Comic Books and Graphic Resources at The New York Public Library: Finding Books - The Library Catalog

A Library card is needed to access our collections, both on-site and remote (databases). NYC residents or visitors to NYC (domestic or international), can apply online here. Please note that a photo ID and proof of address is needed to validate your card when you visit. Further information on Library cards can be found here. 

Request Materials in Advance of your Visit

General collections are available to view without an appointment. However, we encourage patrons to request materials in advance of their visit to ensure availability.

Both onsite and offsite storage items can be requested via the blue "Request for Onsite Use" button found in the catalog.

You can select the location where you would like the material delivered or if you would like a small portion of the item scanned after logging in with your Library card and pin number. Please note: Requests made through the catalog for onsite and offsite materials can take up to 2 days to arrive at the Rose Main Reading Room. Delivery of same-day requests and onsite items may take up to two hours.  

Research Catalog 

Explore millions of items from The New York Public Library's Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, and The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. The Research Catalog also provides researchers with access to offsite storage items from NYPL, Columbia University, Princeton University and Harvard University. Items will be delivered to The Stephen A. Schwarzman Building in 1-2 business  days.

The best way to start a search is with a "Subject Heading". Noted below are commonly used subject headings for graphic arts. 

Comic books, strips, etc                                                Graphic novels

Cartoonists                                                                    Comics (Graphic works)

Caricatures and cartoons                                              Comics & Graphic Novels

Searches can also be achieved by an "author" (last name, first name) or "keyword", and standard numbers (call numbers). 

Author - Marvel Comics Group

Keyword - Wonder Woman and DC

WorldCat --  A catalog that links multiple libraries holdings in a one-stop search engine for easy searching across libraries worldwide.  

Interlibrary Services and Document Delivery (ILL) -- Interlibrary Services provides access to materials held at libraries outside the NYPL system. To begin using ILL, please create an online account here.

Questions???

Meet Virtually with a Librarian

Researchers of all levels are welcome to schedule an online consultation with our librarians. Consultations include: catalog navigation, demonstration of online services and database (articles, abstracts, etc...), as well as exploration of sources for a specific topic. To schedule a consultation, please click on the link above or email us at: generalresearch@nypl.org or artref@nypl.org for Art Librarians. A Librarian will review your query and get back to you as soon as possible.