The library's collection is non-circulating and for onsite reference use only. Materials may not be checked out of the building and there is no Inter-Library Loan. With the exception of a few reference resources, all materials are housed in secure, non-browsing stacks and are retrieved for users upon request.
For the most part, items in the book and scientific periodical collections are available upon request, as are the slides and photographs in the Image collection. Other types of materials, like facsimile editions and microfilms, are available to qualified researchers by prior appointment only.

The Collection is open to researchers from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Appointments should be made at least 24 hours in advance by contacting the Institute via telephone, mail, or e-mail. Because of space limitations, the number of appointments available may be limited, and accommodating walk-in visitors may be difficult. For this reason, we recommend that appointments be scheduled as far in advance as possible, and ask that specific times and dates of appointments be observed. If you need to cancel or postpone an appointment, please contact us by telephone as soon as possible. Without notification, all materials will be refiled, and you will have to reschedule your appointment.

Requests for access to the Historia Plantarum Collection should be by email.