Jr. In 1982, the collection was endowed by her bequest. Twentieth-century painting, sculpture, architecture, and design are all areas in which the library has significant holdings, with special emphasis on contemporary visual arts. The 1978 bequest of photographic historian Margery Mann's personal library greatly enhanced the Museum library's collection of materials on the history of photography as a fine art. Artists' books comprise another special collection. The library's holdings include 1,600 serial titles including magazines, annuals, museum bulletins, and annual reports, of which 425 are current.
Exhibition catalogues are invaluable documents of artistic activity.
Through gifts, purchases, and an exchange program with over 300 museums in the United States and abroad, the library has over 50,000 such titles. Artists' files provide access to the ephemera of art research exhibition announcements, resumes, press releases, etc. Over 13,000 artists are documented in this special collection. Library Access and Usage Although primarily for the use of Museum staff, the library also serves the larger art community and is open by appointment to graduate students, university and college faculty, professional artists, collectors, art historians, staff of other museums and art galleries, and independent researchers. All visiting researchers must enter by the Minna Street entrance and check in at the guard station.