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The LuEsther T. Mertz Library Reopening Plan & Services: Explore the Library Virtually

  • Library Reopening Plan
  • Library Services
  • Explore the Library Virtually
  • Technical HelpToggle Dropdown
    • How to Access Electronic Resources
    • How to Renew Materials
    • How to Save and Export Titles from the Library's Catalog
    • How to Search the Library's Catalog
  • COVID-19 Related Resources

Take a Virtual Tour of the Mertz Library

Front entrance the LuEsther T. Mertz Library

The LuEsther T. Mertz Library in The Bronx, New York

The Mertz Library promotes the intelligent stewardship of the natural world by collecting and preserving works of merit in botany, horticulture and landscape design.

The Library’s outstanding collections represent over a century of commitment to botanical and environmental research. The skilled staff of the Mertz Library serve as an invaluable resource by providing the highest-quality resources and services to meet the needs of the Garden’s diverse research, instructional and outreach programs including the Garden’s research staff, botanists and horticulturists as well as scientific, scholarly, and artistic communities worldwide and the public at large.

At this time, theLuEsther T.  Mertz Library is closed to the public for in-person visitation. Please continue to check the NYBG homepage for updates. We look forward to welcoming you back!

The Rotunda at the Mertz Library

The Mertz Rotunda

Our grand entranceway into the Mertz Library; enjoy its natural light and botanical imagery.

The Mertz Library Reference Room

The Mertz Library Reference Room

The main reference room of the Mertz Library not only has a vast reference collection, but also an area devoted to children's books that focus on botanical subjects. Also see rotating exhibits from our world renowned collection of botanical books and ephemera.

An Open House in the Mertz Library

Occasionally we hold an Open House in the library where we present a themed exhibit and discuss the remarkable holdings of rare books, historic artifacts, archival documents, and artworks housed in the collections of the LuEsther T. Mertz Library.

The Rare Book Room and Folio Collections

This Collection is housed in the Rare Book and Folio Room, include the earliest manuscripts and printed books as well as some of the most beautiful botanical and horticultural volumes ever produced. The Rare Book Collection is mostly limited to pre-Linnean works (published before 1753). The Folio Collection is particularly notable for its holdings of 18th and 19th century sumptuous plate books featuring many fine botanical engravings and outstanding hand colored illustrations. All folio materials regardless of publication date are held in the Rare Book and Folio Room

The Reading Room

A quiet place to read, persue research, and attend one of our lectures.

PBS Tour

  • Explore Special Collections, Research and Archives at NYBG
    Join THIRTEEN New York and Stephen Sinon, NYBG’s William B. O’Connor Curator of Special Collections, Research and Archives, for an exploration of the largest botanical and horticultural library in the Western Hemisphere—and discover the floras, botanical illustrations, and rich history preserved within.

Lectures, Talks, and Symposia

Discover free videos of past and current lectures and conferences at NYBG, featuring experts from a wide range of disciplines including botany, horticulture, the humanities, and so much more.

  • Connect to Lectures, Talks, and Symposia at NYBG

Exhibits at the Library

The Mertz Library Exhibition Program is the primary vehicle for displaying and discussing the many remarkable holdings of rare books, historic artifacts, archival documents, and artworks housed in the collections of the LuEsther T. Mertz Library. Explore some of our past exhibits!

  • Exhibits at the Mertz Library

Digital Collections

The digital collections of the Mertz Library are extensive.  The link below allow users to navigate the library's collections made available through various portals.  Note that in many cases if there is a digital copy of a book available, our Catalog Department will provide a link in the catalog record.

Please contact the library with any questions.

  • Search the Digital Collections at NYBG

Staff Favorites

  • NYBG at Home (Digital collections at NYBG from a variety of departments.)
  • Mertz Digital (Content from the Mertz Library's collections.)
    • Bronx Park Postcards
    • NYBG Historical Photos
  • The Biodiversity Heritage Library
    • Her Natural History
    • NYBG Contributions to BHL (books, journals, archival collections)
    • NYBG Contributions to BHL (pictures!)
    • Torrey Project
    • Resources to support distance learning
  • LibGuides (research guides and resources from the Mertz Library)
    • Exhibits: Black Botany
    • John Torrey Project
    • Plant Information (seasonal guides for gardening, as well as guides to popular houseplants)

Virtual Volunteering at the Mertz Library

  • Biodiversity Heritage Library
    The Biodiversity Heritage Library improves research methodology by collaboratively making biodiversity literature openly available to the world as part of a global biodiversity community. BHL offers a range of volunteer opportunities for individuals to contribute their time and expertise from anywhere, any time.
  • Steere Herbarium
    Help the NYBG Steere Herbarium transcribe some of the millions of digitized pages of records in our herbarium. Transcription is an important way for us to improve search results and increase accessibility to our historical records.
  • Citizen Science
    Citizen science is the use of enthusiastic volunteers to collect data and generate results. Citizen science projects have the potential to collect large amounts of data due to the ability to engage large populations of volunteers, but usually require technical or scientific staff to analyze data and decipher patterns. At NYBG, citizen science volunteers are part of several ongoing research, data collection, and Herbarium transcription and digitization projects critical to The New York Botanical Garden’s mission. Participants are trained by experts on proper procedures for the project(s) they choose, and have the opportunity to learn aspects of plant biology, ecology, and Herbarium/Living Plant collection management.
  • Wikipedia edit-a-thon
    The LuEsther T. Mertz Library of The New York Botanical Garden and the American Museum of Natural History welcomed students and Wikipedia editors to participate in an edit-a-thon focused on creating and enhancing pages related to the theme of Women in Science. This edit-a-thon was a sister event to a “Women in Horticulture” Wikipedia edit-a-thon held at the Temple University Ambler Campus Library and hosted by Women in Horticulture, a volunteer run organization that serves women in horticulture and related green industries.
    Future edit-a-thons are in store for the Mertz Library, we will keep you posted!

Contact Us

Library
libref@nybg.org

(718)-817-8827 

 

Archives
archives@nybg.org

 

Plant Information
plantinfo@nybg.org
 

Library Hours

Monday: Closed

Tuesday: 10am - 4pm

Wednesday: 10am - 4pm

Thursday: 10am - 4pm

Friday: 10am - 4pm 

Sat & Sun: Closed 

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  • Last Updated: Feb 28, 2022 3:41 PM
  • URL: https://libguides.nybg.org/c.php?g=1053224
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