Reference and Lending Libraries

OrigamiUSA maintains two libraries for the benefit of our members: the Lending Library is a circulating library that operates via mail; the Reference Library is non-circulating but can be accessed by appointment. Information about both libraries is below.

Lending Library

The OrigamiUSA Lending Library loans origami books to its members via US Mail. The collection consists primarily of out-of-print and hard-to-find books including a complete run of the Friends of the Origami Center of America and OrigamiUSA Convention Programs and Annual Collections. Here's your chance to find instructions for that rare, out-of-print model you found in the Model Index. Click here for details about the Lending Library.

Reference Library

The OrigamiUSA Reference Library contains over 1700 volumes of origami books and other publications, many of which are rare and/or out-of-print, and so cannot be made generally available through the Lending Library. However, any current member in good standing is welcome to visit and peruse the Reference Library when in New York. The Library is housed at the OrigamiUSA Home-Office at the American Museum of Natural History, and is available by appointment only.

To make an appointment, call the Home-Office or email the Administrator indicating your interest and the time(s) that you are available to come by. The office is very small and your visit will have to be coordinated with other activities that may be going on; if you can give a range of possible times during normal office hours 11-5, that would be best.

When requesting use of the Reference Library, please contact the Administrator first. Kindly fill out this Reference Library Form and have it available when requesting your appointment. Please bring the completed form on the date of appointment.

During your appointment, please note the following:

• One book at a time may be taken down to read and examine.
• Materials cannot leave the office.
• We cannot provide photocopying services.
• You are welcome to make notes from any book.
• You may take photographs with your own camera.
• Of course, you are welcome to fold!

Notes and photographs are for personal usage only and may not be redistributed.

Other notes on usage may be found in the Library Policies and Procedures document and in the OrigamiUSA Copyright Policy.

The contents of the Reference Library are in the downloadable list below. We'll update this list periodically as new additions to our collection become available. If you are looking for a particular model, we suggest you start with the Model Index to find out which book it's in, then look through the Reference Library list to see if we have that book.

If you have other questions about either the Lending Library or the Reference Library, please don't hesitate to contact the Library Committee.