Our Collection

Rights & Reproductions Policy

Reproduction of Materials from the New York Society Library’s Collections

Please review the information below to learn more about acquiring photocopied and digital reproductions of materials from the Society Library’s collections. Requests for reproductions and general inquiries should be directed to rare_books@nysoclib.org.

While we do try to accommodate all requests, our ability to provide publication or exhibition quality images depends upon the size and condition of an item, or the complexity or scale of the request.

The Society Library’s reference services can help you find digital versions of certain items available via Google Books, the Internet Archive, or other databases. Please feel welcome to contact a reference librarian for assistance by writing to reference@nysoclib.org or calling the Reference Desk at 212.288.6900 x202. The Digital Public Library of America is an excellent source of high-quality images in the public domain.

Photocopies (Self-Service Only)
A self-service photocopier is available onsite for members and the general public. The machine produces black and white and full-color copies on 8½x 11” and 8½x14” paper. Black and white copies cost 15¢ per page; color copies cost 50¢ per page.

If you are unable to visit the Library in person and require a photocopy from circulating materials, please make an Interlibrary Loan request.

Special collections materials may only be photocopied at the discretion of the Special Collections Librarian. Fragile and oversized materials may not be photocopied at all. Consult the Special Collections Librarian regarding possible alternatives, including photography.

Digital Images
The New York Society Library provides digital images of Special Collections materials only. Outside researchers seeking reproductions of circulating materials should request a scan via Interlibrary Loan.

Researchers are permitted to photograph circulating and non-circulating materials for study purposes. Digital cameras are allowed in the Library’s Rare Book Reading Room, subject to certain conditions outlined in our Using Special Collections guide. We encourage you to visit the Library and photograph what you need in person.

For researchers unable to visit the Library, staff will provide up to 15 JPEG images of Special Collections materials, gratis. If you require a large number of images for study purposes and cannot visit the Library in person, independent researchers are available in New York City to assist you for a fee.

Publication quality TIFFs for many of Library’s digitized archival collections are available for download in City Readers, our digital collections portal. These images are watermarked with the New York Society Library logo.  If you require an image without a watermark, please write to rare_books@nysoclib.org.

The Society Library will provide publication and exhibition quality TIFF images (600 dpi) of Special Collection materials, including archival items not yet digitized in City Readers for a fee.  Please see below for fee schedule.

Some materials cannot be scanned due to format or fragility. These include:

  • Any bound or unbound oversize materials that do not fit within the confines of the scanner (maximum size: 11x17”)
  • Maps larger than 11x17”
  • Newspapers
  • Telephone  and city directories
  • Foldouts
  • Parchment
  • Art originals, artifacts

Permissions

For Digital Images Available in City Readers, the New York Society Library’s Digital Collections Portal
All of the images of collections materials available for download in City Readers are open to public use via a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. You may share or adapt these images for personal use, but you must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if any changes were made to the image.  For commercial use of these images, please complete the Letter of Agreement for Use of Digital Reproductions. The Letter of Agreement grants permission to use digital reproductions produced by our staff; it does not grant copyright permissions. Use of images from these collections is not an endorsement of you or your use of collections materials by the New York Society Library. 

Credit Line:
New York Society Library Institutional Archive, The New York Society Library.

For Images of All Other Collections Material

Materials from the New York Society Library’s institutional archive which are not yet available for download in City Readers are open to public use via a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. You may share or adapt these images for personal use, but you must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if any changes were made to the image. For commercial use of these materials, please complete the Letter of Agreement for Use of Digital Reproductions. Use of images from these collections is not an endorsement of you or your use of collections materials by the New York Society Library.

Credit Line:
[Item Call Number, or Collection Title], The New York Society Library.

Sample credit lines for images from printed books:
                Win 188, The New York Society Library.
                Z-L S997 T1517, The New York Society Library.

Sample credit lines for items from archival collections:
 New York Society Library Institutional Archive, The New York Society Library.
Goodhue Collection, The New York Society Library.

To use images of printed books and other materials in the Library’s Special Collections, please complete the Letter of Agreement for Use of Digital Reproductions. The Letter of Agreement grants permission to use digital reproductions produced by our staff; it does not grant copyright permissions. Obtaining permission to publish copyrighted materials is the sole responsibility of the applicant. The Columbia University Copyright Advisory Office website is an excellent place to start your research into identifying a copyright holder and obtaining copyright permission. Conditions for the Use of Photographic Reproductions are listed on the back of the Letter of Agreement. The user agrees to abide by these conditions when signing the letter.

What About Blogs?

The Society Library permits the publication of images taken for study purposes on personal, educational, and scholarly blogs, so long as those images are credited as described above. 

 

Fees

Digital Reproductions - In TIFF format, with a minimum 8-bit RGB color depth. Digital files can be either uploaded onto an ftp at no cost (maximum 5 images) or can be placed on a CD and mailed for an additional $5. 

 

Existing Digital File

New Scan

20-40 MB

Min. 300 dpi file

$10 per image

+ $15 surcharge per order

$35 per image

+ $15 surcharge per order

Discounts
Please indicate on your request if you are a current New York Society Library Member to receive a 20% discount on your order.