The Central Libraries
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Services at Mid-Manhattan Library
Looking for a service that isn't here? See the NYPL
Services page, or
call Telephone Reference at 212-930-0830 for referral to a branch
that can help you.
Need Help with a Question?
Ask Librarians Online/Telephone Reference
- Call 212-930-0830
We take calls Monday to Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET.
- Ask a question via chat or e-mail
Chat
hours are Monday to Friday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET.
Internet Services
48 computers for free public use are available on the 4th floor for
internet access, email, web searching, library databases, resume
writing, and Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
Users are limited to one 45-minute session per day. Reservations may
be made in person on the 4th floor or online: Reserve
a PC.
Laser printers are available for printing in black and white. Users
may print ten pages free per day, and then pay 10 cents per additional
page. Users may also download to their own flash drives. Floppy disk
drives are not available on any of the computers.
Free wireless access is also available on the 4th floor for users with
their own wireless-enabled laptop computers. You will need a WiFi-compliant
802.11b wireless Ethernet device installed in your laptop or a laptop
with built-in WiFi capability.
Shelf Checks & Reserves
A shelf check can be performed for an item that is currently on the shelf.
Call us during library hours and, if the item is available, we
can hold it for you to pick up, or we can send it to the branch of your
choice in Manhattan, the Bronx or Staten Island.
Please note that for
items on the 1st floor, we can
check the shelves only before 12:00 noon. For a reference book, we can
verify that it is on shelf, but we cannot set it aside.
If a circulating item is not currently on shelf or is located
at another NYPL branch library, you may place a reserve on the
item using the LEO Catalog. For a basic tutorial on using LEO,
click on "Help" at the top right corner of the catalog screen.
Once you have found the item that you want, LEO displays a list
of branch libraries that own the item. Click on "Request Item" to
begin the reserve process.
You will be prompted to enter your library card number and your Personal
Identification Number (PIN). Your PIN is usually the last 4 digits
of your phone number unless you specified a different number when
you registered for your NYPL card. (If you're unsure of your PIN,
call your local branch or call the Mid-Manhattan Library's Registration
Desk, 212-576-0015).
LEO will then display the Request Confirmation page. Choose a pickup
location from the drop-down list, and then click on "Request" to
place the reserve. You will be notified by mail or email (if we have
your email address on record) when the item is available for pickup.
Access to Books Not at NYPL
There are two ways NYPL card holders can use books that are not available at The New York Public Library: METRO referral cards and interlibrary loan.
METRO referral cards provide one-time access to many academic, school, public and special libraries throughout New York City and Westchester County for use of a particular book not at NYPL. If you are unable to locate an item in the Library catalogs,
LEO or CATNYP, please see a librarian. Bring all citation details with you. Librarians at Mid-Manhattan and other large libraries of NYPL can issue METRO cards referring users to participating METRO libraries.
Interlibrary Loan provides access to library materials that are not
available in the New York metropolitan area through agreements with
libraries throughout the country, and which have been published for no
fewer than 12 months before the date of your request.
To get an interlibrary loan, first check the LEO and CATNYP catalogs to see
if the Library owns the particular item. If there are no copies listed in
the catalogs, please see a librarian at a reference desk. Bring all
citation details with you. Librarians will assist you in interlibrary loan
procedures, or try our online form for articles which can be delivered
electronically or non-circulating items that must be read in the a research
center, please click here.
When filling out the interlibrary loan request form, please provide
whatever bibliographic information you have, i.e., author, title, edition
or date of publication--if getting a particular edition is of importance to
you--and publisher. If used, submit the completed paper form at the
circulations desk on the 1st floor.
The New York Public Library will locate a library owning the item and, provided it is something which that library is willing to lend, will obtain it and notify you. Circulating materials obtained through interlibrary loan can be checked out for two
weeks only and cannot be renewed.
Services for Persons with Disabilities
Located on the 2nd floor, Accessibility Services provides personalized
assistance and specialized equipment to give people with disabilities
easy access to the full range of library materials at the Mid-Manhattan
Library.
Our assistive technology includes:
- A Reading Edge machine which converts print materials into
synthetic speech. It reads books, newspapers, and magazines
in English, French, and Spanish.
- A Perkins Braille typewriter.
- Closed-Circuit Television Enlargers which magnify print up
to 60 times in either color or in black and white.
- Telecommunications Devices for the Deaf (TDD), also
known as text telephones (TTY), which can be borrowed from
the library.
- JAWS - A computer screen reader with multi-lingual speech
synthesizer.
- MAGIC - Combines a magnification feature with low-vision
screen reading that can work simultaneously with JAWS to
read text.
- LifeLinks - Realtime sign interpreter for the deaf via videophone.
- A photocopier with enlarging capabilities.
We also offer a growing collection of circulating print and
non-print materials as well as a collection of reference materials
on disability-related issues, products, and services.
For more information, call Accessibility Services at 212-340-0843 (voice)
or 212-340-0931 (TDD) during library hours.
Library services for persons with disabilities are also available at
the Andrew Heiskell Braille and
Talking Book Library along with large
circulating collections of special format materials.
Picture Collection
Located on the 3rd floor, the Picture Collection is a visual resource
comprised of one million illustrations from books, newspapers,
and magazines as well as photographs, prints, and postcards. Most items
are available for borrowing with a valid New York Pubic Library card.
For questions about the Picture Collection, e-mail us at mmpic at nypl dot org
Over 32,000 images from the Picture Collection's reference collection
have been digitized and may be searched or browsed online. They are available
for viewing or ordering from the NYPL Digital Gallery.
Please also consult the Picture Collection's subject listing for subjects
covered in the paper files.
Resources for Teachers
To arrange a class visit to the Mid-Manhattan Library for students in
the 10th grade or above, please fill out the Class Visit form. Class
visits consist of a demonstration of the library catalog and databases
(including many which can be used from home or school computers), and
a tour of the subject area. We cannot accommodate more than 60 students
at a time and recommend no more than 30.
Teachers may also wish to consult Education librarians for resources
on the history, philosophy, psychology, sociology and statistics
of education and for test preparation materials. Also please see
our Research
Guides on education topics.
For teachers working with younger students, please contact the Early
Childhood Resource and Information Center in the Hudson Park Library.
Job Information Train-the-Trainer
We provide a train-the-trainer service for instructors from colleges
and learning centers who are interested in bringing their students
to the Job Information Center to research occupational information.
Instructors are trained by librarians in using our resources before
their class visits.
Call 212-340-0836 during library hours to schedule an appointment.
Health Info
Use our Health Information web site to find information on diseases, drugs and doctors.
Health Information Document Delivery
We provide a document delivery service for health and medical journal
articles for non-commercial use only. The non-refundable fee is $1.00
per article, with a limit of 10 articles per request. Requests should
be made in person at the Health Information
Center on the 2nd floor.
SCORE Small Business Consultations
Get free business advice from the Service Corps of Retired Executives.
SCORE counselors help prospective and established small business owners
and managers identify problems and find solutions. Consultations are
available on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Job
Information Center on the 2nd floor.
Call the Job Information Center at 212-340-0836 during library hours to schedule an appointment. Walk-in consultations are also accepted.
Test Proctoring Service
Proctoring of open-book tests is available by appointment
only at the Job Information Center on the 2nd floor. Call 212-340-0836
to make the necessary arrangements.
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