The library has several notable collections of image and sound, such as Columbia University Historical Records, Tapes and Films, and Speech Recordings Library. These collections are described in separate card catalogs available at the RBML.

Many archival collections include audiovisual materials in various analog and digital formats. Finding aids for individual collections include limited information on the non-paper holdings. In addition, there are several internal surveys of audiovisual materials across collections available from the RBML reference desk. Please keep in mind that the library has no equipment to play back many obsolete analog formats in our collections. We can work with outside vendors to reformat these items at your expense.

For access to Oral History Tapes, consult the archives of the Columbia Center for Oral History.