Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street
First Floor
Room 119
New York, NY 10018
212-340-0878
Directions
Fully Accessible
Open today
10 AM–7:45 PM
Regular Hours
Picture Collection
Day Hours
Monday: CLOSED
Tuesday: 10 AM–7:45 PM
Wednesday: 10 AM–7:45 PM
Thursday: 10 AM–5:45 PM
Friday: 10 AM–5:45 PM
Saturday: 10 AM–5:45 PM
Sunday: CLOSED

About the Division

Whimsical drawing of figures who look human but are outfitted with insect wings.

Since its creation in 1915, the Picture Collection has met the needs of New York's large community of artists, illustrators, designers, teachers, students, and general researchers. Covering over 12,000 subjects, the Picture Collection is an extensive circulating collection and reference archive, the largest of its kind in any public library system.

NYPL’s Picture Collection Has Moved!

If you are looking to use the Picture Collection, please visit us in Room 119 or email us: picturecollection@nypl.org

Visiting the Collection

Can researchers access the collection without an appointment?
Patrons are welcome to walk in without an appointment to use our public reading rooms, including the Picture Collection in Room 119. As seating is limited, Room 119 is reserved for the use of Picture Collection materials only and seats in this division are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Are virtual consultations available and are they required before making an onsite research appointment?
Please email us at picturecollection@nypl.org to make a virtual consultation appointment.

Who can researchers contact with further questions?
Please email us at picturecollection@nypl.org with any additional queries.

Learn more about this division

Request a Class Visit

Bird's eye view of a class attending a lecture around a table filled with historic books.

We work with educators to design class visits that use the Library's remarkable collections to foster creative inquiry, build critical thinking and visual literacy skills, and inspire wonder and excitement around the process of primary source analysis and research. Learn more.