Category Community Resources & Education

Reading Time: 2 minutesThe Folger Shakespeare Library is world-renowned for its early modern collections focused on Shakespeare. Beyond these historical treasures, the library maintains a small but intriguing collection of contemporary artists’ books inspired by Shakespearean plays. Each book in this collection offers a creative dialogue with the Bard’s works, transforming text into visual and tactile experiences. One […]

Reading Time: 2 minutesStepping into Dumbarton Oaks in Georgetown feels like entering a space where history, scholarship, and artistry meet. The Research Library and Collection houses materials on Byzantine studies, Garden and Landscape, and Pre-Columbian studies. Among its treasures is a carefully curated collection of artists’ books and fine press works, featuring notable names such as Ian Hamilton […]

Reading Time: 2 minutesWalking into the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, you feel the pulse of the city’s public knowledge. The District of Columbia Public Library serves residents of DC and the surrounding area, offering a vast range of materials. Among these, a small selection of reference works focuses on artists’ books. Unlike rare or archival collections, […]

Reading Time: 2 minutesEntering the Dibner Library feels like stepping into a crossroads of history, science, and artistry. Situated on the first floor of the National Museum of American History, the library houses rare books and manuscripts documenting centuries of scientific discovery. Among its treasures is a small but remarkable collection of artists’ books, born from a 1995–96 […]

Reading Time: 2 minutesStepping into the Cullman Library feels like entering a world where natural science meets history. Located within the National Museum of Natural History, the library houses rare and historical books with stunning illustrations. Though its artists’ book collection is tiny—currently just one title—it holds significance for anyone interested in book art and the history of […]

Reading Time: 2 minutesWalking into Gelman Library at George Washington University, you encounter the Corcoran collection of artists’ books. These works were moved from the Corcoran Gallery of Art / College of Art + Design Library and remain available for research. The collection offers nearly 300 books that explore social consciousness through varied techniques and media. Each work […]

Reading Time: 3 minutesWalking into Mullen Library at the Catholic University of America, you immediately feel the calm of the space. The library holds a small but meaningful collection of artists’ books and related resources. Though modest, these works carry a quiet significance. Being part of the Washington Research Library Consortium connects CUA to other local universities, allowing […]

Reading Time: 2 minutesI step into American University Library and the quiet hits me first, soft and steady between the shelves. Here are artists’ books, small worlds carefully crafted, resting in both the Visual Arts Collection and Special Collections. Special Collections rarely takes in new works now, but it holds a permanent loan from the Watkins Art Gallery. […]