Telephone
Reference
Nonprofit and governmental
organizations and individuals
The Foundation Center library staff respond to simple
telephone inquiries about the library's collections and
services. We may suggest that you pose your question by
e-mail to the Center's Online
Librarian, if this option is available to you.
For complex questions that fall outside the straightforward
inquiries that can be answered over the telephone, we
may also suggest that you pay a visit to our library or
to a Cooperating Collection or public library near your
residence or office.
Grantmakers
Telephone reference is a service we offer to grantmakers.
For complex reference questions
we may refer you to our Coordinator of Grantmaker Services
or to a member of the Research Department staff at our New
York headquarters. Or we may, if appropriate, call on your
behalf. Grantmakers calling the Foundation Center's main number
in New York should identify themselves as such when speaking
to the receptionist. You will then be transferred directly
to the Coordinator of Grantmaker Services. Learn more...
Associates
Customized services including extensive reference is available for members of our Associates Program.
Simply send an e-mail or place a toll-free call to the Associates Program staff using the contact
information provided when you became a member. Please include your Associates Program account
number when placing a request for service.
Learn more...
Media
Requests for factual information from members of the media
will be answered as promptly as staff time and resources allow.
For responses that require more than a few minutes, we usually
suggest that the requestor pay a visit to the library. Media
requests entailing interpretation of facts or regarding trends
in foundation giving will be referred to the office of the
President at the Foundation Center's headquarters in New York. Learn more...
Use of Library Computers and Reservation Procedures
Visitors have free access to a number of electronic
fundraising directories at computers in the library including Foundation Directory Online and FC
Search: The Foundation Center's Database on CD-ROM.
(To learn about searching the Center's databases off-site, click here.)
The use of computers at the New York library/learning center is limited to research on philanthropy, fundraising, and nonprofit management. Visitors may not use computers to access or send e-mail, to visit general interest web sites, or for any other purpose unrelated to Foundation Center research. A list of locations that provide Internet access is available at the reception desk in the lobby. There are no word processing or spreadsheet programs on library computers.
In addition, the following procedures apply to the use of all library computer equipment:
- Computers are available on a first come, first served basis. Computer time is available in increments of one hour to ensure fair and equitable access for all.
- Visitors must sign in at the reference desk and obtain an access code.
- Visitors may use only the software provided on the computer workstations. No software may be loaded by visitors. The library does not provide word processing applications.
- Work must be saved or printed by the end of the session. Unsaved work will be automatically deleted after a three-minute warning. Lost work cannot be retrieved.
- A maximum of 100 records may be saved to floppy disk or flash drive; exceeding this limit is a violation of copyright. CD-ROM storage is not available. Files may not be downloaded or saved to the hard drive or desktop. All files unnecessary to workstation operation are deleted on a regular basis.
- E-mail is not available at public terminals. However, visitors without flash or floppy drives may obtain a disk from the reference librarian, cut and paste records into NotePad, download to the disk (A drive), and e-mail them from the laptop at the reference desk.
- Printing from computers requires a copy card, which can be purchased in increments of one dollar from the vending machine near the library entrance. The cost of printing from computers is 10 cents per page. A maximum of 100 records may be printed; exceeding this limit is a violation of copyright. Vending machines do not provide change, and change is not available at the reference desk or in the bookstore.
- The library reserves the right to deny computer privileges to anyone who misuses the computer equipment or does not follow the established computer policies and procedures.
Photocopying
Equipment for photocopying from
paper and microfiche materials is available at the library.
Visitors may also print from the library's public computers.
Library visitors are reminded to observe the federal
laws regarding unauthorized duplication of copyrighted
materials and software.
Fees
Nominal fees are charged for copying materials: $.20
per page for photocopies and $.10 per page for computer
printouts.
Lending Program
The Foundation Center has launched a program to lend selected books from its library collection to visitors who live or work within the New York City’s five boroughs. Learn more...
Services
for People with Disabilities
To ensure equitable access to our library resources for all, the Foundation Center is committed to providing services to individuals with disabilities. These services include but are not limited to:
In the Library:
- Wheelchair-accessible reference desk and computer workstations.
- Free photocopying of a reasonable number of pages from books and other library resources within the parameters of copyright laws, as required to provide equal access.
- For visitors with visual impairments, reader services are available for up to one hour (Advance notice is requested).
- Screen-reading software (JAWS) to read electronic text aloud.
- Screen-magnifier/reader (ZoomText) to enlarge electronic text (with optional audio).
- Optical character recognition software (Kurzweil 1000) and scanner to read print text aloud.
- Video magnifier/CCTV to enlarge books and articles in our print collection.
- Handheld magnifier with light.
- Library user aids in Braille.
- TTY unit located in lobby.
- Personal amplifier for use by hard-of-hearing visitors at our reception or reference desks.
- ASL signers provided for Foundation Center trainings and special programs. Two weeks' notice is requested to allow for contracting with outside agencies. Attendees are encouraged to contact us in advance to discuss other accommodations.
- Ergonomic keyboard for users needing assistance working on computers.
In Our Training Annex:
- For visitors with hearing impairments, a signer is available upon request for our scheduled training sessions (Advance notice is required).
- For other accommodations
related to our training sessions, contact us at jwc@foundationcenter.org.
From Home:
- Loans of Center-issued publications, and selected
publications by other publishers, are available to individuals whose disabilities make visiting a Foundation
Center Library or Cooperating
Collection either impossible or a hardship.
If you are interested in finding out more about this
program, please click
here.
On the Internet:
Wheelchair access to the New York Library is at 8 East 16th Street (between Fifth Avenue and Union Square West).
If you'd like, feel free to contact us to let us know of your special needs, in advance of a visit at (212) 620-4230.
Book Sales
Titles in the Foundation Center's publications
catalog are available in our bookstore. Purchases at the
bookstore in New York are subject to New York sales tax
of 8.625 percent, unless a copy of your nonprofit agency's
tax-exempt certificate is presented at the time of your
purchase. We accept checks and credit cards (American
Express, MasterCard, Visa), but not cash.
To order a publication by phone, call 1-800-424-9836.
You may also place an order electronically through the
Marketplace
area of the Center's Web site.
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