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Art History: Books

Guide to the key resources and research methods of art history. Art History Guide.

Library Catalogs


Use the following tools to get books from other libraries:

Art Library Catalogs

These catalogs search the holdings of major art libraries around the world. Best when its useful to limit the scope of your search to just items related to art history.

Digitized Books

Google Book Search

Google Books and Hathi Trust let you search through the entire text of books and are very useful to finding mentions of specific topics.


Summer 2023: Major System Updates

You'll notice some changes as we work.
  • New Library Catalog: try it out and tell us what you think
  • Prospector will be unavailable from May 19 through Spring 2024. 

Full details on our library services platform migration project & timeline.

Find Book Reviews

Where are the Art Books?

The Art & Architecture Collection is arranged in Library of Congress call number order, and can be found in the northwest corner of the second floor. Relevant call number ranges include:

  • N - Visual Arts
  • NA - Architecture
  • NB - Sculpture
  • NC - Drawing, Design, & Illustration
  • ND - Painting
  • NE - Print Media (e.g. printmaking, engraving, etching, litho, etc.)
  • NK - Decorative Arts (e.g. interior design, ceramics, glass, metals, textiles, etc.)
  • NX - Arts in General
  • TR - Photography
  • TT - Handicrafts, Arts & Crafts

Not sure where to find the book you need? Check out the map of the Art & Architecture Collection.