The New York Public Library welcomes all to its special collections. To request access to special collections material, all users will need to create a Special Collections Account.
Account holders can:
The account is web-based and can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection. It is separate from your NYPL library card account, and will have its own username and password.
Please contact specialcollections@nypl.org with any questions.
Click here to register for a free account.
After reading and accepting selected NYPL policies, you will be prompted to fill out a profile and create a username and password.
Once the form is complete and submitted, you will be directed to the homepage of your Special Collections Account. You can update your personal information and change your password anytime via the My Profile menu in the account.
For additional information, visit our Frequently Asked Questions.
What if you are not sure if you have an account?
Please contact specialcollections@nypl.org and we can look this up for you.
What if you forget your user ID?
Please contact specialcollections@nypl.org and we can look this up for you.
What if your forget your password?
On the main Special Collections account page at specialcollections.nypl.org, please click on "If you have forgotten your password, click here." You may also go directly from this guide to this link to reset your password. Note that the link you are sent will expire after 10 minutes, so please click on it as soon as you receive the email. If you do not receive an email, check your spam folder or contact specialcollections@nypl.org.