As a foundation for supporting research and teaching, Columbia's collections are central to the University's intellectual distinction and highest ambitions. We build, shape, sustain, and make discoverable collections that transcend traditional boundaries of format and domain, offer enduring research value, and support the intellectual curiosity of Columbia faculty and students.
Our unique and rare holdings contain some of the world’s most remarkable and prominent collections of recorded knowledge, from cuneiform tablets to early printed books and born-digital archives. While critically and strategically important to Columbia’s teaching and research strengths, the constituency for our special collections extends beyond campus to a global community of scholars.