Reference/Research Collections

Reference-only collections at New York Public Library locations.

• Art and Architecture Collection
  Fine arts, decoration, art history, architectural history, design and theory
• Ethnic Heritage Collections
  New York City's historic African American, Chinese, Italian, and Latino communities
• General Research Division
  Reference assistance with materials on the humanities, social sciences, and general subjects
  • Microforms Reading Room
    350,000 microfilm reels and 3,000,000 microfiche
  • Periodical Room
    11,000 periodical titles in 22 languages from 128 countries
• Media Center Collection
  Documentary and independent film and video
• Schomburg General Research and Reference Division
  Access to published information by and about people of African descent throughout the world
• Science, Industry and Business Library
  Business, Science, Patents & Trademarks, Government Documents, United Nations, European Union, International Monetary Fund documents
• U.S. History, Local History and Genealogy
  Collects materials documenting United States History on the national, state and local level, Genealogy, Heraldry, Personal and Family Names, and Flags