Frequently Asked Questions about the library and our services

Choose a category for answers to commonly asked questions: About the Library
Hours and locations, volunteering or working at the library, and getting in touch with us

1. Reference & Research Help
   Finding books, NYPL catalogs, online databases, e-journals, e-mail and chat reference, and genealogy
2. NYPL Library Cards
   Access cards, Branch library cards, PIN numbers
3. Branch Library Borrowing Privileges
   Renewing books, fines and overdues policy, reserving or "placing a hold" on items
4. 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, with the exception of materials in our newly opened Children's room in the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building .

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

• Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
• 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?

Using The Library's online catalog, borrowers of circulating materials may request up to 10 items at a time to be delivered to the (library) pickup location of their choice. Borrowers may also place requests with the assistance of a Library staff member.

Where are the books in The Research Libraries? How do I order a book from the catalog?
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?
Call our reference team at 917-ASK-NYPL (917-275-6975).

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 Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, 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 Stephen A. Schwarzman Building 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 the library's catalog. 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 Stephen A. Schwarzman Building (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 (Mid-Manhattan Library) 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

NYPL cardholders can borrow books, movies, music, video games and much more. 

Using Your Library Card

Cardholders may checkout up to 30 items on their card at a time, including a maximum of 10 DVD & 2 videogame titles.

Cardholders are responsible for returning borrowed items on time in accordance with The Library’s established lending periods. Lending periods vary by the type of item borrowed & that they are responsible for any fines & fees that may be associated with overdue or non-returned items.  Receipts indicating the due date are issued for every item borrowed.

The Library’s loan periods, by type of material, are:

Material Type	Loan Period
Books, Book/Recording Sets, Recorded Books	3 weeks
New Books, Pamphlets, Periodicals, Scores, Librettos, Picture Collection Materials, Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Material	2 weeks
eNYPL items	User-defined
Express Books	1 week
DVDs, VHS, VCDs, CDs, CD-ROMs	1 week
DVD Express	4 days
Reserve Films (LPA)	60-90 minutes (in-library only)
Wireless Laptops	45 minutes (in-library only)
Research Library Materials	1 day (in-library only)
Scholar Materials	Consult the appropriate division

Note: Your Library card alone does not allow access to certain Special Collections.  For further information on accessing materials in Special Collections, contact the division you are interested in visiting.

Use of Personal Identification Numbers (PINs)

The Library offers many services that require the entry of a PIN for additional user validation.  When using certain Library services (such as reserving a computer or checking your account online) you may be asked to enter both your library card number (found on the back of your card underneath the barcode) and your PIN.

• You were given the opportunity to select a PIN at the time you registered for a Library card.  PINs must be 4 numeric characters to work with Library services.
• Your PIN must not contain common patterns:
        A number that is repeated 3 or more times (0001, 5556)
        Two numbers that are repeated (1212, 6363)
        Any common sequence of digits (1234, 5678)
• If you have forgotten your PIN, if you are accessing The Library’s catalog remotely and have provided us with a valid e-mail address, you may request that your PIN be e-mailed to you.  If you have forgotten your PIN and are visiting a Library location with valid identification, a staff member may re-set your PIN for you.

• PINs cannot be changed or confirmed by phone.

Request Library Materials

Using The Library’s online catalog, borrowers of circulating materials may request up to 10 items at a time to be delivered to the (library) pickup location of their choice.  Borrowers may also place requests with the assistance of a Library staff member.

All requests for Library materials are on a first come, first served basis & are subject to availability.

Using their Library account, borrowers may change their selected pickup location until the item has been routed to the pickup location on record & may cancel requests they are no longer interested in.

Borrowers have 9 days from the date indicated on the notice they receive to pick up their items before they are returned to circulation & are requested to collect all items being held for them at once.

Requests for Library materials stored off-site & viewable only in designated Research Libraries may be initiated through The Library’s catalog.  Learn more about Access to Off-Site Materials.

Renew Library Materials

Borrowers may renew circulating items up to 5 times provided no one else has requested them.  Provided the cardholder is in good standing, eligible materials may be renewed:

• Online
• In Person
• Through Self-Service Checkout
• Via The Library’s Automated Telephone Renewal Service: (212) 262-7444
• Via A Call To Your Neighborhood Library

Return Library Materials

All Library materials must be returned on or before their due date.  Initial due dates are listed on receipts received at checkout.  Due dates extended through the renewal of eligible materials are available by accessing your Library account for renewals performed online or by phone or through new receipts issued for in-person or self-service checkout transactions.

Overdue materials may be subject to late fines.

The Library offers universal returns – most circulating material can be returned to any New York Public Library location in the Bronx, Manhattan or Staten Island, except the Schomburg Center. Likewise, pickup of holds & payment of fines & fees may take place at any Library location with the exception of Schomburg.

Download from Our Digital Collections

Cardholders have access to downloadable books, movies & music through eNYPL & other digital collections.  For additional information, visit our Digital Library.

Search Library Databases

The New York Public Library offers access to many electronic databases on a variety of topics from the arts & humanities to science & technology available both in The Library & at home.  Many of these databases include full-text articles, audio & video content & resources in languages other than English.

Your library card is your key.
 

 

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 the catalog line at 212.262.7444
2. Select the "My Account" tab in the 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-line, 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?

The New York Public Library assesses a fine to the record of any borrower who fails to return library materials on or before their due date. Accumulated fines will result in the suspension of borrowing privileges.

Fines For Overdue Materials

Material Type	For Adults	For Children	For Seniors (age 65+)
Books (Hardcover & Paperback) CD-ROMs Compact Discs & Audiocassettes Pamphlets & Periodicals Picture Collection Photos (Per Envelop) Recordings with Books	$0.25	$0.10	$0.15
DVDs VHS videocassettes VCDs Computer Games	$1.00	$1.00	$0.60

Fines will continue to accumulate on all overdue items until the item is renewed, returned, reaches a maximum fine, or is declared lost by either the borrower or The Library.  If an overdue item is successfully renewed, borrowers are responsible for the payment of any fines that accumulate while the item is overdue.

Borrowers are responsible for the replacement cost of library materials that are declared lost. The Library will not accept replacement of the actual item.

Borrowers will be assessed the replacement cost of any library materials checked out to them if those materials are intended for in-library use only & are not returned by the end of the designated loan period.  In the case of Research Libraries’ material, the replacement cost will be determined on an item-by-item basis.

Borrowing privileges will be suspended for cardholders with fines & fees totaling $15 or more.

The Library is obligated to attempt the recovery of all outstanding debt and/or library materials.  To that end, borrowers with fines or fees of $50 or more are subject to contact from a collection agency.  A non-negotiable collection fee will be applied to the account of any borrower who reaches this threshold.

Borrowers whose accounts have been sent to collection may establish a payment plan with The New York Public Library.  The payment plan will involve a substantial initial payment, followed by regular installments until the borrower’s record is once again in good standing.  E-mail ils@nypl.org for additional information.

Replacement Fee For A Lost Or Stolen Card

A mandatory replacement fee of $1.00 will be charged for a lost or stolen library card.  Borrowers are also responsible for the replacement cost of any items checked out to their card before it is reported lost.
 

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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 catalog.

Go to the Books & Materials page: catalogs -- and choose the 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 Stephen A. Schwarzman Building 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?
Library patrons with a valid library card may reserve a computer to use in any Library location.

The New York Public Library offers free access to the Internet as well as a variety of desktop publishing programs & other software applications. A valid library card is required to use a computer in any New York Public Library location. Cardholders are expected to adhere to The New York Public Library’s PC Use Policy. Failure to do so may result in the suspension of access.

• Select the library location using the PC Reservation service.
• Users may reserve a computer at their neighborhood library using The Library’s online reservation system or through one of the dedicated Reservation & Print Management (RPM) Stations available at all Library locations.  Reservations may be made up to one day in advance.  
• It is also possible to use a desktop computer without making an advance reservation by logging in at an available workstation.  However, you may or may not be given a full-length session.  Unused session time is non-transferrable.
• Most Library locations also provide wireless laptops for public use. These laptops are intended for in-library use only and are available on a first come, first served basis. Where available, laptops may be reserved online one day in advance, or requested at the Circulation Desk the day of your visit.  Laptop availability is on a first come, first served basis.
• The standard session length for both desktop and laptop computers is 45 minutes, with the possibility of a limited number of automatic extensions, subject to demand. 
• 15 Minute E-Mail Express PCs are available at select locations and cannot be reserved in advance.  These computers are intended for users who do not want or need to wait for a full-length session.  Use of a 15 Minute PC counts as your session for the day.
• Select Library PCs do not require reservations, but may still require the use of a card to access certain resources and/or print.

• Computers become available 5 minutes after The Library opens and all sessions end 15 minutes before closing time.

  Printing

• The New York Public Library also offers access to laser printers for computer users.  Printing from The Library’s circulating laptops is also available at select locations.
• Only paper provided by The Library is to be used in library printers. 
• Printing may be paid for using a vending card, which may also be used with Library copying machines.
• Documents sent to RPM Stations will remain available for printing for up to two hours after they have been sent. 

Do you have typewriters for public use?
No, sorry, the New York Public Library does not have typewriters for public use.

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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