The Esther Raushenbush Library is central 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 300,000 books, government documents, microforms, audiocassettes, DVDs, and videocassettes, and subscribes to over 1,000 journals and newspapers. In addition, it offers access to over 50 online full-text and citation databases, which in turn provide electronic access to at least 20,000 journals.

Access to the library’s collections is available from any connection to the academic network, and orientation to its resources is provided to all students in electronic classrooms designed to accommodate multimedia presentations and software demonstrations. These bibliographic instructions are conducted by professional librarians and are important parts of course strategy. Additionally, students are invited to make appointments with librarians for individual help with their projects.

The library belongs to several regional and national networks that provide access to the resources of member libraries in any location.

There are two other libraries on campus. The William Schuman Music Library, located in the Marshall Field Music Building, offers listening facilities and collects books on music and musicians, periodicals, scores, and sound recordings. The visual resources collection of 150,000 slides on Western, ancient Greek, Roman, Asian, and Islamic art; architecture, decorative and minor arts;Western social and political history; and performing arts is located in the Heimbold Visual Arts Center.