Smithsonian Libraries and Archives

06/10/2026

We are excited to see Smithsonian Libraries and Archives (SLA) Director Tricia Edwards featured in a recent Q&A from "Antiques and The Arts Weekly"—and highlighted in the Smithsonian Office of Public Affairs media round-up.

In the interview, Tricia reflects on her 20-year Smithsonian career, her approach to leading SLA’s network of libraries and the Smithsonian Institution Archives, and the essential role our staff and collections play in supporting research, education, access, and information literacy.

She also shares what is ahead for SLA, from expanding access to collections and strengthening partnerships to upcoming exhibitions and public programs.

As Tricia emphasizes, collections are only part of the story. It is the librarians, archivists, preservation specialists, program teams, and many others across SLA who make research and discovery possible.

Read the full Q&A at
https://antiquesandthearts.com/qa-tricia-edwards

Tricia Edwards has recently begun her position as director of the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives (SLA) after serving as the interim director since September 2025. Previously, she was deputy director of the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and Smithsonian Affiliations, and bef...

06/05/2026

Our archives preserves the records of the Smithsonian’s history, from it’s early as days to the decisions, designs people, and projects shaping it now. So while the Castle’s next chapter is being built, the earlier ones are safely documented in our archives.

Because even an institution, this iconic needs a very thorough paper trail.

06/05/2026

Happy from the archives, where even the flowers come with footnotes.

Join us for "Seeds to Stories", a book talk exploring the story of the Burpee seed catalog and the way one catalog helped shape how Americans imagined gardens, growing, and what could bloom in their own backyards.

Registration is free and we would love to see you there.
Register here: https://s.si.edu/4ue9LMg

Come for the book. Stay for the reception. Leave with a new appreciation for seed catalogs, garden history, and the very dramatic business of making plants irresistible on paper.

05/21/2026

The national mammal gets a library card.

Opening today, “Imagining Bison” is a new Smithsonian Libraries and Archives exhibition, presented in collaboration with the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and drawn primarily from our collections.

The display traces how bison have been represented, misunderstood, conserved, celebrated, and transformed into one of the most enduring symbols of American life. It also acknowledges the deep connections between bison and Native communities, including ongoing Indigenous stewardship of bison today.

Rare books? Yes.
Taxidermy history? Obviously.
Conservation drama? Absolutely.
A very famous $10 bill? Somehow, also yes.

Basically: bison contain multitudes.

Part of a year-long celebration of bison at NMNH in honor of America’s 250th, “Imagining Bison” invites visitors to commemorate, celebrate, and look more closely at the national mammal’s history, meaning, and future.

Find “Imagining Bison” on the ground floor of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History beginning today, Thursday, May 21.

05/13/2026

Museum libraries have a way of adding a little extra context — and in this case, a very striking one.

A new exhibition case installation near the Warren M. Robbins Library at the National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution features Malcolm Payne’s artist’s book "Face Value: Old Heads in Modern Masks", held in the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives collections.

Published in Cape Town by Axeage Private Press in 1993, this limited-edition work examines the Lydenburg heads through visual, archaeological, and historical perspectives, pairing scholarly essays with original hand-printed etchings by Payne.

The installation highlights how museum libraries support exhibitions, research, and interpretation by connecting visitors with the books, artists, histories, and ideas that deepen the museum experience.

A little proof, right outside the library, that sometimes the story continues beyond the gallery walls.

05/11/2026

Inspired by Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art's special exhibition, “Of the Hills: Pahari Paintings from India’s Himalayan Kingdoms”?

Discover two new additions to our library collections, "A Dubious Place" and "Pahari Paintings"! Part of Smithsonian Libraries and Archives.

Reserve the Reading Room here: https://s.si.edu/41gQHQx

04/29/2026

Did you know that the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art library is considered one of the finest repositories of Asian art resources in the U.S.? And it's open to the public, 5 days a week.

Check out these new additions to the library collections this month and learn more here: https://s.si.edu/41gQHQx

04/21/2026

Judge a book by its cover? Here are some of our favorite eye-catching reads at the National Museum of African Art’s Warren M. Robbins Library, the leading library for the research and study of African visual arts.

The collection covers African art, history and culture. Delve into archaeology, religion, ethnography, oral tradition, musicology, performing arts, cinema and creative literature—plus special collections like artists’ books, illustrated children’s books and maps of Africa.

The library is open for research by appointment only.

We hope you're inspired to learn more about our offerings in honor of this week and all year round!

Find the library’s webpage and contact information for scheduling here: https://africa.si.edu/research -m-robbins-library

04/21/2026

04/16/2026

We’re celebrating and thanking the librarians across our 21 branches. Their work powers discovery every day — answering questions, supporting research, connecting people with trusted information, and helping make knowledge accessible to all. Their impact is felt across our organization and far beyond it.