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Reference and Research Services

Reference Librarians
Plant Information
Archives
Interlibrary Loans
Mailing Address for General Inquiries


Reference Librarians

A Reference Librarian is on duty during the hours that the Library is open to the public. Librarians will assist readers who are unfamiliar with Library policies or who need assistance with bibliographic or electronic sources.

The Librarians will answer reference inquiries either on-site, by e-mail, fax or mail. Inquiries should be directed to:

Reference Department
libref@nybg.org

Recorded message for hours and information: (718) 817-8604

Mailing address:
Reference Department
The LuEsther T. Mertz Library
The New York Botanical Garden
Bronx, New York 10458-5126


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Plant Information

The Garden offers plant information services onsite and through telephone, written, or faxed inquiries.

Persons seeking plant information from areas outside the southeastern New York region are requested to consult local resources (libraries, botanical gardens, arboretums and the local Cooperative Extension Service) for answers dealing with specific local conditions and environmental issues.

Questions concerning outdoor and indoor plant culture, maintenance, and plant selection are answered. The service includes information on cultural requirements such as planting, feeding, pruning, and propagation. Limited assistance is offered with landscape design inquiries. Plant identification questions require submission of an adequate specimen of the plant in question.

Popular pages on our web site include:

Monthly Gardening Calendar
Seasonal Interest Topics
Plant Information Fact Sheets (including information on houseplants)
Frequently Asked Questions
Useful Links (to plant institutions, organizations, societies, etc.)

The staff will answer questions via e-mail as time allows. Requests for information placed through e-mail must indicate the location (city and state) of the person asking the question.
Plant Information questions should be directed to:

Plant Information Specialist
pltinfo@nybg.org

Phone (718) 817-8681, Monday - Friday, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Call for holiday hours.

Mailing address:
Plant Information
The LuEsther T. Mertz Library
The New York Botanical Garden
Bronx, New York 10458-5126

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Archives

The mission of The New York Botanical Garden Archives is to identify, collect, preserve and make accessible for research and reference use, the historical records of The New York Botanical Garden and the personal papers of individuals whose work or purpose reflect or is connected to the various disciplines supported in the overall mission of the Garden.

Printed and electronic finding guides to many of these historical collections held in the Archives are available upon request in the Library and on the Garden’s web site at http://www.nybg.org/bsci/libr/List1.html. Descriptive records for many collections may also be found in the Garden’s online catalog.

Researchers may use the archives by appointment only and shall provide personal identification and proof of signature and agree to follow rules governing the handling of archival materials. Permission to consult the materials does not imply the right to publish the material. Permission to publish must be made in writing and acknowledgment of the material in any subsequent publication must be included.

For an appointment, please contact Stephen Sinon, Head of Information Services and Archives at ssinon@nybg.org. (see mailing address)

Mailing address:
Archives
The LuEsther T. Mertz Library
The New York Botanical Garden
Bronx, New York 10458-5126


Interlibrary Loans

Interlibrary loan is an essential element in meeting the increasing demand for information. Since no Library is completely self sufficient in meeting the needs of its patrons, interlibrary loan services are provided to Garden staff and to students in the Graduate Program and the School of Professional Horticulture.

The Library does not attempt to borrow material for the general public since these services can be obtained through local public or academic libraries. Students in affiliated programs should use the interlibrary loan department at their university

The Mertz Library is a net interlibrary loan lender. The Library lends books in the continental United States and sends photocopies all over the world. The Library processes over 3,800 interlibrary loan requests per year.

The interlibrary loan staff borrow and lend material through the interlibrary loan subsystem of OCLC (Online Computer Library Center); DOCLINE, the automated interlibrary loan request and referral system operated by the National Library of Medicine, or by fax, e-mail or the U.S. mail using American Library Association (ALA ) interlibrary loan forms.

The LuEsther T. Mertz Library of The New York Botanical Garden can supply books and photocopies of material in its collections on interlibrary loan to qualified libraries within the United States only. Please contact your institution's interlibrary loan librarian to request material.

The Library does not lend periodicals, oversize books, fragile material or material published prior to 1940. For further information, please contact our interlibrary loan Office at rmeade@nybg.org. (see mailing address)

Please see our Fees schedule for information on any fees that may apply to your request.


Mailing address:
InterLibrary Loans
The LuEsther T. Mertz Library
The New York Botanical Garden
Bronx, New York 10458-5126

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Mailing Address for General Inquiries

Our address for all general inquiries is:

The LuEsther T. Mertz Library
The New York Botanical Garden
Bronx, New York 10458-5126

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