The Library is located on the second floor of the PrattMWP Academic Building at State and Henry Streets.

Parking is available on Henry Street as well as in any Institute parking lot. There is a parking lot in the back of the Museum (facing State Street - Get Directions) and a parking lot in the back of the Library (513 Williams Street - Get Directions).

To gain access to the Academic Center, you must use the entrance by the PrattMWP Studio building (north side). You can use the intercom for access or if a member, obtain the entrance code from the Receptionist.

The building is handicap accessible from the north side entrance there is an elevator located in the center of the building.

For those who may be mobility-impaired and wish to access the Academic Center/Library or the Student Center/Campus Store, there is a designated handicap parking spot behind the Campus Safety building (closest to Henry Street).

Parking

Parking can be located at the Museum parking lot and you can get directions by clicking here. For handicap accessible parking, you may contact the library for directions.

Resources & Services

The Library is open to Munson Members, Pratt Munson students, Munson employees, and the general public.

Munson Members, Munson employees, and Pratt Munson students may borrow materials from the collection.

Pratt Munson Student, Munson Employee, Munson Member, and Utica College ID cards are to be presented when borrowing Library materials. The purchase of a membership guarantees full and free borrowing of the collection at no additional charge.

The general public is invited to utilize the resources in the Library. For information on how to purchase a membership, please visit our membership page.

Research assistance is available in-person, as well as by phone, email, and web page.

For more information about resources and services, please contact us via email at library@mwpai.edu. 

Munson Library Collection

The Library’s collection includes more than 30,500 fine art books, 35 art periodical subscriptions, 3,100 music CDs, 2,500 entertainment and educational videos, and 2,000 artists’ files.

Also available are Internet-based computers, color, and black-and-white printers, color photocopier, scanning workstation, DVD/CD multimedia system, and Wi-Fi.

Reference
Concentrating primarily on 19th and 20th century American and European art, contemporary international art, and 19th-century decorative arts, the library’s holdings excel in art history, art theory, aesthetics, and photography.

Additional reference tools include full and partial-text databases, art auction catalogs, and biographical dictionaries and encyclopedias.

For more information on available resources, browse the Munson Library Catalog.

Interested in learning more about Edward Root’s Art Library? Download more information by clicking here.

Films and Music
The Library boasts an impressive entertainment and educational film collection of classic and contemporary movies in DVD and VHS format. The diverse CD collection offers an array of classical, folk, jazz, and world music.

These Frequently Asked Questions and their answers are questions that have been asked previously by our patrons.

If you have any further questions, you can contact us via email at library@mwpai.edu.

Do I need a library card?
No, you do not.  To check out items MWPAI Members use their membership cards, Employees, PrattMWP Students, and Pre-College Students use their Munson-Williams IDs and Utica College Students use their Utica college IDs.

What may I borrow, and for how long may I sign it out?
What may be borrowed, how many and for how long varies depending on your relationship with the institution. The table below will help answer these questions.

Are there late return fees on borrowed items?
Yes, it is the borrowers' responsibility to return items before the due date. If that does not happen the borrower will be charged the following:

• $0.20 per day per item on Books and CD's
• $1.00 per day per item on DVD's

What happens if I do not return an item or the item becomes damaged?
It is the borrowers' responsibility for the safe care and timely return of items borrowed from the library. If the item becomes lost, damaged, or is just not returned then the borrower will be charged the replacement cost of the item along with a $40 processing fee.

What cannot be borrowed from the library?
Certain items are for in-library only use. They are as follows:

• Reference Books
• Oversized Books
• Artist File items
• Periodicals

Although these items can not be removed from the library, a copier is available to scan needed text or images to take with you or upload to your personal folders.

What additional services and resources are offered by the library?

• Information Literacy Sessions
  ○ The Library offers class and assignment-specific instruction in library usage, research techniques, and Internet search methodologies. To schedule an information literacy session, contact the librarian.
• Class Reserves
  ○ Library materials may be placed on reserve for your classes. These items may be held on reserve for all or part of the semester and may be designated as in-Library use only or circulating for a specific period among your students.
• Research & Reference Assistance
  ○ The Library offers research and reference assistance in-person, by phone (315)797-0000 ext. 2123, and by e-mail to Library@mwpai.edu.
• Acquisition Requests
  ○ Recommendations for additions to the Library’s collection are welcome and may be directed to the librarian.
• Interlibrary Loan
  ○ The Library offers a free interlibrary loan (ILL) service to employees and PrattMWP students.
  ○ You may request any item through ILL to supplement your instruction or area of responsibility
  ○ The ability to fulfill your request is based upon whether an outside library can lend the item. ILLs may take up to 7–10 days based upon mail or package delivery services. ILL requests may be directed to any of the library staff.
• Online Catalog
  ○ The online catalog may be used to search for books, music CDs, and videos in the Library’s collection. It may be searched from the Library’s web page by viewing the "Resources, Services & the MWPAI Library Collection" section on this page.
• Computers
  ○ There are computers available for use in the Library: All computers are connected to the online catalog and the Internet. One PC is also connected to a scanning and digitization system.
• New Acquisitions Display
  ○ New books, DVDs, and CDs are on display near the Circulation Desk and these items may be borrowed.

Why students should use the library...

• Free professional research assistance.
• Free access to fine art databases to use for your academic assignments or art career.
• Fine art books that you don’t have to buy because you can borrow them for free with your Library card.
  ○ Most of these books are not available online for free.
• Free DVD and music CD rentals.
  ○ Most of these movies and music CDs are not available through free streaming services.
• A lounge is available where you can bring in your snacks, lunch, dinner, or beverages.
• A welcoming space to visit with your friends, or enjoy quiet time alone, at the study tables, or in the stacks.
• Free help from the Writing Lab tutor two nights a week.

Ask a Question

• Ask an art-related research question.
• Schedule an information literacy session.
• Request an interlibrary loan.
• Suggest a purchase.
• Look for international and alternative movies on DVD.
• Inquire about print, online database, streaming video, auction price, and digital image resources.
• Find out about color printing and photocopying, scanning, and multimedia resources.

Research assistance is available by phone at 315-797-0000 ext. 2123, by email at Library@mwpai.edu.

The Library staff looks forward to assisting you with your research and collection questions.