Wertheim Study

To assist researchers making intensive use of the general research collections for a prescribed period of time, The New York Public Library has made available the Wertheim Study. Established in 1963 by author and scholar Barbara Tuchman in honor of her father, Maurice Wertheim, publisher of "The Nation" and a founder of The Theatre Guild, the Study 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 applicant will be notified approximately two weeks before the assigned term begins.

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

The initial assignment is for three months. Two renewals of three months each are permitted. After nine months of continuous use, each writer must vacate the Study 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 Study at any time.

Access and Use

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

Each writer will be issued an electronic keycard, to be returned when the term of assignment ends. A $15 charge will be issued for lost or unreturned cards.

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

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

The Study 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 Study. 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 Study 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 Study; 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., must be used in those divisions.

For more information and an application, contact researchstudyrooms@nypl.org