Preserving Artists’ Personal Libraries: Providing Insights into the Creative Process

The subject of preserving artists’ personal libraries is rarely discussed in the field of art librarianship. Within the United States, evidence that historic preservation professionals and artist foundations are maintaining collections of books owned by artists indicates that these are important sources of insight into their creativity. In this article, the author explores the scope of artists’ personal libraries, examines their role in research and scholarship, and considers ways that art libraries can actively participate in their preservation.