Conducting Research

The Stephen A. Schwarzman Building is a closed-stack research library, and most general research materials must be paged from the main stacks using a call slip. To begin your research:

• If you aren't already a New York Public Library cardholder, get a library card.
• Consult the online catalog of the New York Public Library.
• Note the location on the catalog record. The catalog includes collections held at all New York Public Library locations, so materials in the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building will have the location Schwarzman Building followed by the name of a particular division. General Research materials have the designation Schwarzman Building-Main Reading Room.

• Page general stack materials by filing a call slip in the North Hall of the Rose Main Reading Room (floorplan), where the materials are also delivered.
• Materials designated as OFFSITE must be paged 2-4 days in advance with a callslip or by e-mail.
• Print periodicals will either be paged from the North Hall of the Rose Main Reading Room, Microforms and Periodicals Reading Room (Room 100) or the Dewitt Wallace Current Periodical Section (Room 108), depending on the catalog location.

For more detailed information on research strategies and our collections, you may wish to consult our subject and research guides, which survey both print and electronic resources, as well as recommended reference titles.

For questions about requesting materials, please contact our telephone reference service at 917-ASK-NYPL (917-275-6975) or ask us a question.