The library of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum offers a quiet, reflective space for learning about the Holocaust and genocide studies. It supports research for the museum’s exhibitions and provides access to books, periodicals, dissertations, maps, music, and audiovisual materials. Among its holdings are a few artists’ books that focus on Holocaust subjects, survivors’ stories, and memorialization through art. Each of these books carries a sense of history and personal testimony, inviting careful attention and thought.
How to Find Artists’ Books
To explore artists’ books in the library, the basic search page is a good starting point. Typing “artists’ books” in quotation marks and selecting “Subject” from the right-hand pull-down menu produces a list of relevant records. Notable works include two sculptural pieces by Tana Kellner: Fifty Years of Silence: Eva Kellner’s Story and Fifty Years of Silence: Eugene Kellner’s Story. Each title holds a quiet power, bridging art and historical memory.
Getting to the Library
The museum is located at 100 Raoul Wallenberg Place SW, Washington, D.C. Take the Blue or Orange line to Smithsonian station, exit at 12th Street and Independence Avenue, and follow Independence west to 14th Street. After crossing, turn left; the museum is the second building to your right after the USDA building. The walk through these familiar city streets allows a moment to prepare for the solemn and important work inside.
Planning Your Visit
The library is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding federal holidays and Yom Kippur. On the fifth floor, the reading room awaits. Some artists’ books are in the open stacks, allowing you to retrieve them yourself, while others are part of Special Collections, requiring staff assistance. You don’t need an appointment for general research, but if your materials are in Special Collections, it’s best to contact the reference staff in advance through the “Submit a Research Question” form. Leave personal items in lockers, review the “Plan a Research Visit” and “Reading Room Policies,” and when examining rare books, sit at the table in front of the reference desk. Return any special collections books to the desk, and place open stack books back on the cart after use.
A Space for Reflection and Discovery
Visiting the library is more than accessing books; it’s an experience of reflection, learning, and connection. Artists’ books and historical materials alike offer moments of quiet understanding, linking personal stories, artistic expression, and historical memory.