The Ryerson Library’s reading room was built in 1901 to house the Art Institute’s book collections, which were begun in 1879; the Burnham Library of Architecture was founded in 1912 to collect books and periodicals dealing specifically with architecture. Together they form the research collections of The Art Institute of Chicago and constitute the third largest museum reference library on art and architecture in the United States. Unified in the 1960s, the Libraries today are a significant regional, national, and international resource for primary and secondary research in the fields of art and art history, architecture and architectural history, cultural and social history, urban studies and urban planning, historic preservation, and related fields.
The Collections
The Libraries collect materials on the visual arts and architecture, including works of criticism and writings on history, patronage, symbolism, iconography, and the social aspects of the fine and applied arts. All periods, cultures, and art media are covered, but special emphasis is placed on areas in which the museum collects works of art: eighteenth- through twentieth-century architecture; medieval to twentieth-century painting, prints, drawings, and the decorative arts; the history of photography; and the arts of East Asia, Africa, and the Americas. The Libraries also acquire materials on the history of museums and collecting and collectors, as well as art auction catalogs. The collections now number over 600,000 volumes and more than 1,500 current periodical and serial subscriptions. Approximately 10,000 volumes are added annually.
Special Collections
Because of their age, rarity or fragility, some books in the Libraries’ collections are cataloged as “Special Collection.” This designation requires a more secure shelving location and a more closely monitored use of the books by patrons in the Reading Room. “Highlights” of the special collections include the Percier and Fontaine collection of seventeenth to nineteenth century architectural books; the Mary Reynolds collection on Surrealism and its affinities; the Ernest Hamill collection of Russian art books; and the George R. Collins Archive of Catalan Art and Architecture.
The Online Catalog
The Libraries’ online catalog contains information about all book and periodical titles owned by the library and includes those items on order; it also contains information about the archival collections. It does not contain information about specific articles in journals; for which various databases are available. The patron can conduct a search for author’s name, title, or subject. The Libraries’ catalog is particularly flexible, offering the opportunity to search by keyword in title or subject. The online catalog can be accessed through the Libraries’ website: http://ryerson.artic.edu/