Avery Library

Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library is the world’s leading architecture library, located in Avery Hall, and houses the Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals, the most comprehensive periodical index in the field.

Avery Library COVID-19 Update – August 11, 2020

Avery general research collections are available for Scan & Deliver requests.
8/12: New Lending & Pick-Up Service: Avery is allowing current faculty, students, and staff to borrow certain Avery materials through its new pick-up service. Eligible materials include all onsite Library of Congress classed collections (the majority of the materials in the 200 level reading room) with the exception of multi-volume sets, catalogues raisonnés, serials, and oversized materials. Patrons may begin requesting materials now and begin picking up these materials between 8/12/20 and 8/28/20 at the Library’s plaza level rear exit, next to the pyramidal skylight, 300 Avery Hall 1172 Amsterdam Avenue. Pick-up hours are 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Beginning 8/31/20, the pick-up point will relocate to the 300 level of the Library, through the Library’s main entrance. Pick-up hours will remain the same. Most other library locations are offering or will offer this service in the coming weeks.
8/31: Avery opens its 300 Level to Patrons. Avery will offer limited seating in two-hour appointment blocks on its 300 Level. A booking system will be available shortly. At this time, access to these spaces is limited to the History of Art and Archaeology department and its related programs, as well as GSAPP. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.
8/31: New Paging Service: All Avery stacks are closed through at least the fall semester. Access to materials that are not eligible for pick up, that must be used onsite, will be paged for patrons by Avery staff.
9/8: Avery Drawings & Archives and Classics open for CU affiliates by appointment and will offer reference scanning of select materials by request.

Be sure to monitor the Columbia University Libraries Alerts page for all service updates.

User Privileges

Columbia University undergraduate and graduate students,faculty,and teaching assistants are eligible for semester loan privileges in most libraries. All Columbia libraries are open to valid Columbia ID holders, regardless of discipline or use—with the exceptions of the Law Library and Business Library during midterm and finals and the Rare Book and Manuscript Library (RBML), which is limited to use of RBML materials only. Full-time officers may designate a teaching assistant or research assistant as a deputy borrower as long as the assistant has an official University ID and their own borrowing records. Full-time officers of Columbia University may also obtain library privileges for spouses, and domestic partners. Columbia University alumni who have earned an undergraduate or graduate degree are eligible for reading privileges. Please consult the Library Information Office for specifics.

Library Information Office

The Library Information Office (LIO), is located in Room 201 Butler Library, just to the left of the main entrance. LIO staff provide a wide variety of services to faculty, staff, students, and visiting readers, including initial requests for visitor access to the Columbia University Libraries. The office also answers general questions about any of the Libraries’ services and resources, administers user privileges, clears library blocks due to overdue fines/fees, and distributes publications of a general nature about the Libraries.

Information about library privileges may be found on this page.

Events

Mon, Apr 5 6pm

Postponed: Reimagining Learning & Research

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Avery Library

Events