Visiting Columbia University Libraries

Post date: Apr 28, 2011 12:37:11 AM

The CALA Northeast Chapter is organizing a spring program for our members and interested 

librarians to visit Columbia University Libraries.  The program is on Friday, May, 6th, 2011,

from 2:30-4:30 pm.  We will visit three Columbia University's libraries:

1. C.V. Starr East Asian Library is one of the major collections for the study of East Asia in the United States, with nearly 750,000 volumes of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Tibetan, Mongol, Manchu, and Western-language materials and over 5,000 periodical titles.

2. Digital Science Center housed in the Science & Engineering Library, fulfills the vision of Columbia Libraries to consolidate and redefine library spaces for the 21st century. Working with the University Science departments, the Libraries have defined a set of services to meet the research and teaching needs of University science programs.  It incorporates state-of-the-art technology, high-end software and research data sets for scientific analysis and visualization, and professional, discipline-specific consulting and support.

3. Butler Library houses 2 million volumes which comprise the University's collections in the humanities. The building also houses the Libraries Information Office, the Rare Book & Manuscripts Library, and the Milstein Undergraduate Library. 

   1. The tour of these libraries will be conducted by Columbia University librarians. And two librarians from the East Asian Library (Sarah Elman, and Charlene Zhou) will accompany us throughout the tour.  The schedule is as follows:

   2. 2:30-3:00 -- East Asian Library (Sarah Elman, Head of Technical Services)

   3. 3:10-3:30 -- Science Library (Jane Winland--Director, Science and Engineering Libraries; Song Yu)

   4. 3:45-4:10 -- Butler Library (Charlene Chou, Cataloger)

   5. 4:15-4:30 -- RBML (Susan Hamson--Curator of Manuscripts and University Archivist, Rare Book and Manuscript Library)

For those who have registered, please meet 2:30 pm outside of the C.V.Star East Asian Library and we'll go in together, as the entrance to the library is controlled by ID cards.

Since there will be a fair amount of walking, please wear comfortable shoes.

C.V.Star East Asian Library

300 Kent Hall

1140 Amsterdam Ave., M.C. 3901

New York, NY 10027

Telephone: 212-854-4318

Directions & Parkings for Columbia University

Directions for C.V. Starr East Asian Library:

1. Enter Columbia Campus from the 116th Street entrance (i.e. College Walk).

2. By New York City Public Transportation: Five bus lines (M4, M5, M11, M60, M104) and one subway line (the No. 1 local) serve the Columbia neighborhood. The Columbia stop for the buses and the subway is 116th Street. Do not use the Nos. 2 and 3 express subway trains, which follow a different route and do not stop at Columbia University. If you take the No. 2 or 3, transfer at 96th Street to the No. 1 local train.

3. Follow the red line indicated on the map below--Go up the stairs in front of the Alma Mater statue to the Low Plaza, and then up the stairs to the upper campus. Kent Hall will be on your right and the Library entrance will be right in front of you.

4. The dotted red line is an alternative route—Continue on the College Walk until you reach Kent Hall. Enter the fist door on the left to enter the Cashier's Office. Turn right and go to the main corridor. Walk up the staircase on your left (1st door in the corridor), or go further down the hall to the elevator and go to the third floor. The library entrance will be right in front of you.