Learn More About the Shared Collection

Discover the New Research Catalog

In early 2021, The New York Public Library launched the Research Catalog, an expanded and improved version of what was known as the Shared Collection Catalog, for access to all of its collections across the research centers, as well as access to collections from partner organizations through the Shared Collection.

Expanding & Improving the Research Experience

Enabled through the development of a new robust library services platform, the new Research Catalog features significant enhancements made to the Shared Collection Catalog over the past two years. The catalog now features advanced search, innovative subject search and browse functionality, enhanced serials display, and includes real-time status messaging for users and better tracking of offsite requests from all partner library collections.

Additionally, the catalog now supports remote access to portions of the Library’s vast research collections via Scan & Deliver, our electronic document delivery service. Cardholders can request selections from books or articles from scholarly journals, and the Library will scan and deliver them via email. All of these eligible items now have a Request button in the catalog.

The former research catalog, known as the Legacy Catalog, will still exist, but we encourage you to explore the new Research Catalog and take advantage of its optimized features, including Scan & Deliver for remote access to our research collections as well as access to the millions of items from our ReCAP partners.

About the Shared Collection

The Shared Collection is a joint initiative that combines the extensive research collections of The New York Public Library, Columbia University, Princeton University, and Harvard University—members of the Research Collections and Preservation Consortium (ReCAP)—in one catalog and allows patrons from all four institutions to search and request materials from these combined holdings for delivery to their home institution.

Through the catalog, users can discover nearly 11 million volumes from NYPL's research collections, plus an additional 8 million volumes from Columbia and Princeton. With the addition of Harvard's collections, users now have access to more than 22 million volumes.