The Institute of Fine Arts is part of a consortium of New York academic libraries, established in 1977 by New York University.
In addition to NYU Library holdings, BOBCAT contains the holdings of the various member libraries of the South Manhattan Consortium. Retrospective conversion of the member libraries' card catalogs is well underway. Each library in the Consortium has a its own BOBCAT library code; most of these are self-explanatory (e.g. `Cooper' for the Cooper Union Library.)
Access Privileges at Consortium Libraries
IFA students are entitled to reading and borrowing privileges at Consortium libraries. In order to gain access to Consortium libraries, students must have an up-to-date bar-coded NYU Photo ID card. Member Libraries include:
The
Cooper-Union Library
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
41 Cooper Square
New York, NY 10003
212-353-4186
Strong collections in architecture, engineering and modern art and design.
Most architecture books are in open stack reserve and do not leave the
library.
Raymond
Fogelman Library
New School for Social Research
65 Fifth Avenue, Lower level
New York, NY 10003
212-228-5303
A circulating collection strong in social and political sciences and philosophy.
The large reserve collection supports study across all subjects taught
at the New School.
Adam
and Sophie Gimbel Design Library
Parsons: The NewSchool for Design
2 West Thirteenth Street, 2nd floor
New York, NY 10011
212-229-8914
Parsons Library collections support the art, architecture, and design
programs of Parsons School of Design. Areas of strength include modern
art history, design, and textiles.
METRO
Over 200 academic, public and special libraries in the New York metropolitan
area are members of METRO. The most useful service METRO provides for
all library users is the METRO referral card, which allows on-site reading
access to materials at all member libraries. The METRO card permits use
of a specific title for a period of time determined by the host library.
The subject strengths, access policies, and phone numbers of each METRO
Library are listed in the METRO Handbook and Directory
(available in the IFA Reference Room.) While most NYC libraries relevant
to IFA students' research do not require a METRO card, a number of special
libraries may. If in doubt, check with the IFA Reference Librarian.