Frequently Asked Questions
1. General information
Ask NYPL Express provides reproductions from pre-existing digital files or new digital photography and scanning of material from the Library's world-renowned collections to students, academics and creative professionals in publishing, design, broadcast and other media. We serve a vast array of clients in book, magazine, newspaper and scholarly journal publishing as well as in the television industry, museum world and electronic publishing.
We also provide duplicate reels of existing microfilm and new microfilming or PDF scans of newspapers, journals, and books.
The Library’s online Digital Gallery provides a selection of over 800,000 historical pictorial images. Our collections, maintained by our knowledgeable librarians, contain more than 4.0 million images in a variety of formats such as fine prints; manuscript illuminations; maps; photographs; printed ephemera including menus, post cards, posters, lobby and window cards; rare illustrated books; and other pictorial formats. Subjects range from American history, the African-American experience, New York City and surrounding areas, immigrants and Ellis Island, to theater, dance, music, film, science, flora and fauna, lifestyle and travel photography and illustration. Art work by such renowned artists as Monet, Whistler, Mary Cassatt, Gilbert Stuart and Kitagawa Utamaro can be found as well as photographs by Berenice Abbott, Lewis Wicks Hine, Edward Curtis, Vandamm Studio, Friedman-Abeles and Kenn Duncan.
2. Where can I search for images?
Online (Previously digitized images):
The NYPL Digital Gallery offers digital images of historical pictorial materials spanning a time frame from the middle ages to the early- and mid-twentieth century from the Research Libraries’ original, rare and specialized holdings.
Onsite (Images requiring new digital photography or scanning):
You can visit the collections of the New York Public Library to perform your own picture research or if you are from out of town or your schedule doesn’t permit click here for our fee-based research service to hire one of our professional librarians to do the research for you.
3. Can I purchase oversize prints or framed art?
Yes. Prints, for personal use, of images in the NYPL Digital Gallery can be purchases directly online. Click here for more information. Prints from images not in the NYPL Digital Gallery are available in either b/w or color, and up to 20"x30". Click here for availability, dimensions and fees for oversize prints.
A limited selection of items is available as matted fine art prints from the Library’s partner, 1000museums.com.
4. How do I order a digital file for editorial or commercial use?
To order a reproduction for any type of publication, TV production, exhibition, web site, etc., please click here.
5. Can I download a high-resolution image from your site?
No you cannot. However, you may download low-resolution public domain images directly from the web site for personal, research, non-profit or study purposes for free. This includes classroom use, student projects, and any open access web site.
6. Are your fees available online?
Yes, please consult the Library’s Fee Schedule (pdf).
7. What are your fees based on?
Fees are scaled based on usage and parameters such as:
• Non-profit vs. commercial
• North American vs. worldwide distribution
• Print run or circulation
• Single-language vs. multi-language
• Placement (cover or interior)
8. What photographic formats are available?
8x10” high quality archival Fujix prints with glossy or matte finish and low-resolution 100dpi JPEG files are available for personal or research use.
High-resolution TIFF files, 8x10” high quality archival Fujix prints with glossy or matte finish, and 4x5" color transparencies, are available for publication and all other uses.
Our standard high-resolution specifications for scanning are as follows:
• Scans are made at 300dpi or 400dpi depending on origin of the material.
• Available flat materials, up to 8x10", are scanned at 400dpi and materials, up to 11x16", are scanned at 300dpi at 100%.
• Available 4x5" transparencies and negatives are scanned at 1000 dpi and 8x10" negatives scanned at 800dpi at 100%.
• Available 35mm slides and b/w negatives are scanned at 3500 dpi at 100%.
• Materials larger than 11”x 16” and bound volumes are photographed with our digital camera at 300dpi, with a maximum output size of 13" in either direction. Pro RGB (Kodak) is the color-space standard.
• Flat items, smaller that 11"x16", can be scanned at resolutions higher than 300dpi, according to your specific requirements.
There will be a Kodak color control patch included in each image as a reference for reproduction, except with the 35mm slides.
9. How long is the turnaround time?
Turnaround time is within 2 business days for images found with proper ID numbers from the Library’s web site. Rush service is available with a surcharge of $25 for same day shipping.
For images not found on the web site, the turnaround time is 4 weeks. Rush service is available with a surcharge of $50 with a turnaround time of 7 business days from the time PSAP receives the material from the holding division.
10. Does the Library provide photographic or digital reproductions from microfilm?
Yes we do, but please be aware that reproductions are produced from public service copies only and not the master negatives. The quality varies depending on the condition of the microfilm. Scratches and lines that appear on the microfilm will also appear in the photograph. Small text will most likely not be readable in the reproduction. Due to the limitations of our equipment, we can only provide 300dpi TIFFs of the entire page. Prints, produced by an outside lab, are available if a particular photo or article on a page is requested.
11. What are the methods of delivery for your images?
Prints and transparencies can be shipped via US mail, international airmail, or pick up. Federal Express and Airborne Express are also options but only if you supply an account number or allow your credit card to be charged directly by the shipper.
Digital Files can be burned to a CD and sent via the above or we can deliver a high-resolution TIFF file by FTP or HTTP download. You will receive an email with the host address, an assigned user ID and a password. Once you have received this information, your files will be accessible to you for up to one week.
12. Will the Library reproduce images still in copyright?
Yes, we will but only after you’ve obtained and forwarded to the Library written permission from the rights holder or you’ve documented in writing your “due diligence” to track down the rights holder.
13. Do the prices listed on the Fee Schedule apply if I previously paid for a reproduction?
No, we offer a $25 discount per image off the listed fees. For example, the Library charges $100 for non-profit temporary exhibition use. If a reproduction has already been obtained from NYPL, the usage fee for permission to exhibit the image is $75 ($100 - $25 discount).
14. Once I purchase an image, may I use it any way I like?
No. You must request separate rights to reproduce or use images from the collections. For instance, if you plan to use one of our images in a printed scholarly journal as well as the online version, there is an additional fee for the second use.
15. If my publisher issues a new edition of my book, do I have to pay additional fees?
Yes, the Library only grants one-time use for any type of book, magazine, or journal publication. You will have to reapply for permission and pay usage fees. For second use, the fees posted are discounted by 25%.
16. Do you provide film footage?
Yes, we do. Please contact us to request pricing for Beta-cam and VHS dupes and to license footage from the Manuscripts & Archives Division.
Other divisions that supply moving image:
• Moving Image & Recorded Sound, Schomburg Center: 212-491-2235
• Jerome Robbins Dance Division, Performing Arts Library: 212-870-1657
• Theatre on Film & Tape Archive, Performing Arts Library: 212-870-1641
17. Whom do I contact to request permission to quote?
For permission to quote from manuscript collections, please contact the holding division directly.