Smithsonian Libraries Tours for ALA Annual

Opportunities to tour three of our 21 branches

Pattern books on display in Dibner LibraryWill you be in Washington, DC for the American Libraries Association Annual Conference? The Smithsonian Libraries invites library colleagues from around the world to tour three of our 21 branches while visiting for ALA Annual. These special behind-the-scenes tours will give guests an opportunity to see our rare books and special collections in art, history and science, as well as chat with Smithsonian Libraries staff and network with each other.

Below is information about each of the host branches as well as sign up links. Space is limited and registration is required. Registration will close at 3 pm the day before the tour. Note that each branch is located in a different building in downtown Washington, DC. All guests will go through standard museum/building security, which may include a bag check. Please factor in time to go through security. Guests will be met in the building lobby by Smithsonian Libraries staff and escorted to the library branch.

Questions? Contact Erin Rushing (rushinge@si.edu).

Joseph F. Cullman 3rd Library of Natural History
National Museum of Natural History
10th Street and Constitution Ave, NW
Thursday, June 20th, 2019
2 pm and 4 pm.

The Cullman Library holds the Smithsonian's collection of rare books in anthropology and the natural sciences. Its world-class collection contains approximately 20,000 volumes published before 1840. The publications of seventeenth- through nineteenth-century voyages of exploration are a special strength, as is the history of museums and scientific collecting.

Guests should enter the building from the Constitution Ave entrance and budget time to get through security. Guests will be met by staff in the Constitution Ave Lobby.

Register for the Cullman Library tour:

Dibner Library of the History of Science and Technology
National Museum of American History
1300 Constitution Ave, NW
Monday, June 24, 2019
10 am and 12 pm

The Dibner Library is the Smithsonian’s collection of rare books and manuscripts relating to the history of science and technology. The Dibner holds 35,000 rare books and approximately 2,000 manuscript groups. The heart of the Dibner Library's holdings is its rich collection from the thirteenth through the nineteenth centuries.

Guests should enter the building from the Constitution Ave entrance and budget time to get through security. Guests will be met by staff in the Constitution Ave Lobby.

Register for the Dibner Library tour:

American Art/Portrait Gallery Library
Victor Building
750 9th Street, NW #2100
Tuesday, June 25, 2019
10 am and 12 pm

To support the research of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the National Portrait Gallery and the Archives of American Art, the AA/PG Library collection of 180,000 books, exhibition catalogs, catalogues raisonnes, serials and dissertations is concentrated in the area of American art, history, and biography with supportive materials on European art. The Library also contains rare books, artists’ books, ephemeral materials, auction catalogs, scrapbooks, and more.

Guests should enter through the 9th Street Lobby of the Victor Building (750 9th Street, NW), where they will be met by staff. Note that this tour is a block away from the Smithsonian American Art Museum/National Portrait Gallery.

Register for the American Art/Portrait Gallery Library tour: