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Library

The Hirshhorn Museum Library, founded in 1969, is now administered by the Smithsonian Institution Libraries (SIL). It is a research collection devoted to modern and contemporary painting, sculpture, drawings, prints, photography, video, and emerging art forms. The Library has books and related materials (exhibition catalogues, auction catalogues, serials, and ephemeral material) from 1880 to the present, with an emphasis on artists in the Hirshhorn’s collection and on artists featured in the exhibition program. These holdings consist of more than 62,000 volumes, 50 current serial titles, more than 980 non-collection photograph files, and 95 drawers of files on 6,750 individual artists. There are approximately 13,000 slides of works of art by more than 900 contemporary artists. Microfiche, microfilm, and archival material on the founding of the museum, the Hirshhorn family (letters, photographs, and memorabilia), and the exhibition program are also available.

To make an appointment:
The Library is open to scholars by appointment from 10 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday, except federal holidays. Appointments may be made by telephone, fax, or e-mail.
Telephone: 202-633-2773
Fax: 202-633-6764
E-mail: hmsglibmail@si.edu

Volunteer Opportunities
To apply for a volunteer position in the Library, please contact the Smithsonian's Behind the Scenes Volunteer program. Volunteer opportunities include: maintenance of the Art and Artists Files, searching for online catalog records, and maintenance of the non-collection photograph files.

Internships
The Library accepts qualified interns from library schools and art history programs. Knowledge of at least one Western European language is desirable. Please see Internships for information about how to apply.

Publications Exchange
The Library welcomes the opportunity to exchange catalogs on modern and contemporary art with other art organizations. To inquire about an exchange, please send us a copy of your publications list by mail, fax, or e-mail. Download our publication exchange list.

Mailing address:
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden Library
Smithsonian Institution
MRC 361
PO Box 37012   
Washington, DC 20013-7012

Staff
Amy Watson, Library Technician, 202-633-2776
Jennifer Maslin, Library Technician, 202-633-2775
Anna Brooke, Librarian, 202-633-2774

Online Catalog Search
The Library’s catalog is available on the Smithsonian Institution Libraries website.

Search the Library catalog.
Search the SIL website.

Collections
New Book List
Visit the Hirshhorn Archives for New Book Lists for the past 3 months.

Art and Artists Files Database

List of Audio Recordings

Short MP3 clips are available for the following three artists:

• Artist Series: Magdalena Abakanowicz (5/24/01) [144kb]

• Chuck Close Press Conference (10/14/98) [192kb]

• Focus Lecture: Adrian Piper (6/29/91) [460kb]

List of Films and Videotapes, by Anna Brooke
(Sample Clip: Ed Ruscha June 29, 2000 high| medium | low)

Photography Collection Inventory, by Anna Brooke

Visit the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden's Podcast page for more artist interviews, Hirshhorn lectures and curator walk-throughs.

View the Exhibition Archive (PDF) for dates of past Hirshhorn exhibitions.