Our physical collections, including print books and journals, dissertations, microfilm, and audiovisual materials, remain inaccessible to both patrons and library staff, but the library is open online. At this time, we do not offer scanning or grab-and-go services. If there is an item that you need in the library's physical collections, consider placing an interlibrary loan request, using the ebook search service or contacting your liaison librarian to look for alternative access. Hathitrust's Emergency Temporary Access Service also provides access to digital copies of approximately half of the GC Library's print collections while our collection is inaccessible; log in at hathitrust.org with your GC Network credentials to see all of the available scans for GC affiliates.

CUNY libraries have suspended regular overdue fines as well as fines for recalled items and we ask that you keep the books you have checked out until further notice. All CUNY libraries now allow at least nine renewals of circulating items and will automatically renew items checked out to you. Additionally, interlibrary loan staff will automatically request renewals of ILL items on your behalf.

If you have an urgent need to return library books, the main security desk in the lobby of the GC is accepting library returns. Patrons who need to return equipment or media such as laptops, DVDs, or headphones should email circ@gc.cuny.edu to make arrangements.

Book returns may also be mailed:

ATTN: Library Returns
The Graduate Center, CUNY
365 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10016

Please note that returned books will not be checked in until the building reopens, so items will remain on your account until that time.

Interlibrary Loan is still fully operational via our regular ILLIAD system while the Mina Rees Library is closed, but can only deliver items electronically at this time.

Any item can be requested, regardless of whether the GC or any CUNY library owns a copy.

Book chapter requests, rather than requests for whole books, tend to be more successful requests during COVID. Publishers' websites, Google Books or any online preview pages are good places to look for table of contents in order to see tables of contents and to decide what to request. You can also request tables of contents through ILL.

Please contact us at ill@gc.cuny.edu if you need any further information about our services.

Students may request a laptop from IT Services using the request form.

In order to borrow a laptops you must meet all of the following criteria: 

• Be registered for Fall 2020 classes with no registration holds on your record.
• Be able to show a GC ID if you will be picking up a laptop.

Contact IT Services for further assistance.

1. Use OneSearch: The majority of our GC Library ebooks display in this search. GC affiliates have access to ebooks that CUNY licenses for all campuses and those in our GC collections; both of these corpuses display in the GC view of OneSearch
2. Databases A-Z: all of our ebook collections are included here. You can even see those that are not restricted by DRM.
3. View links to our ebook collections along with news and search tips on our Ebooks Research Guide.
4. Search Hathitrust (now with special Emergency Access Service which holds scans of 50% of the GC Library's print collections). These items do not display within OneSearch, so log in at hathitrust.org to see full ebook holdings (choose CUNY Graduate School and University Center from the drop-down when you log in)
5. Make a request for a book chapter via Interlibrary Loan
6. Use our Ebook Search Service: a librarian will check all available ebook collections for you within a few business days
7. Do you have credentials for another CUNY campus or another university where you work? Remember even other CUNY schools will have different ebook titles.
8. New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library, and Queens Public Library collections also include many ebooks that could be accessed remotely
9. Speak with your liaison librarian for assistance in finding and searching for ebooks.

Consult the library's Film Studies Research Guide for a list of streaming media options.

GC alumni have access to a limited selection of library databases through a partnership between the library and the Alumni Affairs Office. Complete the Graduate Center Alumni Registration Form to request access. The Alumni Affairs Office gcalumni@gc.cuny.edu will reply (please allow 1-2 business days) with a username and password to access Databases for Alumni.

Open Access resources (indicated by this symbol:) on the the Graduate Center's A-Z Database List are freely available.

The library space remains inaccessible to students, faculty, and staff. During this closure, construction of the Center for Digital Scholarship and Data Visualization on the lower level continues according to plan.

All staff and faculty who wish to enter The Graduate Center must adhere to the Graduate Center Building Entry Policy.

There is currently no access to printing service through the library. Contact IT Services for assistance with alternatives.

Reference: ref@gc.cuny.edu
Circulation: circ@gc.cuny.edu
Interlibrary Loan: ill@gc.cuny.edu
Dissertation Office: deposit@gc.cuny.edu

• Librarian Subject Specialist Directory to locate your subject librarian
• A-Z Faculty & Staff Directory

Instructors can request library research instruction for classes by contacting their liaison librarian or filling out our class visit request form.

Our current policy remains that we will not purchase new or additional physical items for Reserves. We will do our best to provide online versions of your reading materials. Please bear in mind that some textbooks are simply unavailable to libraries as e-books.

Teaching faculty should complete the Course Reserve Request Form to request an item be placed on reserve (even if the library does not own the item).

• Include as much information as possible when placing the request (call number or OneSearch link if the library owns the material, link to Amazon or ISBN if the library needs to purchase the material).

• There is a reserve limit of 30 items per course. However, due to budget restrictions each course will be limited to 10 e-book purchases when requesting new material.

• It generally takes 4-6 weeks for an item that GC Library does not own to be purchased, processed, and placed on reserve.

• The library only handles book reserves at this time; articles and other items can be organized in Blackboard or by other CUNY tools for sharing with classes.    

  • Because of purchasing restrictions and delayed delivery of campus budgets, we do not have the capability to purchase new streaming videos. If the library already licenses a streaming video through one of our databases we will help you link to the item for your course.

Material which CAN be placed on Reserve

• E-books
• E-book Chapters
• Streaming videos that the library has already licensed

Material which CANNOT be placed on Reserve

• Interlibrary loan books
• Library periodical issues or volumes
• Scans of an entire book
• Streaming video that requires a new license

Need assistance finding openly available materials for your course? For information about Open Educational Resources (OER) or Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC), see our OER Guide.

The Library will notify the instructor when materials are added to their Reserves page. Please note that new purchases will require additional time to process (order, receive, and catalog). Requests made prior to the deadline will be made available prior to the start of the semester, unless you are notified otherwise. Contact Reserves to check the status of your request.

On-Site Research

As of Nov. 16, NYPL has temporarily suspended this service in response to rising Covid-19 rates in NYC; sign up for Research at NYPL email updates to receive announcements and service updates

You can schedule an appointment to visit any of the New York Public Library’s four Research Libraries – the nearby Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, Performing Arts, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, or the Business Center at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (formerly the Science and Business Library, or SIBL).

Before doing so, you’ll need to meet virtually with an NYPL librarian, in advance of your visit – so be sure to plan ahead, and schedule enough time in advance for your research needs.

Getting a new NYPL card while the libraries are closed

• Get a NYPL card online
• The SimplyE app for digital materials

NYPL Print Book Services

• Grab and Go for Researchers: As of November 5, All NYPL patrons with MaRLI, Research Borrower, and CUNY Graduate Center borrowing privileges may request eligible research items for pickup at the New York Public Library’s four Research Libraries: Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, and Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. (NOTE: As of Nov. 16, NYPL has temporarily suspended this service in response to rising Covid-19 rates in NYC; sign up for Research at NYPL email updates to receive announcements and service updates).
• Grab and Go Services: options for all NYPL card holders at open branch libraries
• MaRLI by Mail: requires approval in the MaRLI program and residence in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut

Databases and Ebooks

• List of databases available from home (includes scholarly ebook collections like Cambridge, Oxford, Project Muse)
• Ebook Collections Overview (includes audiobooks and popular literature ebook collections)

See our NYPL research guide for links and updates

The Brooklyn Public Library and Queens Public Library both have print pick-up services and electronic collections available online. See this post for additional links to their programs and to find out how to apply for a library card.