The Centro Library and Archives is devoted to collecting, preserving and providing access to resources documenting the history and culture of Puerto Ricans. Established in 1973 as a component of the Center for Puerto Rican Studies, the Centro Library and Archives was dedicated to activist and educator, Evelina López Antonetty in 1986. The Centro Archives, known as the Archives of the Puerto Rican Diaspora, were formally established in 1989. The collections include books, newspapers, periodicals, audio, Films and videos, manuscripts, photographs, prints, and recorded music (see Research and Reference Library). The Library and Archives provides services and programs to the scholarly community as well as the general public. Constituents are diverse and come from the United States and abroad.

The Library and Archives facilitates access to information on its holdings through mail, email and telephone services, City University's online public catalog, CUNY+, participation in national computerized databases, and through the publication of finding aids. The Library and Archives promotes the study of Puerto Rican history and culture through exhibitions and other public programs. This includes a gallery space which features regular exhibitions of prints and works on paper from the Library and Archives’ holdings, as well as the work of contemporary Puerto Rican artists.

Library General Information:

(Reference Desk)

(212)772-4197

Archives

(212)772-5151