Spencer Art Reference Library
The Spencer Art Reference Library, located on Level 2 of the Bloch Building, is a non-circulating, research library dedicated to the history of art. The library is open to the public.
The library’s 147,000 volumes encompass all time periods and media of art with strong emphasis in American, European and Chinese art, and auction catalogs. Materials in more than ten languages are part of the library’s collections.
Most library holdings can be found in the online catalog, LEONARDO shared with the Linda Hall Library of Science, Engineering and Technology in Kansas City.
The reference collection, current scholarly journals, online catalog, bibliographic and auction price indexes, the Museum's research publications, online resources and research guides are accessible for public use on site in the reading room. All other material, including monographs, exhibition catalogs and 40,000 auction catalogs are shelved in closed stacks, but are easily retrieved for library users.
Library staff is available to provide reference assistance on art-related questions. Library research guides on art topics are available as well. Tours and class presentations may be arranged.
Contact us for more information about the reference library
Spencer Art Reference Library Hours
Tues, Wed, Sat, 10 a.m.—4 p.m.
Thurs, Fri, 1—7 p.m.
Sunday, 1—4 p.m.
Hours Begninning June 1
Tues, Wed, 10 a.m.—3 p.m.
Thur, Fri, 10 a.m.—5 p.m.
Sat, Sun, 1 p.m.—4 p.m.
Archives
The purpose of the Archives is to document the history and activities of The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, the Nelson Gallery Foundation, the William Rockhill Nelson Trust and other affiliated organizations. As a supplement to the official record, the Archives also collects the personal papers and manuscript material of former Museum staff and other individuals associated with the Museum.
Materials in the Museum Archives are available to the public by appointment only. Call 816.751.1354 to schedule an appointment.
Archives Hours
Tuesday–Friday, 8 a.m.—4 p.m.
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Visual Resources Library
The Slide/Visual Resources Library is available only to Museum staff, visiting Museum speakers and local academic faculty, and provides an encyclopedic image collection for lectures, presentations and research.
Visual Resources Library Hours
Tuesday–Friday, 10 a.m.—4 p.m.
Contact us for more information about the visual resources library
