The SVA Libraries are excited to welcome students, faculty and staff back to our vibrant and dynamic library spaces this fall. The Main Library and Library West will be open weekdays Monday – Friday, 10:00am – 6:00pm, beginning on Monday, August 30, for the duration of the fall semester. Both of our libraries have rich and unique collections, resources and services available for you to discover—read on to find out more.

The Main Library is a comfortable space to study, relax or work on projects. It houses the majority of the book collection, including a broad selection of comics and graphic novels, pop-up and artists’ books and photography monographs. We also have over 300 current magazine subscriptions available for browsing, with the complete digital versions of selected titles available online. 

The circulating Picture Collection contains over 200,000 images across 1,350 subjects culled from all manner of print publications spanning more than 100 years. Its vibrant, hand-selected images offer a unique way to discover inspiration and visual reference that cannot be replicated with an internet search. 

Film buffs will be delighted by our 10,000 title Bluray and DVD collection, as well as our diverse streaming services. (More on those below!) 

The computer lab at the Main Library is equipped with 41 iMacs, 4 Cintiqs, 2 flatbed scanners, black & white and color printing and the latest versions of Adobe CC, Maya and Final Cut Pro.

Visit Library West if you’re looking for an energetic place to meet with your friends, catch a break between classes or work on a project. The large lounge has comfortable workspaces and is open 24/7. 

Interested in games? Library West has books on game design, theory and the art development of popular video games. You can also check out the games themselves; Library West houses a full spectrum of the finest examples of game design, from board games to RPGs to video games. There is also a 24/7 game room with Xboxes, Playstations, Steam/PC gaming and a circulating Switch. 

Library West often hosts events like Beat Saber dance-offs, Lunar New Year festivals, Dungeons & Dragons workshops, panel discussions on women in animation—to name just a few. We also love to help students host their own events, so stop by and say hello or email us if you have an idea for a program.

The online collections are always open. E-books, magazines, streaming films, scholarly articles and high-quality digital images are still available from wherever at any time of day. To get started using the online resources, check out the Online Resources and Services guide. 

We provide access to almost 200,000 ebooks across a broad range of subjects through our subscriptions to Ebook Central Academic Complete, the ACLS Humanities ebook collection, Library Stack, and Art & Architecture Source.

Our streaming film collections from Academic Video Online, Electronic Arts Intermix, Kanopy, and Swank offer a mix of feature films, documentaries, art-house classics, television and news programs, and experimental and video art.

For digital magazines, our Flipster and Exact Editions subscriptions provide complete digital versions for 40 titles, including Aperture, Artforum International, Communication Arts, Creative Review, The New Yorker, and more. 

Or, if you’re looking for images, we’ve got you covered for art history, museum exhibitions, advertising, stock photos and illustrations and fashion photography. 

We’re looking forward to seeing you in the fall. Please stop by and ask a librarian any of your questions, or contact us using email or chat via the Ask a Librarian service. 

Please note that in order to prioritize our spaces for current students and faculty and to maintain a safe environment, access by alumni and Continuing Education students will be paused for the fall semester. Stay up to date on reopening developments at sva.edu.