How Do I Find a Book?

All the basics on finding a book via our online catalog and beyond.

To see if the Library has the book you need, check the online catalog.

Keep the following in mind when searching the catalog:

• You can search the catalog from any computer with an Internet connection (catalog.nypl.org).
• Some materials in the catalog are non-circulating, and may only be used in the building. Be certain to note in which Library your book can be found.
• Non circulating includes collections held at all 4 Research Libraries:
  • Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
  • Science Industry and Business Library
  • Library for the Performing Arts
  • Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
• If you are searching for a specific book, you may search by title or author. If you are not certain of the exact title, or just want to browse the collections, you may want to perform a subject or word search.
• For help searching the catalog, try our online research guide.
• Some older materials may not be included in the catalog. If the title you seek was published prior to 1972, it may be listed in the Dictionary Catalog of the Research Libraries, located in Room 315.

Many items held in the Special Collections will not be listed in the Library's catalogs. These include books and other materials, such as broadsheets, manuscripts, musical scores, prints, photographs and more. For help finding these materials, please consult the home page for the appropriate division, consult the online finding aids, or consult a reference librarian for assistance.

If you are looking for a book to check out and take with you, you can also search the catalog to find materials contained throughout the 87 NYPL Branch Libraries in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island.