
The SVA Library is a major resource for art and design study, developed over the course of 60 years to foster the college’s intellectual and creative life. Its rich print and digital collections directly support SVA’s undergraduate and graduate curricula, and provide inspiration, establish context and widen perspectives. Library instructional services have been developed to sharpen students’ critical thinking and provide information literacy for lifelong learning.
Since 1978 the SVA Library has been located at 380 Second Avenue in the Gramercy section of Manhattan, and in 2018 the library’s first permanent branch, SVA Library West, was established to better serve our expanding campus. Both locations provide comfortable, accessible and attractive spaces on campus where the SVA community can relax, study and collaborate. A knowledgeable and responsive library staff is available to assist with collections and services.
Find us at 380 Second Ave, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10010 or call us at 212.592.2660
Located on the 4th floor of SVA's main building, the SVA Film Library is a repository of cinematic history, with over 3,000 DVDs and Blu-rays. The collection is divided according to genre, with the exception of the Director's Wall, which is designed as a resource for film students eager to study and analyze the career arc of noteworthy directors. The library also serves as an archive for BFA Film and Animation alumni work, and staff work continuously to convert and preserve films stored using archaic formats.
Find us at 209 East 23rd St, Room 401, New York, NY 10010, call us at 212.592.2193 or email at filmlibrary@sva.edu
The Curatorial Practice Library is a non-circulating library devoted to exhibitions, art history, and curatorial studies, along with a small number of contemporary art magazines and journals.
Find us at 132 West 21st Street 10th floor, New York, NY 10011 or call us at 212.592.2274
SVA Library West is a branch library located on the lower level of 133 West 21st Street and is accessible by both stairs and elevator. The library features a specialized book collection, video and tabletop game collections, and a computer lab. The library also has a game room with gaming systems, two group study rooms, and a large casual lounge that doubles as an event space. Materials can be requested from the Main Library to be delivered to Library West; instructions are available here.
The lounge, group study rooms, and game room are accessible twenty-four-hours with your SVA ID. To access the collections and computer lab, check the schedule above for current hours.
Find us at 133 W 21st St, lower level, New York, NY 10011 or call us at 212.592.2810
E-mail: Use our online form to ask a question.
Telephone: Call a Reference Librarian at 212.592.2660.
In person: Visit the Library during reference hours.
Appointment: Schedule a one-on-one session with your library liaison.
Make copies and print in color and black and white, scan using flatbed scanners or the ScannX book scanner.
Go to Computer Lab
Reserve items are course materials kept behind the Circulation Desk for a semester to ensure that everyone in your class has access.
Go to Reserve FormSign up for a class designed for Art History and Humanities classes, graduate programs, or creative and studio work.
Go to Library InstructionTo help foster relationships between the library and the community it serves, every academic department has a dedicated librarian. Contact your liaison for purchase requests, to suggest broader avenues for collection development, to request a library instruction class or research assistance, or anything else library related.
Go to Library LiaisonTo ask that the library purchase an item use the request form or contact your library liaison.
Request a PurchaseHave books set aside to pickup at your convenience, sent to Library West, or place a hold to be the next person to check out an item.
Go to Library CatalogueTo borrow items not in the SVA Library fill out the ILL form.
Fill out the ILL FormIf you would like the library to purchase an item use the request form or contact your library liaison.
Request a PurchaseReserve our Group Study Room for up to 6 people. Inquire at the circulation desk, call us at 212-592-2660, or book through Google Calendar.
Booking InstructionsReserve items are course materials kept behind the Circulation Desk for a semester to ensure that everyone in your class has access.
Search ReservesThe lounge at SVA Library West doubles as an event space that students, faculty, and staff can request to reserve.
Event RegistrationPlease use this form to request ebooks, book chapters, streaming video, or PDF articles for online courses.
Request Digital MaterialsCheck your fines balance first by logging into Prism, then click through to pay your fines.
By borrowing items from the SVA Library you are agreeing to the following policy: To enter the library, full-time Students, Faculty and SVA administration must present a valid SVA ID and current semester sticker to the security officer. Alumni must present their Alumni card. Continuing Education students must present their current course registration. Alumni and CE students have on-site access only, and do not have borrowing privileges.