Library
The Worcester Art Museum Library, founded in 1909 as a non-circulating bibliographic
resource dedicated to the history of art, reflects the collection strengths of the Worcester Art
Museum. While the library exists to serve the staff of the Museum, it also extends its resources
and services to the community, including teachers, students, faculty, collectors, museum docents,
scholars, and the general public.
Search the Catalog - Bridges to Art
Web access to thousands of images and the library catalogs of the Worcester Art Museum and the College of the Holy Cross.
Using the Library · Bibliographic Collection · Bridges to Art · Photocopying · Hours · Contact Us
The library is located on the second floor of the Museum. The reading room is the original Sculpture Gallery in the Museum's 1898 building and houses the reference collection, current Christie's, Sotheby's and Skinner auction catalogs, current serials, slides, artist files, and frequently used monographs. Other material is shelved in closed stacks and is easily retrieved for library users.
- Belongings may be checked at any of the Museum entrances
- Backpacks are not allowed
- Food and drink are not permitted
The library's bibliographic collection of 44,900 titles includes monographs, serials, exhibition catalogs, auction catalogs, and non-book resources. The holdings encompass all periods and media of art, with an emphasis on European, American, and Asian art.
The slide collection of approximately 45,000 images includes photography, architecture, sculpture, painting, graphic arts, decorative arts, and contemporary art. The slide collection reflects the art collection of the Worcester Art Museum and also has a broad range of images covering all civilizations from prehistory to the present. A set of slides accompanies the Janson History of Art textbook. Slides are bound in archival glass mounts and can be retrieved by medium, nationality, artist, and subject.
Slides are available for circulation to the general public for one-week loans. Up to 60 slides may be borrowed for a $10.00 fee. Subscribers are permitted an unlimited number of loans for a semester fee of $85.00. Public school teachers may borrow slides for a refundable $10.00 deposit.
Bridges to Art is a privately-funded, collaborative project between the College of the Holy Cross and the Worcester Art Museum. The latest digital and library information technologies are being employed to deliver art images and educational resources to a wider audience on the Internet. This rich teaching aid and reference resource is accessed through an interactive website. An exciting model of museum-library cooperation, Bridges to Art stimulates and enriches teaching, learning, and research.
A photocopier is available for $.15 per page and a printer is attached to our public access computer terminals. The library cannot assume responsibility for any infringement of the copyright laws.
Labor Day to Memorial Day
Wednesday: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Thursday: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Friday: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Closed the Saturday before Christmas
Memorial Day to Labor Day
Wednesday - Friday: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.