Whether you're looking for a quiet place to work, a space to meet with friends, browsing for inspiration, or taking some time to relax, the SVA Libraries have the resources for you, whether you're a student, faculty or staff member at the College. Read on for the latest information about their offerings.

Expanded Hours

For the duration of the fall semester, the Main Library will be open Monday – Thursday, 8:30pm – 8:00pm; Friday from 8:30am to 6:00pm; and Sunday from 12:00pm – 8:00pm. Library West will be open Monday – Friday, 10am– 6pm.

Main Library, 380 2nd Avenue

The Main Library is a comfortable space in which to study, relax, or work on projects. It houses the majority of the book collection, which includes a broad selection of comics and graphic novels, pop-up and artists’ books and photography monographs. There are also 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. 

Looking for something to watch tonight? Or an assigned viewing for a class? It’s easy to immerse yourself in the 20,000-title Bluray and DVD collection, as well as a diverse range of streaming services. (More on those below.) 

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

Library West, 133 West 21st Street

Visit Library West if you're looking for a lively 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, from board games to RPGs to video games—a full spectrum of the finest examples of game design. There is also a 24/7 game room with XBoxes, Playstations, Steam/PC gaming, as well as a circulating Switch. 

New this semester: the popular Art of Animation book series has been relocated from the Main Library to Library West. This series showcases the progression of major films like The Iron Giant, Moana, or WALL-E from inception to realization, including art development and storyboards. 

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. They also help students host their own events, so feel free to connect with Library staff if you have an idea for a program. 

Online Resources: 24/7/365

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

SVA Libraries provide access to almost 200,000 ebooks across a broad range of subjects through the subscriptions to Ebook Central Academic Complete and Art & Architecture Source.

The streaming film collections from Academic Video Online, Kanopy and Swank offer a mix of feature films, documentaries, art house classics and television and news programs.

For digital magazines, the Flipster and Exact Editions subscriptions provide complete digital versions of 44 titles, including Aperture, Artforum International, Communication Arts, Creative Review, The New Yorker, and more. 

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

Stop by and ask a librarian any of your questions, or contact us using email or chat via our Ask a Librarian service. 

Access for Alumni and CE Students

In order to prioritize our spaces for current students and faculty and to maintain a safe environment, access for alumni will remain paused for the fall semester. Continuing Education students with Cleared4 credentials or SPLAN access are allowed entry to the SVA Libraries. Please email alumni@sva.edu or ce@sva.edu with any questions. Stay up to date on reopening developments at sva.edu.