Visit
Research Appointments and Group Visits
Special Collections and College Archives (SPARC) welcomes visitors from around the world throughout the year for research appointments, tours, and lectures.
We provide research appointments, viewings, and specialty talks that engage visitors with our rare and vast collection of primary source materials. In keeping with FIT’s mission to prepare our students for professional excellence, we endeavor to facilitate student learning and faculty teaching, and convey the importance of original primary materials, cultural stewardship, physical artifacts, and authentic sources.
If you still have questions after reviewing the information below, please feel free to contact us at (212) 217-4385 or [email protected].
SPARC is a closed-stack collection that cannot be browsed. Appointments are required for all researchers, and our appointment times fill up quickly.
To set up an appointment, please fill out our appointment form, and someone will reach out to you to set up a time when you can visit. Our research hours are listed below and change every semester.
You'll need to provide a list of call numbers and titles of the items you want to view. Please see our Research Guide for assistance with searching our collection's holdings.
Please allow a week for us to respond, noting that we tend to get very busy around midterms.
Non-FIT Researchers and Alumni
If you are not a current FIT student, faculty, or staff member and wish to view items in the FIT Library (outside of SPARC), you must schedule a separate appointment. Details on how to do that can be found on the library's Visit page.
Traveling from Out of Town
If you want to visit us from outside of New York, we can sometimes make exceptions to our published research schedule. We understand how difficult it can be to access research materials you need for your work.
We absolutely cannot guarantee that we can host your out-of-town visit with less than three week's notice. Before booking your trip, please reach out to us first so we can find dates that work for us all.
Research Hours: January 27-May 19, 2025
- Mondays: 2:30-5:30pm
- Fridays: 2:30-5:30pm
Our research schedule is subject to change due to staffing levels and holidays. Please refer to FIT Library Hours for more detail.
SPARC welcomes group and class visits from within FIT as well as special interest groups and industry members from other institutions. We provide viewings and specialty talks that engage visitors with our rare and vast collection of primary source materials.
When requesting a visit please allow a minimum of two weeks advance notice, especially for any evening visit requests. To schedule a group or class visit, please fill out our group visit request form. As soon as we receive notification of the form, we will reach out.
FIT Goodman Resource Center
Gladys Marcus Library, Room E435
Seventh Avenue at 27 Street
New York City 10001-5992
SPARC is part of the FIT Library, and is located on the 4th floor of the Goodman Resource Center on the southwest corner of 27th Street and 7th Avenue. SPARC is in room E435, directly to your left as you exit the elevators.
Note that visitors from outside FIT must make an appointment to visit SPARC. Security will not allow those without a current FIT ID to enter the building.
Directions to the FIT campus can be found here.