Utilizing New York City Public Libraries

I absolutely love the New York libraries. When combined, they are the second largest library system in the nation, only behind the Library of Congress.

At the beginning of the semester the Milstein Center hosts an Open House, where they explain all of the resources available in the building, such as the help rooms, the research center, and the library. During the event, I had the opportunity to sign up for a New York Public Library card, and it became a catalyst for my love of libraries. Using my Barnard address, I have registered with the New York Public library, the Brooklyn Public Library, and the Queens Public library, which have become amazing resources for physical and electronic copies of books, audiobooks, TV shows, movies, and museum tickets. 

As a humanities major, all of my classes require at least one book during the semester, which can get expensive. The Barnard and Columbia FLI Partnership Libraries, which work to provide first-generation and/or low-income students with books and textbooks that are necessary for any class required for any given major, can be great resources, but they do not have everything. This is where the New York libraries come in! I have been able to source a lot of the books I need for classes from the libraries, and they provide a nice space off campus to sit and relax. Additionally, using the Libby app, I have been able to get electronic copies of books and even audiobooks, which has made reading easier for me. I can listen to my class readings while working out or shopping for groceries, so I am not bound to simply sitting and reading. For example, I listened to Sensuous Knowledge by Minna Salami for my Intersectional Feminisms class in the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Department over a couple of days while walking in Riverside Park. Local libraries are a great way to get free books, physical, electronic, and audio options, for personal and academic enjoyment.

The libraries are not only for academics though! Apps like Hoopla and Kanopy provide card holders with access to more books, TV shows, and movies. The apps work similarly to checking out physical media at libraries, except everything is digital. They partner with a bunch of libraries, so cardholders simply login using their library card number to get access to a wide range of digital media with no wait times. While some of the movies on Hoopla are a little dated, they still have some gems; I got to watch Chicago (2002) for free when it was either unavailable or cost too much on other streaming platforms. Kanopy is a great resource for indie films. My friends and I have used it to watch a couple of films for our classes and to explore a more diverse collection of films that generally are not available at the popular theaters.

Finally, the New York libraries have a wonderful resource called Culture Pass, where card holders can explore 100+ different cultural sites around the city for free. The Culture Pass includes all of the major museums, the botanical gardens, and some lesser known attractions. I went to the Cooper Hewitt museum when they had their “Making a Home” exhibit on display, and it was beautiful. The entire four floors were dedicated to exploring homes in different cultures, displacement, reenvisioning homes, and more. I think it is the best museum experience I have ever had, and I would not have known about it without first exploring the Culture Pass offerings.

The New York libraries are great assets to take advantage of as a Barnard student because they provide supplemental resources for academics and entertainment, so make sure to support your local libraries!