What Is Columbia University Libraries?

Columbia University Libraries is the library system of Columbia University. Its homepage describes the Libraries as "the heart of the intellectual life at Columbia," with a stated mission to inspire inquiry, advance knowledge, catalyze discovery, and shape inclusive discourse. If you are trying to figure out whether this site is the right place to start research, find a study space, borrow materials, or access alumni resources, it is the central entry point for all of those tasks.

What the site is for

The homepage is organized around user tasks rather than a single catalog search. Its main navigation is built as an "I Want To" menu, which tells you the site is designed as a gateway to services, not just a search box.

The primary actions listed are:

• Find Libraries — locate a library location
• Open Now — check which locations are currently open
• Use the Libraries — general guidance on using library services
• Borrow, Request, Renew — circulation tasks
• Ask A Librarian — direct help from library staff
• Access Alumni Resources — services for alumni
• Make A Gift — giving to the Libraries

Service areas shown on the homepage

Finding and using libraries

The site provides a way to find libraries and see which ones are open now, plus a general "Use the Libraries" entry point. The news section notes that Columbia has 18 libraries, described in a linked article by librarians Sydni Meyer and Jeffrey Wayno as covering "hacks, etiquette, and best spots" across the system.

Borrowing and research help

Borrowing, requesting, and renewing materials are grouped together under one menu item. Research support runs through "Ask A Librarian." The Libraries also offer Drop-In Help: a 15-minute introductory session on how to use the libraries, offered on September 2–3 and September 8–11, with no registration required.

Events and training

An "Events & Training" section covers public programs, exhibitions, workshops, and drop-in help. This is where to look for scheduled instruction rather than one-off reference questions.

Collections

A "New & Notable Collections" section highlights archival and special collections, including the Al Jaffee Papers, the Daniel Talbot Papers, the Theodore Richards Conant Collection, the Frances Perkins papers, W.W. Norton & Company records, the Historical Maps Collection (1500–1900), and the Maison française records.

News

The news section covers collection processing, library history, and publishing activity. Examples include a guest blogger processing the papers of Rosemary Radford Ruether, a note on the Columbia Geological Museum's former holdings in Schermerhorn Hall, and the Journal Publishing program releasing 273 new articles across 22 journals from July 2025 through June 2026.

Who it serves

The homepage explicitly lists alumni resources as a top-level action, and a news item describes part-time student employment across library locations, including Federal Work-Study and Student Casual positions. So the site addresses current students, alumni, and job seekers, not only active researchers.

Practical notes

• The site is in English.
• Pricing signals on the page are limited to a "purchase" keyword; the homepage does not state that services are free, so do not assume access terms from the page alone.
• For anything time-sensitive — opening hours, workshop dates, application deadlines — use the linked pages rather than the homepage summary, since the homepage shows placeholder "Loading..." blocks for events.

If your goal is to start using Columbia's libraries, begin with "Use the Libraries" and "Find Libraries"; if you need human help, "Ask A Librarian" or a drop-in session is the faster route.