Library Services, 914.395.2474
The Esther Raushenbush Library is essential to the academic life of Sarah Lawrence College. Its diverse resources have always supported the school’s academic mission, and its congenial atmosphere and open floor plan allow for both group and independent study.
The library has more than 600,000 hard copy books plus e-books, government documents, microforms, audiocassettes, DVDs, and videocassettes, and subscribes to more than 700 journals and newspapers. In addition, it offers access to 200 online full-text and citation databases, providing electronic access to more than 700,000 journals and 25,000 films.
Access to the library’s collections is available from any connection to the academic network. The research services librarians provide an orientation to the library resources and academic research. These sessions are important parts of course strategy. Additionally, students are invited to make appointments with research services librarians for individual help with research projects. Students can contact research services librarians to ask a question or schedule an appointment directly from the library home page using the Book a Consultation link: https://calendly.com/slcreference.
There are two other libraries on campus. The William Schuman Music Library, located in the Marshall Field Music Building, offers library services and listening facilities and collects books on music and musicians, periodicals, scores, and sound recordings. The Sarah Lawrence College image collection is stored in the Luna database and contains more than 100,000 digital images. The database encompasses major areas of Western art, architecture, photography, decorative and graphic arts, as well as art and architecture from various cultures, including Classical, Romano-Byzantine, Medieval, Islamic, African, Oceanic, and PreColumbian.
Patron Privacy
The library is committed to protecting the privacy of its users. Our policies conform to the code of ethics of the American Library Association that states, in part, that “we must protect each library user’s right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to information sought or received and resources consulted, borrowed, acquired, or transmitted.”
- Circulation information is confidential; however, records are available to staff over a period of time for normal circulation workflow purposes.
- A book’s record with a history of circulation can be searched. Access is limited to library staff.
- Faculty and staff records are removed manually when notice is received that they are no longer associated with the College.
Circulation Policy - General
A student must present a bar-coded Sarah Lawrence College ID to check out library materials. The loan period for books held in the circulating collection is four weeks; however, items can be recalled at any time after a one-week period and must be returned by the new due date indicated. Books can be renewed online for an additional four-week period up to three times. Periodicals, reference books, and material in special collections, faculty collections, and the archives do not circulate.
Circulation Policy - Reserves
The main library reserve collection is maintained as a closed collection, and books circulate for a limited time in order to provide equal access to required course materials for all students. In addition, the library has a large collection of electronic reserves. Most reserve readings circulate for three hours during the day and may also be borrowed for overnight use. Items borrowed for overnight use are due back one hour after the morning opening. Please keep in mind that overdue reserve items are fined at the rate of $0.50 an hour, and failure to return overdue reserves or recalls is a serious offense; the penalties for noncompliance are substantial and may extend to loss of library privileges. It is important to understand that stealing or defacing library materials or otherwise rendering them inaccessible to others is a violation of the College’s Policy on Academic Integrity and may be reported to the Office of the Dean of Studies and Student Life.
Circulation Policy - Interlibrary Loan
Items borrowed through interlibrary loan have due dates that average one month in length, as determined by the lending libraries.
Circulation Policy for the Music Library
Books, scores, and music materials in the reserve collection circulate under the same rules as in the main library. Sound recordings can be borrowed for a seven-day period and may be renewed.
Library Research Assistance
Individual research consultations are available by appointment. A research consultation provides the opportunity for an individual student to meet with a research services librarian to discuss library resources and research strategies for conference and course work. Students may schedule an appointment by telephone, by email, or via an online form available on the library home page. The library staff works closely with Access and Disability Services to identify appropriate technologies to assist students with special needs.