Spencer Art Reference Library

Spencer Art Reference Library Spencer Art Reference Library, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art Library staff is here to assist you with all of these areas of interest and more.

The Spencer Art Reference Library at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art welcomes everyone interested in studying the history of the visual arts. The Library’s encyclopedic collections and information services provide an extensive research resource in the Kansas City and Midwestern region. The Spencer Library is the only place you need to go for art related resources, whether you want to keep up with

the newest art periodicals, peruse the latest exhibition catalogs and Museum publications or dig deeper into a specific collection or work of art. The library’s collections of printed materials in ten languages include over 270,000 volumes, comprised of books, exhibition catalogs, auction catalogs, theses and dissertations, and bound periodicals. The extensive collection also includes over 650 current periodical subscriptions, media, microforms, electronic resources and artist files. The holdings of the Spencer Art Reference Library are found in the Library's Online Catalog at
http://librarycatalog.nelson-atkins.org/vwebv/searchBasic?sk=SARL

HEADS UP! We're moving things around...Join us as we partner with the to explore Philomene Bennett's Artist File, a car...
05/22/2026

HEADS UP! We're moving things around...

Join us as we partner with the to explore Philomene Bennett's Artist File, a career archive. We will discuss Bennett's iconic career as an artist and advocate for Kansas City's creative community. In addition, we will answer questions about how you can submit your own Artist File to the Spencer Art Reference Library at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

Artist File Initiative & KCAC Collab
Fri May 29th 5:00pm - 6:00pm
KCAC Gallery, 3200 Gillham Rd



Detail: Philomene Bennett, from the series "Abundance and Gratitude"

Put our calendar on your calendar!
05/07/2026

Put our calendar on your calendar!

Join us for a look inside Auction Catalogs--take a fun spin through decades of art markets. Drop-in Saturday 1:30-3pm. ...
05/01/2026

Join us for a look inside Auction Catalogs--take a fun spin through decades of art markets. Drop-in Saturday 1:30-3pm.

04/16/2026

The library is MUCHA ready!!

Well, that was fun...Book Social: A Reading Party was successfully launched last Friday night! The library and museum we...
03/19/2026

Well, that was fun...Book Social: A Reading Party was successfully launched last Friday night! The library and museum welcomed guests for a low-fi night of reading, conversation, laughter, and idea sharing.

Mark your calendars for the next Book Social, Friday, May 15, 2026, from 6-8pm. We’re going to keep growing this movement of in-person community connection — join us!

Visit www.nelson-atkins.org to reserve a free ticket.

Make your final selections, BOOK SOCIAL: A Reading Party is finally happening this Friday night! Bring your own book for...
03/12/2026

Make your final selections, BOOK SOCIAL: A Reading Party is finally happening this Friday night! Bring your own book for reading, and get ready to chat with others. The Museum is free and open 10am-9pm. Snacks and drinks are available for purchase. Reading starts at 6pm.

We’re expecting a full house, so look for another Book Social on May 15th if you missed out on tickets this time.

Sharing Artist Books with students is always a favorite show-and-tell day--especially when we have to get out the umbre...
03/07/2026

Sharing Artist Books with students is always a favorite show-and-tell day--especially when we have to get out the umbrella because of rain! .m.s.1968

HIDDEN TREASURES celebrates Women's History Month with Kansas City Artist, Margot Peet. Stop by the Library anytime betw...
03/06/2026

HIDDEN TREASURES celebrates Women's History Month with Kansas City Artist, Margot Peet. Stop by the Library anytime between 1:30 and 3pm on Saturday, March 7, 2026, to hear her impactful history.

Wiki curious? Stop in! Analog evenings? Stop in! Treasure seeking? Stop in!
03/03/2026

Wiki curious? Stop in! Analog evenings? Stop in! Treasure seeking? Stop in!

Join us in the library for Hidden Treasures. Saturday, February 7, 2026. Drop in anytime from 1:30-3pm.
02/05/2026

Join us in the library for Hidden Treasures. Saturday, February 7, 2026. Drop in anytime from 1:30-3pm.

Address

4525 Oak Street
Kansas City, MO
64111

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+18167511216

Website

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