Interlibrary Loan

Some of RBML’s manuscript holdings are available on microfilm and can be borrowed through institutional Interlibrary Loan programs. For a list of available microfilms see http://www.columbia.edu/cu/libraries/indiv/rare/guides/Microfilms/.

If you find microfilm that is of use to you in your research, please contact the RBML via email. Individuals who are not affiliated with Columbia University must submit requests through their local university, corporate, or community library, after receiving permission through RBML.

Note to Interlibrary Loan Departments: for the Columbia University Libraries’ Interlibrary Loan Department Guidelines on Institutional Borrowing, please see: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/services/ill/borrow.html

Loans for Exhibitions

Institutions who are interested in borrowing materials from RBML collections for exhibitions should contact the Librarian for Public Services and Programs. at least six months in advance of the opening of the exhibit for domestic exhibitions and one year in advance for exhibitions in countries other than the United States. Preliminary information should include full description of item(s) requested, opening and closing dates of the exhibit, and an indication of how material would be displayed. Exact display information and a formal exhibitions facilities report for the institution will be required before a decision can be made.

For further information, please see the Rare Book & Manuscript Section, Association of College and Research Libraries, American Library Association, “ACRL Guidelines for Borrowing and Lending Special Collections Materials for Exhibition (January 2005)”,