Shoichi Noma Reading Room

The Shoichi Noma Reading Room (Room 219) will open on November 6, 2012.

To assist researchers' intensive use of the general research collections for a prescribed period of time, The New York Public Library offers the Shoichi Noma Reading Room (Room 219). This Room serves individuals engaged in research projects requiring extensive consultation of research materials related to the humanities and social sciences, preliminary to the preparation of a publication, report, or other research project.

Application and Admission

A signed application for admission should be completed, signed and returned, in person, e-mail, or postal mail, to Jay Barksdale, Study Rooms Liaison, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, The New York Public Library, 476 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10018.

The physical limitations of the Room preclude admission to as many applicants as qualify. Such names will be kept on a waiting list and notified as admission becomes feasible.

The assignment may vary, from one week and 9 months. After nine months of continuous use, each writer must vacate the Room for a minimum period of one month, after which time the writer may re-apply for study space. The Library reserves the right to cancel a writer's assignment to the room at any time.

Access and Use

Each writer admitted to the Room will be assigned a numbered shelf on which Library materials will be held. The use of the Room is limited to registered writers. The Room must be used only for the research project indicated on each writer's application form. Individual seating assignments are not made. The Room must be locked at all times.

Each writer will be issued an electronic keycard, to be returned when the term of assignment ends.

Writers may bring laptops, but they should not be left in the Room. The Library cannot be responsible at any time for personal property left in the Room. At the end of the assignment, all personal property must be removed.

No food or drink in any form may be brought into the Room. Violation of these rules will result in immediate termination from the Room.

The Room will be available whenever the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building is open to the public.

Requesting and Holding Material in the Study

Requests for delivery of general research material should be made using blue Wertheim Study call slips, a supply of which is kept in the Room. They should be taken to the Delivery Desk in the Rose Main Reading Room. Deliveries are made several times each day and placed on the "Incoming Books" shelves. Books will be checked out on the writer's library card, and may be kept for the length of the assigned term. When a writer finishes with a book, it should be placed on the "Outgoing Books" shelves. Each book will include the copy of the original call slip. Books must be kept on the writer's shelf, and with the duplicate call slip exposed. If a book held in the Room is requested by another Library user, the book will be removed, and the duplicate call slip left on the shelf. These books are not automatically returned to the Room; if the writer wishes to continue using the book, a new request should be submitted.

Certain items from the collections may not be available because of value, rarity, fragility, current demand, or other considerations. Materials from the Special Collections, i.e., Manuscripts, Rare Books, etc., and Current Periodicals must be used in those divisions.

November 2012