraries do not circulate, and must be used on the premises.

The Digital Library is a continually expanding collection of digitized images and text selected from throughout the Research Libraries' collections.

• Humanities and Social Sciences Library
• The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
• Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
• The Science Industry and Business Library

• Neighborhood Branches in the Bronx, Staten Island, or Manhattan

• Mid-Manhattan Library
• Donnell Library
• Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library

What are the library's hours?
Each branch, division and department of the library has different hours. Visit the pages listed above for travel directions or check the site map.

How do I find out which branch libraries are near me? Where can I get their addresses and phone numbers?
Start with this map. See also branch hours and addresses.

How can I contact the Library?
You can reach the Library's switchboard at 212-930-0800 or our Volunteer Office at 212-930-0502. Additional contact information.

How do I volunteer at the library?
Read more about volunteer opportunities.

How do I get a job in the library?
Take a look at our current Employment Opportunities. See also How to Apply.

What is the Mission Statement of the library? Do you have a brief history of the library?
Read a short history of the library here, learn about the Library Lions, read the NYPL-wide Mission Statement and the Mission Statement of the Branch Libraries. See also our most recent Annual Reports and Statistics.

Reference and Research Help

How do I find a book?
The library has two catalogs: LEO and CATNYP.

All circulating items (including books, videos, DVDs, and sound recordings) can be found by searching LEO (Library Entrance Online). Use LEO to see which branch owns a particular book, if it is on the shelf, or if it is currently signed out. Use LEO to order items to be sent to your local library, review the status of items you have reserved, renew your books, or see what you have borrowed from the Library and when it is due.

The Research Libraries' catalog is called CATNYP, which includes over 3 million records for titles cataloged since 1972 and more than 2 million records for roman alphabet language books and periodicals cataloged prior to 1972. Some of The Research Libraries' holdings are still found only in the 800 volume Dictionary Catalog of The Research Libraries, or in the print catalogs of the subject and language divisions. Copies of printed catalogs are available in various locations throughout The Research Libraries.

Where are the books in The Research Libraries? How do I order a book from CATNYP?
The Research Libraries' collections are kept in "closed stacks," storage areas not accessible to the public. Materials from the stacks are requested by submitting a call slip at the appropriate service desk. Items are retrieved for readers by Library employees and delivered to the reading rooms where they may be used.

How can I get a question answered if I'm not at the library? Do you answer reference questions via e-mail?
Use Telephone Reference at (212) 340-0849 if you have a short factual question. Call the General Research Division at 917-ASK-NYPL (917-275-6975) for questions in the humanities and social sciences. Call the Science, Industry and Business Library at (212) 592-7000 if you have a question about science, business or government information.

You can e-mail your question to ASK NYPL (our e-mail reference service), or chat live (it works like instant messaging) to ask an NYPL librarian your question. Librarians are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You may also try SIBL E-reference, the New York Small Business Resource Center, the Humanities and Social Sciences Library, or the Library for the Performing Arts, depending on your subject.

If you need more extensive assistance than our free reference services provides, contact NYPL Express (our fee-based information service).

Can you appraise an art work or artifact for me?
While we cannot appraise items for you, the Art Department at the Mid-Manhattan Library has an extensive collection of books and periodicals to help you with your research. If you are unsure of where to start, read How to Research an Art Work. The Art & Architecture Collection at the Humanities and Social Sciences Library has a strong collection in auction sales indexes, sales catalogues and price guides. Please consult the research guides How to Identity an Art Object and the Auction Sales Indexes: Books, Cd-Roms and Online Services. New York City residents might also wish to contact the William Doyle Galleries (at 212-427-4141 x. 260) for information about their weekly appraisal sessions.

Do you have a special department responsible for genealogy and/or New York City history?
Yes. Please read about the services of The Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy. The Division offers some reference services via e-mail and regular mail, and researchers may visit the Division without an appointment [see hours].

Can I obtain magazine articles and e-journals online?
Yes, but most databases are available only to NYPL Branch Library cardholders [available databases]. Users at The Research Libraries can access electronic databases to search full text articles from journals on-site. A few databases can be accessed remotely from school, home or office. Older print runs of periodicals are housed at various Branch Central Library and Research Library locations, depending on the subject. To find a specific periodical and its location search both CATNYP and LEO, the library's two catalogs. To order photocopies of articles from these periodicals, contact NYPL Express, the Library's fee-based document delivery service.

Do you have out-of-state phone directories?
No. The library provides this list of directories. International phone directories are available at the Humanities and Social Sciences Library (42nd and 5th Ave.).

Do you have books in languages other than English?
Yes. Among our circulating collections ("the branch libraries") the World Languages Collection (Donnell Library Center) offers the largest collection of materials in languages other than English. In addition to the Donnell Library, collections may be found at the following branches: Spanish -- Hunt's Point Library, Aguilar Library and Fordham Library Center. Materials in Chinese can be found at both Chatham Square Library and Seward Park Library. Items in Italian are at Belmont Library/Enrico Fermi Cultural Center. Items in Russian are available at Parkchester Library and Van Nest Library.

The Research Libraries have extensive holdings in all subject areas covering the world's printed literature. Specialized reading rooms are available for Slavic and Baltic, Asian and Middle Eastern, Hebrew and Yiddish materials. The Libraries' Latin American holdings are comprehensive.

How can I browse NYPL digital collections?
The New York Public Library has digitized collections that include images of maps, photographs, and other graphic materials, as well as full electronic texts, and selected thematic collections. The Mid-Manhattan Picture Collection is online at http://digital.nypl.org/mmpco/.

How do I order reproductions of materials and images from the Library's collections and Web site?
Contact Photographic Services & Permissions to obtain high-quality copies of Library materials and images. Services include microfilming, photography, and digital scanning in a variety of formats.

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NYPL Library Cards

An NYPL library card allows you to do more than simply borrow books and other materials. You can also use your card to access our online databases from home. There are two different library cards used at The New York Public Library: a Branch Libraries Card is needed to borrow circulating items, use online databases from home and renew or reserve books. An ACCESS card is used to request materials in any of the readings rooms of the Research Libraries.

	The Branch Libraries - Circulating Collections	The Research Libraries - Non-Circulating Collections
Do I need a library card to use the collections of The New York Public Library?	You will need a Branch Libraries' card only if you wish to borrow materials from our branches, or use the online databases on this website from outside the Library. You do not need a card for onsite use of any of our 86 neighborhood or central libraries. Library cards are encouraged but not required to sign up for time on a personal computer. Please ask a librarian about guest cards.	To request collection materials in any of the reading rooms of the Research Libraries, you are required to present an ACCESS card. Collections of the Research Libraries are for onsite use only. You may also use the ACCESS card to save searches in CATNYP, The Research Libraries’ online catalog, and to use online databases from outside the Library.
How much does a library card cost?	A Branch Libraries' card is free to anyone who lives, works, pays property taxes, or attends school in New York State. Others may apply, with payment of a $100 annual fee, for a nonresident library card.	ACCESS cards from the Research Libraries of The New York Public Libraries are free to all researchers, regardless of their place of residency. A replacement fee may be charged for lost cards.
How do I get a library card?	Get your Branch Library card at any of our circulating libraries in Manhattan, Staten Island or the Bronx [to find a library see Library Hours and Locations]. Adults who qualify for a free Library card may apply online by submitting a completed Branch Libraries Card application. Your application will be processed and the card will be mailed to the address you have provided within two weeks. To register at a Branch Library, adults must present current, traceable identification that includes both name and address, but not necessarily on the same document; for example, a driver's license, rent receipt, utility bill, apartment lease, or letter on letterhead stationery from a shelter for the homeless. Teenagers who are in the seventh grade and up or are age 12 or older must present identification that indicates their grade levels or ages; for example, a program card, report card, birth certificate, or a letter from a teacher on school stationery.  Children, birth through age 11, may receive a library card. Children may be present to receive their cards, but their presence is not required. Their applications must be signed and completed by a parent or guardian.	To apply for a Research Libraries' ACCESS card, see the Access Card information page, or pick up a paper application at any Research Library. General researcher cards with a three year expiration date are available to all applicants 18 years of age and older who can present photo identification with proof of name and address, preferably a photo driver's license or state identification card. Young researchers, those under 18 years of age, may request an interview with a librarian and receive an ACCESS card if it is determined that the Research Libraries' collections hold appropriate material to meet the researchers’ needs. These cards have a 6 month expiration date. School ID is required. A temporary, non-renewable card, is available for researchers who do not have appropriate ID on the day of their visits. This 3-day card can be converted to a General card upon presentation of identification. Each Research Library has a desk where ACCESS cards can be obtained.
How can I get a nonresident library card?	Adults who do not qualify for a free library card may complete and print the Branch Libraries card application and mail it to the address on the online form with a check in the amount of $100.	ACCESS cards from the Research Libraries of The New York Public Libraries are free to all researchers, regardless of their place of residency. A replacement fee may be charged for lost cards.
What is a PIN and how to do I get one?	A PIN is a 4 digit number that provides an extra level of security when using your library card to reserve books, renew items by phone, or look up your personal information in the Catalog. You will be asked to choose a PIN when you register for your Branch Library card. If you do not remember choosing one, try using the last 4 digits of your telephone number. If this number does not work, please visit any branch library so that staff can enter a PIN into the computer for you.	Please contact rlacess@nypl.org for questions about your Research Libraries' ACCESS card or about a forgotten PIN for the CATNYP catalog.
What should I do if I lose my library card?	Report the loss at once to any branch library, by phone, in person, or email blis@nypl.org. You are responsible for materials taken out with the card until the card is reported lost or stolen. A small fee is charged for a new card.	Please contact an ACCESS desk or e- mail rlaccess@nypl.org to report a lost or stolen card. A replacement fee may be charged for lost cards.

 

Each time you borrow a book or video, a date due receipt or card will be given to you, indicating the day you should return the items to the library. Check this date carefully.

Some items - such as Book Express items, circulate for one week with no renewals. Others, such as DVD Express titles, may be borrowed for only four days.

Most other items circulate for three weeks, with five (5) renewals allowed only if there are no holds or reserves on the item.

Is there a limit on the number of items I can borrow?
Yes. Our readers may take up to a total of 30 items out at any one time.

Can I renew books by phone? Can I renew online?
Yes and yes. You can renew items 3 ways:

1. Call LEOLine at 212.262.7444
2. Select the "My Account" tab in the LEO catalog, and enter your library card number and PIN. Select "Items Out" and check the item(s) you wish to renew. Click on the "Renew" button. Online and telephone renewals are not available if you have 5 or more overdue items, have $15 or more in fines, or have an item that is 30 days or more overdue.
3. Bring the item(s) in to any branch and take to the Circulation Desk

If you are renewing by phone or on LEO, have your library card and PIN number handy. Most materials except Book and Video Express copies may be renewed five (5) times for the same period as the original loan, unless another reader has placed a "hold" on the item. If an item is overdue it cannot be renewed.

What if my books are overdue? How much are fines?
If you have overdue materials, the library will mail you two reminder letters. If you think the letters may be in error, please bring them to your local library. Unfortunately, we cannot give you information about your library records or adjust them over the telephone.

If you do not reply, another agency will contact you to collect the fees you owe.

Fines are charged for materials returned after the due date. As of March 5, 2006, Fines [Per Day, Per Item] are:

Fines are computed per calendar day excluding Sundays, holidays, and any other day the library is closed. A 40% discount on fines is given for senior citizens and the disabled.

If you owe the library fines or fees over $15.00, have 5 or more overdue items, or have any fines or overdues more than one month old, your borrowing privileges may be suspended.

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Can I get a book from another branch transferred to my own branch?
Yes, you can "reserve" or "place a hold" on all circulating library materials by using the LEO catalog.

Go to the Books & Materials page: catalogs -- and choose LEO Catalog. Search for materials by author or title. Once you have found the item you wish to have sent to your local branch library, select the "Request Item" button. Have your library card and PIN number handy. You will be asked to select a pickup location from a pull-down list of branches.

When your books arrive we will send you a notice via e-mail (or by post if you do not have an e-mail address). Items will be held for a maximum of 9 days. If you have not given us an e-mail address (or you have changed your e-mail) please let us know on your next visit to the library.

What are the rules for checking out videos?
Videos circulate for one week (7 days). Videos can be returned at any branch, with the exception of the Donnell Media Center reserve collection. Videos may be reserved, and they may be renewed as long they are not on "hold" for another reader. Overdue fines are $1.00 a day, per video.

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Services

Can I bring my students to the library? Can a librarian come to my school or classroom?
Yes, but to provide better service to your students we ask that you make an appointment.

Visits to neighborhood branches: To arrange a visit for students up to the 6th grade level, call your local branch and ask for the Children's Librarian. For students in 7th-12th grade, please ask for the Young Adult Specialist and for adult learners please ask for the Adult or Outreach Specialist.

Tours of the Research Libraries: Here is a list of tours.

Do you have information on how I can get my GED?
Yes. All branches can give you information on testing schedules and provide the forms you need. In addition, the Job Information Center at the Mid-Manhattan Library can provide information on careers, employment, the job search process, education resources, test preparation materials, and company information.

Do you offer computers with educational CDROMs?
Yes. See this list of locations of computers with multimedia CDROMs and word processing.

Do you offer computer classes or training?
Yes. We offer free training workshops at all levels. The Science, Industry and Business Library (SIBL) offers in-depth training classes that focus on the use of specific SIBL electronic resources. The Humanities and Social Sciences Library offers classes in the Celeste Bartos Education Center, South Court. Training in basic computer skills and library resources is offered through our Click-on at the Library program. Here is a calendar of computer instruction classes in the branch libraries.

Can I access the Internet in the library?
Free access to the Internet, including our extensive list of subscription databases, as well as word processing and a variety of other software, is available at all Library locations. Use is limited to one session per person per day & self-service signup is available on a first come, first served, basis. A valid New York Public Library card is required for use.

Printing is also available at all Library locations. Only paper provided by The Library is to be used in Library printers.

Every Library location has at least one Reservation & Print Management (RPM) Station, where you can reserve a computer or release your printjobs. You may also make a reservation online .

Wireless laptops are also available for in-library use at all Branch Library locations. To borrow a laptop, ask about their availability at the Circulation Desk or reserve one online.

Use of the Internet in The Library is governed by The New York Public Library's Policy on Public Use of the Internet .

Do you have typewriters for public use?
Only the Donnell Library Center has a typewriter for public use. Please call 212-621-0619 for more information.

Do you have tax forms?
Yes. Forms are available to photocopy or take at most neighborhood branches. They usually arrive in mid- to late-January and are available until April 15. Here is more information on tax assistance and downloadable forms.

Do you offer ESL/ESOL (English for Speakers of Languages) classes? Do you have a literacy program?
Yes. Our ESOL classes are listed here and our literacy classes here.

Do you offer a Books by Mail service?
Yes. The books-by-mail program is for individuals who can use regular library materials, but are unable to leave their homes due to a temporary or permanent disability. Applications are available in all neighborhood branch libraries or by calling (212) 621-0564 or TTY (212) 930-0950 - 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.

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