The Ryerson and Burnham Libraries serve as a cozy beacon of history for Art Institue of Chicago visitors. Together, the libraries house a collection of 700,000 items that are used by students, tourists, and curators from around the world.
The beauty of an art museum library is that anything in the collection can be viewed as art. Promotional materials that artists used to advertise their own exhibitions are the basis of the Library’s Artist Files collection. Informational texts, like Dard Hunter’s papermaking book, become historical art pieces as time passes and methods for creation change.
The library staff encourage curiosity and exploration. Anyone from the public can make an appointment to browse the collection or request specific items to be pulled. Learn more and browse the library’s catalog at www.artic.edu/library/discover-our-collections.