The Libraries’ primary mission is to support the Institute’s academic programs by providing materials and information services to students, faculty, staff, alumni, and visiting scholars. A state-of-the-art integrated library system interfaces with an up-to-date website, providing broad access to electronic materials as well as information about the Libraries. For more information about the Libraries’ services and resources, please visit: https://library.pratt.edu/

The collections in the main library on the Brooklyn campus provide broad-based coverage of the history, theory, criticism, and practice of architecture, fine arts, and design, while also supporting the liberal arts and sciences. The collection encompasses more than 200,000 monographs and bound periodicals and also maintains 776 current periodical descriptions. The Libraries also provide students access to a broad array of online research databases, full text journals, electronic books, and streaming video content. The Brooklyn-campus facility also houses the Libraries’ rare book collection, the Institute’s archives, and a wide array of unique special collection items including photographs, pop-up books, artist books, and children’s books. In the Libraries’ Visual and Multimedia Resources department, students have access to an extensive moving image collection where they can view or borrow DVDs, VHS tapes, and 16mm films. The VMR department also circulates digital cameras, data projectors, photo light kits and tripods, audio recorders, laptop computers, and other tools students need to create, document, and present their research and studio work. The department also holds a collection of 35mm slides and provides access to more than 1.3 million images through ARTstor. Comfortable reading and study spaces are available in this New York City landmark building on the Brooklyn campus.

The Pratt Manhattan Library holds more than 17,024 monographs, subscribes to more than 170 current periodicals, and maintains a small fiction collection. The book and periodical collection provides support for the following programs:  School of Information, Facilities/Construction Management, Arts and Cultural Management, Associate Degree Programs, Design Management, and Continuing and Professional Studies.

Librarians at both facilities offer instructional programs to help patrons use information resources more effectively. Other services offered throughout the year include orientation, individualized instruction, information literacy instruction, research assistance, and referrals to other libraries in the metropolitan area. For up to date information about adjustments to library services please refer to library.pratt.edu.

All of the library units are dedicated not only to providing access to information but to assisting information seekers in developing successful strategies to locate, evaluate, and employ information to meet a full range of needs.

The Pratt Institute Libraries are members of ConnectNY, a consortium of libraries serving 13 prestigious independent academic institutions in New York State. From the library online catalog, Pratt students can easily access an impressive collection of ebooks and request more than 10 million print books from the college and university libraries of Adelphi University, Bard College, Canisius College, Le Moyne College, Marist College, Medaille College, Pace University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Rochester Institute of Technology, Siena College, U.S. Military Academy, and Vassar College.

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Director
Russell S. Abell
rabell@pratt.edu

Chair of Library Teaching, Learning and Collection Development
Amy Ballmer
aballmer@pratt.edu

Interim Head of Public Services
Elizabeth Berg
aberg286@pratt.edu

Head of Visual and Multimedia Resources|
Chris Arabadjis
carabadj@pratt.edu

Interim Head of Collections Management
Johanna Bauman
jbauma91@pratt.edu

Virginia Thoren and Institute Archivist
Cristina Fontánez Rodríguez
cfonta36@pratt.edu

Missy Brown
Cataloging and Metadata Librarian/Assistant Professor
B.A., Rutgers University; M.S. Library and Information Science, Pratt Institute

Cheryl M. Costello
Art and Architecture Librarian/Associate Professor
B.A., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; M.S. Library and Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Nick Dease
Digital Learning Librarian/ Assistant Professor
B.A., Christopher Newport University; M.S. Library and Information Science, M.F.A. Digital Arts, Pratt Institute

Matthew Garklavs
Electronic Resources Librarian/Assistant Professor
B.A., Bard College; M.S. Library and Information Science, Simmons College

Maggie Portis
Design and Architecture Librarian/Associate Professor
B.A., University of Texas at Austin; M.S. Library and Information Science, Long Island University

Paul Schlotthauer
Research and Instruction Librarian / Associate Professor
B.S., Gettysburg College; M.M., Indiana University; M.L.S., St. John’s University

Holly Wilson
Research and Instruction Librarian/Associate Professor
B.A., Baldwin-Wallace; M.S. Library and Information Science, University of Pittsburgh