library.columbia.edu

The Columbia University Libraries site is organized around a task hub called "I Want To", which links to the most common things visitors come to do: find libraries open now, borrow or request or renew materials, ask a librarian, access alumni resources, and make a gift. Beyond that hub, the homepage surfaces events and training, new and notable collections, and library news. If you already know which task you need, start with "I Want To"; if you're exploring, the sections below show what else is there.

Start with the "I Want To" menu

This is the main entry point for routine library business. The homepage lists these actions:

• Find Libraries Open Now — check which of Columbia's locations are currently open.
• Use the Libraries — general guidance on using library services and spaces.
• Borrow, Request, Renew — manage loans and requests.
• Ask A Librarian — get help from library staff.
• Access Alumni Resources — resources for alumni.
• Make A Gift — donate to the Libraries.

If your goal is a practical transaction rather than reading about the Libraries, this menu is the fastest route.

Find a library and get oriented

The site notes that Columbia has 18 libraries, and a news item describes a guide by librarians Sydni Meyer and Jeffrey Wayno covering "hacks, etiquette, and best spots inside the University's libraries." For a quick orientation, the site also advertises 15-minute introductory drop-in sessions on how to use your libraries — offered September 2–3 and September 8–11, with no registration required. These sessions cover collections, expert staff, study spaces, trainings, and workshops.

Manage borrowing and requests

The Borrow, Request, Renew link under "I Want To" is where you handle your account activity. Use it when you need to check what you have out, extend a loan, or place a request. The site does not publish loan periods or renewal limits on the homepage, so confirm the specific terms for your item and patron type once you're in the catalog or your account.

Get help from a librarian

Ask A Librarian connects you to staff for research and reference questions. This is the right path when you can't find something, need help with a database, or want guidance on a topic. For in-person help, the site also lists Drop-In Help among its events and training offerings.

Attend events, training, and workshops

The Events & Training section groups several kinds of programming:

The 15-minute introductory sessions mentioned above fall under this area. Check the section for current dates, since offerings change.

Explore collections and news

New & Notable Collections highlights archival and special materials, with examples including the Al Jaffee Papers, the Daniel Talbot Papers, the Theodore Richards Conant Collection, the Frances Perkins papers, W.W. Norton & Company records, a Historical Maps Collection (1500–1900), and the Maison française records. A View All Collections link leads to the fuller list.

The News section carries stories about the Libraries, such as a guest blogger processing the papers of Rosemary Radford Ruether, a piece on the Columbia Geological Museum's former holdings in Schermerhorn Hall, and a note that the Libraries' Journal Publishing program released 273 new articles across 22 journals from July 2025 through June 2026.

Alumni and student employment

• Alumni Resources is reachable directly from the "I Want To" menu if you're a graduate looking for access options.
• Student employment: the site states that the Libraries offer part-time student jobs across locations, including both Federal Work-Study and Student Casual positions, with information on job types and how to apply.

A practical way to use the site

1. Decide whether you need to do something (borrow, renew, ask, find an open library) or explore something (events, collections, news).
2. For tasks, go to "I Want To" and pick the matching link.
3. For orientation, look for the 15-minute drop-in sessions or the Drop-In Help listing.
4. For research support, use Ask A Librarian.
5. For alumni access or student jobs, use the dedicated links rather than searching the homepage.

The site does not publish pricing or login requirements on the homepage, so treat access terms as something to confirm through the specific service page you land on.

Start at the "Find Libraries Open Now" link on the Columbia University Libraries homepage (library.columbia.edu). It sits in the "I Want To" section near the top of the page, alongside "Use the Libraries," "Borrow, Request, Renew," and "Ask A Librarian." That entry point is the fastest way to see which locations are currently open, but treat it as a starting point rather than a complete answer: Columbia's system spans 18 libraries, and hours vary by location, so confirm the specific library's page before you travel.

What the homepage gives you

The "I Want To" block is a task menu, not a directory. The relevant options for a visit are:

• Find Libraries Open Now — current open/closed status across locations
• Use the Libraries — services, spaces, and access information
• Borrow, Request, Renew — circulation and account tasks
• Ask A Librarian — direct help when the site doesn't answer your question
• Access — entry and access details
• Alumni Resources — separate access path for alumni

If you are not affiliated with Columbia, check the Access and Alumni Resources entries before assuming you can walk in. The site does not state that all locations are open to the public, so verify access rules for the specific library you plan to visit.

Why you should confirm the individual library page

The homepage references 18 libraries, and open-now status alone doesn't tell you:

• whether a location is open to your category of visitor
• whether a service desk, special collection, or study space is staffed at that hour
• whether the entrance you normally use is the one in operation

For anything beyond a quick check, open the individual library's page. That is where current hours and access details live, and where exceptions (holidays, interim periods, renovation closures) are most likely to be posted.

If you are new to the system

The Libraries run drop-in introductory sessions — 15 minutes, no registration required — covering collections, expert staff, study spaces, trainings, and workshops. The site lists sessions on September 2–3 and September 8–11. These are useful if you want orientation to the spaces and services rather than just a list of open buildings.

A practical sequence

1. Open library.columbia.edu and use Find Libraries Open Now to narrow the field.
2. Pick the specific library you want and open its page for current hours and access details.
3. If access depends on your status (student, faculty, alumni, visitor), check Access or Alumni Resources first.
4. If anything is unclear, use Ask A Librarian rather than guessing.
5. For a broader orientation, attend a drop-in session.

The site also notes part-time student employment opportunities across library locations, including Federal Work-Study and Student Casual positions — worth knowing if you are a student looking for work inside the libraries.

Columbia University Libraries uses its homepage to surface three rotating content areas: New & Notable Collections (archival papers and historical materials), Events & Training (public programs, exhibitions, workshops, and drop-in help), and News (stories about archives, museum history, and library resources). Each section links to fuller listings, and the collections area includes a "View All Collections" option for browsing beyond the featured items.

New & Notable Collections

The featured collections mix personal papers, corporate records, and visual materials spanning roughly the 15th to 21st centuries. Examples currently highlighted include:

The range is broad on purpose: you can move from a theological archive to publishing house records to architectural photography in the same carousel. A "View All Collections" link sits at the end of the section if the featured set doesn't cover your interest.

Events & Training

This section covers several formats rather than a single event type:

• Public Programs — talks and presentations open to a wider audience
• Exhibitions — curated displays drawing on the collections
• Workshops — skill- and tool-based sessions
• Drop-In Help — short, no-registration sessions; the homepage describes a 15-minute introductory session on how to use the libraries, offered on September 2–3 and September 8–11, covering collections, expert staff, study spaces, and trainings

The drop-in model is worth noting if you want orientation without committing to a scheduled workshop — the page states no registration is required for that session.

News

The News section mixes archival processing stories, institutional history, and resource guides:

• A guest blogger processing the papers of Rosemary Radford Ruether, a Catholic feminist theologian, whose archive includes notebooks, CDs, floppy disks, and other ephemera
• A piece on the Columbia Geological Museum, once housed in Schermerhorn Hall, which held fossil fish, stones, and "upwards of 10,000 specimens" of coal, minerals, and more
• A resource highlight on the evolution of online, networked information and current problems with "enshittified websites, addictive social media feeds, and rampant disinformation"
• A librarian-written guide (Sydni Meyer and Jeffrey Wayno) to "hacks, etiquette, and best spots" across Columbia's 18 libraries
• A note that the Libraries' Journal Publishing program released 273 new articles across 22 journals from July 2025 through June 2026, including new issues from Al-ʿUsur al-Wusta and the Columbia Journal of...

How to Use These Sections

If you're deciding where to start:

• Looking for primary sources → begin with New & Notable Collections, then use "View All Collections" to search more broadly
• New to the libraries or want orientation → check Events & Training for a drop-in session, which requires no registration
• Interested in how the collections are built and used → the News section shows processing work, historical context, and staff recommendations

Each area links out to its own page, so the homepage works as a starting point rather than a complete index.

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.

Columbia University Libraries handles borrowing, requesting, and renewing through a single "Borrow, Request, Renew" entry point on its homepage, and research questions go through the "Ask A Librarian" service. Both are reachable from the "I Want To" menu, which also links to "Find Libraries Open Now," alumni resources, and workshops. The steps below describe what each pathway is for and what to expect; exact loan periods, renewal limits, and eligibility rules are set by the Libraries and should be confirmed on the linked pages rather than assumed.

Start from the "I Want To" menu

The homepage organizes most tasks under a short action list. The relevant entries are:

• Find Libraries Open Now — check which of Columbia's locations are currently open before traveling.
• Use the Libraries — the umbrella entry for access and use policies.
• Borrow, Request, Renew — the pathway for loans, holds, and renewals.
• Ask A Librarian — the pathway for research questions.
• Access Alumni Resources — continuing access options after graduation.

If you only remember one thing: borrowing tasks and research help are deliberately separated, so pick the entry that matches your question.

Borrow, request, or renew

Borrowing

Use "Borrow, Request, Renew" when you want to check out physical material. Before you go, confirm two things:

1. The library is open — use "Find Libraries Open Now." Columbia's system spans multiple locations, and hours differ by site.
2. You are eligible to borrow — borrowing privileges depend on your affiliation (for example, current student, faculty, or alumni). The Libraries' access pages state who qualifies; don't assume alumni borrowing matches student borrowing.

Expected result: you leave with the item and a due date. Record the due date — renewal is not automatic.

Requesting

Requesting covers material you can't simply pull off the shelf: items held at another location, items already checked out, or items in off-site storage. The request is placed through the same "Borrow, Request, Renew" pathway, and you'll be notified when the item is ready.

Common snag: a request can fail if your account has blocks or if the item is restricted to a specific patron group. Check your account status first.

Renewing

Renew through the same pathway, ideally before the due date rather than after. Two things determine whether a renewal succeeds:

• Whether the item has reached its renewal limit.
• Whether another patron has placed a request on it — a hold typically blocks renewal.

Verification step: after renewing, confirm the new due date in your account. If the renewal didn't take, return the item or contact library staff before it goes overdue.

Getting research help with Ask A Librarian

"Ask A Librarian" is the route for questions that aren't about transactions — finding sources, shaping a search strategy, or locating a specific collection. The homepage's news items show the depth of what staff work with, from the Al Jaffee Papers and the Frances Perkins papers to the W.W. Norton & Company records and the Historical Maps Collection (1500–1900).

Use it when:

• You know your topic but not which database or collection to search.
• You need help navigating a specific archive or special collection.
• You want guidance on citation or source evaluation.

What to prepare: your research question in one or two sentences, the course or project it's for, and any sources you've already tried. That turns a vague query into an answerable one.

Learning opportunities: workshops and drop-in help

The Libraries run Public Programs, Exhibitions, Workshops, and Drop-In Help under "Events & Training." The homepage describes a concrete example: a 15-minute introductory session on how to use your libraries, offered September 2–3 and September 8–11, covering collections, expert staff, study spaces, and trainings — no registration required.

This is the lowest-commitment way to learn the borrowing and requesting workflow if the written instructions leave you unsure. Drop-in formats suit people who learn by asking rather than reading.

After graduation: alumni resources

"Access Alumni Resources" is the entry point for continuing access once you're no longer a current affiliate. Alumni access is a distinct category from student or faculty access, so check this page before assuming your current login will keep working. If you're near graduation and depend on library access for ongoing work, review this early rather than after your status changes.

Quick reference

What to verify before you rely on it

The homepage confirms these pathways exist and points to the services, but it does not state loan periods, renewal counts, fine amounts, or which patron groups may borrow. Confirm those on the individual service pages, and confirm current hours through "Find Libraries Open Now" on the day you plan to visit — hours change, and a closed location is the most common reason a borrowing trip fails.