Certain types of items in the art collection have non-circulating status to preserve them and to keep them available for use in the reading rooms by any patron of the library. Art books are often difficult and expensive to replace, and original art journals are mostly irreplaceable. Art books go out of print quickly, usually within one year, and their value inflates as soon as they are out of print. Circulation significantly adds to the risk of damage and loss.

Non-circulating Art Library materials include serials (journals and periodicals), multi-volume sets and catalogues raisonnés (catalogues of an artist’s entire body of work), reference books (marked ART REF), folio-sized books (these are 35 cm and larger and marked F before the call number), and books that are very fragile or published before 1930.

A color copier, a scanning station, two flatbed scanners, and the Art Library hold shelf are available for patrons who choose not to take Art books out of the library. Circulating books may be checked out at self-check stations or at the Main Circulation Desk. Please return all checked-out materials to Circulation and not the Art Library; if books are not discharged properly, overdue fines will apply.