How to Place New Requests
A Special Collections Research Account is required to make an appointment and request materials to review in the Avery Drawings & Archives reading room. You will need to provide a current address, email, and telephone number. Upon your first visit, you will need validate your account in-person with a Columbia ID card or government issued photo identification.
All materials you wish to see must be requested at least one week prior to your requested appointment time. We have a small reading room with limited space, and cannot guarantee your preferred appointment time. All appointments are confirmed by email once the selection of materials has been approved.
After you register for a Special Collections Research Account, you can submit requests via our online Archival Collections Finding Aids, from CLIO, or using our manual request form. Specific instructions for each are outlined below.
For collections with embedded Excel Inventories, you will need to submit your request via the Manual Request Form. For instructions, see below.
If the collection has an online finding aid, this link will re-direct you to the finding aid. See finding aid instructions above.
Some finding aid links will direct you to a PDF of a paper finding aid or an Excel inventory. After reviewing those finding aids/inventories, you will need to submit your request via the Manual Request Form. See manual request instructions below.