About the Art Library
With over 100,000 volumes (including books, exhibition catalogs, and bound periodicals) and over 250 journals subscriptions the Clarence Ward Art Library is a favorite for those who love art and the creative process.
The collection covers all of the Visual Arts fields including Architecture, Painting, Sculpture, Drawing, New Media, Prints, Photography, and the Decorative Arts as well as related fields (such as Anthropology, Archaeology, and Landscape Architecture). The collection covers the Visual Arts of all periods (Prehistoric through Contemporary) and all nationalities with special emphasis on Western European, Chinese, Japanese, and American art.
The Clarence Ward Art Library is located on the top floor of the Allen Memorial Art Museum addition designed by the noted architectural firm Venturi and Rauch.
The library is named after Professor Clarence Ward, Museum Director and Art Department Chairman from 1917 to 1948.
The Art Library underwent renovation in 2006 — see photos of the process.
