If you are making an appointment at a library in NYC and they ask you for a METRO card, the FIT Library can help! Stop by the Reference Desk on the fourth floor of the Library or visit us at Ask the Library to learn more about how we can set up this sort of appointment for you. Please note that we may need approximately 2-3 business days' notice to set up this sort of appointment.
Wouldn't it be nice to be able to find and request articles, chapters, and books from other libraries and have them sent through the FIT Library? Well, guess what, you can! Using our interlibrary loan service, you can request articles, chapters, and books from other libraries. In the case of articles and chapters, they will generally be scanned and emailed to you. For books, you can pick them up on campus as you would any other library book.
As an FIT student, you are eligible to set up an account with New York Public Library (NYPL), which is a world-class research library as well as an extensive public library system. Once you have an account, you have access to 86 branches and 4 specialized Research Libraries. Though some of their services are currently only available remotely, they offer options for setting up a library card completely online without visiting a branch and offer remote access to many research databases as well as a wide array of ebooks on both scholarly and popular topics.
One advantage of going to school in New York City is that we are surrounded by libraries, archives, and institutions that have access to information about art, fashion, artists, designers and the creative. If you can't find the resources you need at FIT, you may also want to consider visiting another local library. When planning your visit, keep in mind that some libraries are only open limited hours, some require appointments, and many may be able to provide research advice before you stop by. Checking out the library's website is always a good first step before visiting in person.
Below is just a partial list of libraries that you might want to check out:
Watson Library - The Met
Frick Collection Library
New-York Historical Society Library
Sotheby’s Institute of Art Library
Cooper-Hewitt Library
New York Academy of Art Library
MoMA Library
American Folk Art Museum Library & Archive
Frances Mulhall Achilles Library - The Whitney
The Morgan Library
Brooklyn Museum Library
Vine Deloria, Jr. Library - National Museum of the American Indian
New York City is also home to a wide range of colleges and universities that may have materials that you would like to make use of. If you would like to visit another institution's library, check out their website or stop by the Research Desk for advice.