Meet Me at the Library

You might not be aware of it, but there is a library at the Getty Center. A big one, in fact.

Perhaps on one of your visits to the Center you noticed the circular building located west of the Museum. This is the Getty Research Institute, home of the Getty Library, one of the most comprehensive art libraries in the world.

As you walk down the glass ramp to the Plaza Reading Room, light pours in from the curved windows around the central atrium, illuminating the rainbow of book spines that line the shelves. There is the peaceful quiet that usually accompanies a library, where the clicking of laptop keys, hum of air conditioning, and whispered conversations take on new proportions. And of course, there is the smell of paper and ink, of books cracked open—some of them new, some of them hundreds of years old.

People here work on all sorts of tasks. Some are writing books, articles, or doctoral dissertations. Others are preparing an exhibition or art project. In any case, they are consulting their own particular portion of the 1.5 million books and periodicals, millions of photographs, and literally miles’ worth of archives that cover all eras of human history as it relates to art. That includes topics like architecture, archaeology, photography, and many other aspects of visual culture.

Can you visit the Getty Library?

Yes! The library is open to anyone who wants to use it; you just have to sign up to become a Reader. For those who are looking for a nice place to work as well as on-site access to some of the library’s digital resources, you can become a Plaza Reader. If you plan on checking out books or consulting items in Special Collections, you can become a Stack Reader. Unlike a regular public library, the Getty Library’s collection is noncirculating, which means materials can’t leave the building. So anything you wish to consult has to be viewed on-site—but that just means more time to soak in the ambiance.

What’s in the Getty Library?

The general collections—the books, journals, and catalogues on the shelves—comprise what are known as secondary sources: scholarly texts, biographies, exhibition catalogues, auction sales records, academic journals, and photographic references. Their contents cover everything related to art history, from classical antiquities to modern conservation methods. Researchers can browse these at their leisure on the maple tables that encircle the shelves.

Though there are three floors’ worth of books, that doesn’t even begin to encompass the extent of the collections. Most of the library’s material is held in off-site storage because there simply isn’t enough room at the Center—but don’t fear! Stack Readers can request any of these books via the Library Catalog, and they will be delivered to the library for on-site use.

And then there are the Special Collections, where you will find one-of-a-kind, original archives of papers, manuscripts, letters, sketches, models, photographs, videos, rare books, prints, albums, and all sorts of ephemera. Amid the library’s archives you’ll also find art that is very different from the collection you see hanging on the Museum walls—and these works you can actually handle. Take a deep dive into the contents of some of the library’s biggest archives by browsing the finding aids. If you want to see something from Special Collections, locate it in the library catalog and then make an appointment to view it in the Special Collections Reading Room by filling out a Library Reference Request Form.

Don’t know where to start? The library provides helpful research guides that summarize the collections around certain topics to help you navigate this vast sea of information. Take a peek at the guides for Rare Photographs and Optical Devices, Architecture & Design, Feminist Research, Auction & Sales Catalogs, or Newspapers.

Are any of the materials digitized?

In addition to these resources, there are plenty of materials that are digitized and freely available online without having to leave the comfort of your couch (or brave the 405 during rush hour). You can search for digitized objects and published materials in the library catalog or access and download digitized books on the Getty Research Portal and the Internet Archive.

And if you’re working on a project related to something in the library’s collections but live more than 90 miles away and would like to travel here, you can even apply for a Library Research Grant.

Happy researching!