My growing interest in maps, especially older places I’ve been to or read about, has be searching out maps to buy or examine. Hanging in our upstairs hallway is an 1892 real estate map of our St. Paul neighborhood, most interestingly the many changes caused by the construction of I-94 in the 1960s – many streets between the St. Paul Cathedral and the State Capitol redirected, truncated, or wiped out – and the construction of I-35E replacing Pleasant Avenue in the 1980s. Boring for most, fascinating for me.
The New York Public Library has an extensive map collection at the Main Branch, located at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, and I decided to check it out on my most recent visit. Though it’s fine to show up and request maps to look at today, likely you wait for the maps to be retrieved…assuming your choices are stored at the Milstein Research Stacks (under Bryant Park) or at Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library diagonal from the Main Branch. With limited time to spend, it seemed prudent to request my maps in advance.
The official NYPL research guidance can be found here.
Preparation
Digital Library Card
Register online for a NYPL library card. You are told that you must provide proof of New York City residency within 30 days, but that’s not relevant to access the special collections as you’re not looking to checkout books, movies, music, etc. You just need to be in their systems.
Special Collections Account
A Special Collections account is necessary to reserve and view resources from the NYPL’s extensive collections, so accept their terms and conditions and provide the demographics requested. Though technically a separate account, it is linked to your NYPL card so register for that first (above).
Request and Appointment
It took me a few attempts to figure out reserving material worked: you create an appointment with the first reservation, and then select the same appointment for each subsequent reservation. You’re allowed only ten active reservations at any time.
Note: The reservation process has apparently changed since my visit. I reserved items again while writing this post and was not asked for any additional information, such as intended visit date and time; instead, the request was sent. All requests are held for two weeks during which you can access the reserved material, after which the material is released.
- Login to your NYPL Special Collections Account.
- Navigate to the Research Catalog directly or
- From the home page, click on Schedule and Request Schedule appointments and request materials;
- Select your research location. The map collection are accessible at the Stephen A. Schwartzman Building;
- Scroll down to The Lionel Pincus and Princess Firyal Map Divison;
- Click on Research Catalog;
- Click on Collections.
- Enter your search criteria: while the basic search is easiest, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by how results are returned; Advanced Search often returns a more manageable result list. Click on the map you wish to reserve.
- Click on Request for On-site Use. You may be asked to login into your NYPL account.
- Chose delivery location Schwarzman Building – Map Division Room 117. Click Submit Request.
- Repeat.
Research guides are available for common subjects.
Arrival
Weeks after making my requests, days after arriving in New York City, it’s the day! After seeing my wife off at Penn Station to visit a friend in New Jersey, I’m off to the Main Branch.
Physical Library Card
A physical library card is required before you can access your material, which you received in Room 315 – the Rose Main Reading Room. The Reading Room is divided into two with the information and librarian in the middle. On my visit, I entered the south half and took a right to the librarian, who asked me for photo identification before producing my personal library card.
For non-residents, the library card is valid for 90 days, after which I assume you repeat the process. A bridge to pass some date in the future.
Coat Check
Coats, backpacks, snacks, drinks, etc. are not allowed in the collection room, so head to the coat check in the Visitor Center. Allowed personal items – e.g., laptops, ear buds, chargers, notebooks, pencils – must fit into a clear plastic bag provided by the attendant. Everything else is checked with the attendant, which you’ll retrieve after completing your research.
The Visitor Center is located in the hallway to the right just beyond security and the staircase and has some exhibits and basic information about the library. But, obviously, that’s not why we’re here!
Arrival
The Map Division room is just down the hallway from the Visitor Center. I showed my newly-obtained library card upon arrival and was led to one of the long tables where the first maps were already laid out. Thoughtfully, they asked if I’d like a magnifying glass: I had brought my own.
Though primarily here for research, you can’t help but admire the stunning room: large windows allowing in sunlight, stylish antique lighting, ornate woodwork ceilings, solid wood tables and chairs from which to work. Very enjoyable.
Research!
My focus for this trip was late-19th/early-20th century maps, with an emphasis on pre- and post-World War I boundaries. Upon arrival, I showed my library card and was taken to the long table where the first maps had been laid out. The friendly and knowledgeable staff will explain the rules that protect the maps: ask them to move the maps, don’t touch the maps, don’t lean on the maps, don’t mark on the maps, etc. Not unexpected, fairly standard, especially considering the maps I requested were all over 100 years old.
For example, this map is centered on Oporto (Porto), Portugal on Portugal‘s west coast. The dotted black lines show ocean routes – 5 days to Liverpool, 15 days to Paraguay – and the red lines are telegraph lines, including ownership, similar to maps showing today’s oceanic internet cables.
Once finished with a map, you ask the attendant for the next map. The previous map is removed from the table and the next map is brought out. The reserved maps may be kept reserved for a further ten days, so you are asked whether to keep or return each map (in my case, all returned as I wouldn’t be able to return that quickly).
Note: The research room has bookshelves containing, primarily, New York City information, such as maps and plat volumes, which do not require a reservation. The staff can help you find digitized maps (or other resources) at the computers located in the room.
Final Thoughts
I spent approximately three hours with maps and then waled up two floors to the Rose Reading Room where I found interesting articles (and maps!) in the Encyclopedia Britannica Eleventh Edition. A totally geeky day, thoroughly enjoyable and definitely something I’ll do again.
While the University of Minnesota John R. Borchert Map Library is local and feels impressive, I still feel that their collection is not quite at the same level, and need to learn how to navigate their collection. Probably just a matter of time and effort, but their hours are limited and conflict with work. And given a choice, going to New York City is always preferable!
Image Copyrights
All images © 2024 Scott C Sosna
