Orders & Services


Photocopies & Digital Conversions

Low-resolution digital reproductions (PDFs)high-resolution digital reproductions and original or archival time-based media conversion services for purposes of supporting teaching, research, and other scholarship can be made available. The RBML provides reproductions from our collections upon request as long as the staff determines that copying will not harm the original document(s) or violate copyright law.

Orders may be submitted in-person or remotely. All reproduction orders must be prepaid; we accept cash, checks, Visa and MasterCard only for credit/debit cards. And, all orders are processed in order of receipt—usually within three to four weeks.


Class Visits

Faculty from Columbia University, Barnard College, other educational institutions, and other interest groups are welcome to arrange for special sessions in the Rare Book & Manuscript Library (RBML) to make use of our holdings. Curators are available to select appropriate materials.

RBML has two rooms where classes may be held: the Chang Room, which can accomodate up to 25 people, and the Donors Room, which can accomodate a total of 12. Both are available during our service hours by request. Arrangements may be made for larger groups elsewhere in Butler Library. For more information, please contact an appropriate curator as early as possible to schedule your session.

Faculty interested in giving class assignments involving RBML materials are asked to contact RBML to discuss options and strategies..

Loans for Exhibitions

Institutions interested in borrowing materials from RBML collections for exhibitions should contact Jennifer Lee at least six months in advance of the opening of the exhibit for domestic exhibitions and one year in advance for exhibitions in countries other than the United States. Preliminary information should include full description of item(s) requested, opening and closing dates of the exhibit, and an indication of how material would be displayed. Exact display information and a formal exhibitions facilities report for the institution will be required before a decision can be made.

Please see the Columbia University Libraries Guidelines for Lending Materials for Exhibition for a detailed description of how to place your loan request.

For further information, please see the Rare Book & Manuscript Section, Association of College and Research Libraries, American Library Association, ACRL Guidelines for Borrowing and Lending Special Collections Materials for Exhibition (January 2005).


Hiring a Researcher

We welcome visitors to our facility and encourage you to come in person to RBML to conduct your research, if possible, or to have someone come to our facility to conduct research on your behalf. If you would like to hire a Columbia student to assist you, you may contact the following offices where you can post a temporary position.