Sherman Fairchild Reading Room

The Reading Room is open to those who wish to access the Morgan's rare and reference materials and have a valid research reason to consult the collections.

Yes. The Reading Room is open only by appointment. We schedule on a first-come, first-served basis. We recommend that readers request appointments four to six weeks in advance of their preferred dates. We can schedule up to several months in advance. Please note that each reader is required to fill out a separate application.

The Reading Room is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 10 AM–4 PM. We are closed Mondays, Saturdays, and Sundays, as well as on the following holidays:

New Year's Day
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Presidents' Day
Memorial Day
Juneteenth Day
Independence Day* Closed on July 3, 2026 
Labor Day
Indigenous Peoples' Day / Columbus Day
Veterans Day
Thanksgiving Day and the following day
Christmas Eve through New Year's Eve

No, conducting research in the Reading Room is free of charge.

Complete and submit the online application. Please provide a detailed description of your research. Most collection items are fragile, valuable, and irreplaceable. Readers should be prepared to explain why their project requires physical examination of the material they wish to consult.

In the final section of the application, list the items you are requesting, taking the information from our online catalog, CORSAIR; see section 6 below. Access to rare material is not granted without curatorial approval. If the condition of an item requires it, readers will be asked to use secondary materials, such as facsimiles or microfilms, before or in lieu of examining the original.

Yes, we require a new application with every new research scope. Continued visits for the same requested material that have been approved do not require new applications in the same calendar year. If personal information or project/research scope has changed, we require a new application.

Digital photography for study purposes only may be permitted. Please indicate in your application that you would like to take photographs and review the Reading Room's digital photography policy.

The Morgan Library & Museum does not participate in Interlibrary Loan (ILL). Please complete an application to access rare and reference materials in the Reading Room for study.

For exhibition loans, please refer to our Guidelines for Requesting Loans. Information on obtaining photography from our Department of Imaging & Rights may be found here.

The Morgan is not able to appraise or authenticate books, manuscripts, artworks, or artifacts for members of the public. We recommend reaching out to a reputable art dealer, certified appraiser, or auction house for assistance.

You may wish to consult:

• Your Old Books, Association of Research Libraries, American Library Association. "This guide covers some frequently asked questions about rare books and book values."
• The Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America publishes an annual membership directory. It includes subject and geographical indices to help you contact the booksellers who might be of assistance.

As an independent library for researchers and scholars, the Morgan cannot provide general reference service. For general reference questions you may wish to consult your local public library or these web resources:

• The Library of Congress (Ask a Librarian)
• The New York Public Library (Ask a Librarian)

• The following items may not be brought into the Reading Room:
  • Bags, backpacks, briefcases, purses
  • Suitcases, duffel bags
  • Cases (e.g. for computers and cameras)
  • Coats, hats
  • Guests
  • Food, drinks, gum, candy
  • Pens, markers, highlighters
  • Lockers in the Reading Room foyer (measuring 12 in. H x 17 in. W x 21 in. D) are provided for personal items not allowed in the Reading Room.
• All personal belongings are subject to inspection and search upon entering and exiting the Reading Room 
• Readers must wash their hands thoroughly before entering the Reading Room. There is a sink in the foyer for this purpose. 
• Readers may not touch written, decorated, or painted surfaces of rare items. Taking tracings or rubbings is not permitted. 
• Readers should refrain from wearing fingernail polish (including gel, shellac, and clear polish, as well as other nail embellishments including acrylic or silk nail extensions), as they can leave residue on or damage rare or reference materials. 
• Long hair, scarves, and jewelry have the potential to damage rare and reference materials if not attended to properly. Please secure hair and accessories before your appointment to ensure they won't make contact with materials. 
• Reading Room staff deliver all requested items to readers at their tables and collect them when readers are finished. Please minimize handling of materials to ensure longevity of collections. 
• Guidelines for handling specific types of material will be relayed at the beginning of the reader visit. Please don’t hesitate to ask staff if you have questions about safe handling. 
• As a courtesy and respect for other readers, visitors, and staff we ask researchers feeling unwell or under the weather to kindly email or call us immediately to cancel or reschedule their appointments.

The use of UV lights is not permitted in the Reading Room. Facilities for UV examination can be requested in advance, but cannot be guaranteed. If your research requires UV examination, please include this request with your application, with a detailed explanation of need. Last-minute requests will not be accommodated.

No external equipment other than a cell phone or personal digital camera (see Digital Photography Policy) is allowed in the Reading Room while conducting research. The use of micrometers, calipers, or other similar tools requiring direct contact with research materials is not permitted.

The Sherman Fairchild Reading Room is wheelchair-accessible, based on Accessibility standards issued under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Do not hesitate to contact us at readingroom@themorgan.org if you have any questions or concerns about accessibility to the space.