Butler Library

Butler Library, the largest of Columbia's libraries, houses collections in the humanities, history, government documents, social sciences, literature, philosophy, and religion. The building also houses numerous service points and special collections, including the Library Information Office, the Rare Book & Manuscript Library, and Research & Teaching Support Services.

Librarians in this library

The broad range of collections and services in Butler Library are supported by over 200 dedicated experts, subject specialists, and other staff members in addition to the librarians listed below.

Ian Beilin

Meet with me

West European Studies Librarian

Humanities & History

igb4@columbia.edu

(212) 853-0627
Butler Library - 309 Butler Library

Nancy Friedland

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Librarian for Butler Media, Film Studies, & Performing Arts

Humanities & History

nef4@columbia.edu

(212) 854-7402
Butler Library - 309 Butler Library

Pamela M. Graham

Director, Humanities & Global Studies; Director, Center for Human Rights Documentation & Research

Global Studies
Humanities & History

graham@columbia.edu

(212) 854-3630
Butler Library - 309B Butler Library

Center for Human Rights Documentation & Research - 318 International Affairs

Global Studies - International Affairs

Jeremiah R. Mercurio

Head, Humanities and History

Humanities & History

jrm2282@columbia.edu

(212) 853-1478
Butler Library - 309A Butler Library

Sydni Meyer

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Teaching and Undergraduate Services Librarian

Humanities & History

sm3871@columbia.edu

212-853-4706
Butler Library - 309G Butler Library

John L. Tofanelli

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British and American History and Literature Librarian

Humanities & History

jt628@columbia.edu

(212) 854-4356
Butler Library - 309 Butler Library

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Services & Tools

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Workshops & Drop-In Help

Workshops
Drop-In Help

Collections

Explore newly available and featured collections related to this library

Black Journalists Oral History Project

Reminiscences of Bobby Bowen

Alexander Gumby Scrapbooks

The Spirit of 1968

A Brief History of Anti-Black Violence and Policing at Columbia University

In the School of Wisdom: Persian Bookbinding ca 1575-1890

John Brown and Harper's Ferry

How Harlem Became Radical

Software

Browse software resources available in this library

Software

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News

Browse news and announcements about the Libraries

The New York Times reports that "a study of the financial aspects of treaty relationships between Native nations and the United States and a sweeping history of legal discrimination against Chinese immigrants" are awarded the 2026 Bancroft Prizes.

The Ask A Librarian Internship Program, which provides students with hands-on experience in academic librarianship, announces the Spring 2026 interns: Ana Espinoza, Joseph A. Torres-González, and Roxy Rico.

WATCH: The Libraries' Associate Vice President for Technology and Preservation Rob Cartolano spoke with the Readium Foundation about "advocating for open standards in academic libraries."

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Butler Library

Ian Beilin

Nancy Friedland

Pamela M. Graham

Jeremiah R. Mercurio

Sydni Meyer

John L. Tofanelli

Black Journalists Oral History Project

Reminiscences of Bobby Bowen

Alexander Gumby Scrapbooks

The Spirit of 1968

A Brief History of Anti-Black Violence and Policing at Columbia University

In the School of Wisdom: Persian Bookbinding ca 1575-1890

John Brown and Harper's Ferry

How Harlem Became Radical

Software

Histories of Native American Treaties and Anti-Chinese Violence Win Bancroft Prize

Announcing the Spring 2026 Ask A Librarian Interns

Advocating for Open Standards in Academic Libraries with Robert Cartolano