Research
The museum is a rich resource for researchers, casual to professional. The research capacity resides primarily in the Ingalls Library and in the Collections Online resource.
Ingalls Library Web Site
The Ingalls Library of the Cleveland Museum of Art is a nationally recognized art research library named in 1983 in honor of museum trustees Jane Taft Ingalls and Louise Harkness Ingalls. The library has been an integral part of the museum from its inception. Today, the Ingalls Library houses more than 440,000 volumes of scholarly publications covering art from all geographic areas and all periods of art history, with materials in many languages and in print and electronic formats. The museum’s history is preserved in the museum archives, founded in 1989.
Open to all
The Ingalls Library and museum archives provide assistance to anyone seeking information on art. The library is open to the public and welcomes everyone during business hours without an appointment. Materials must be kept in the library and registration with valid ID is required upon entry.
Holdings include
• 1,600+ active periodical subscriptions
• 245,000+ monographs
• 1,100+ microfilm titles
• 90,000+ auction catalogues
• 22,000+ files of ephemeral materials on individual
artists and institutions
• 500,000+ images
• 2,000+ linear feet of archival collections
On-Site Electronic Database Access
The library provides access to many specialized electronic resources unique to the research of art, including ArtFact.com, ArtNet, and Artprice.com, as well as access to standard resources, including full text indexing databases such as H. W. Wilson’s Art Index and electronic journals available through the JSTOR archive.
Group and Individual Instruction
Programming highlights library and museum collections through hands-on experiences and lively discussions. The library also offers training sessions in the use of its many resources. For information, call the library at 216–707–2530 or the box office at 216–421–7350 or 1–888–CMA–0033.
Museum Archives
Locate finding aids to archival collections, the museum’s extensive exhibition history, and a database of May Show artists at the museum archives section of the Ingalls Library web site, library.clevelandart.org. Use of materials from the museum archives is by appointment. Contact the museum archivist at 216–707–2492 for information and reference assistance.
Appraisal and Identification
The Cleveland Museum of Art and the Ingalls Library do not provide appraisals of artworks or books. However, knowledgeable staff members can direct you to the right sources. Contact 216–707–2530 for information.
Hours
Book Library
Tuesday-Friday 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.Wednesdays (academic year) 10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
Call during holiday seasons for hours.
Visit the Ingalls Library online at http://library.clevelandart.org
Collections Online
Data about every work of art in the museum collection, including many images, is available here. Most works have brief texts developed for gallery labels, as well as other related information.
Collection in FocusEvery month the Ingalls Library and Archives will focus on an item or aspect of the collection.
Summer 2008
See three online exhibitions about the museum's founding, building, and inaugural exhibition.
Resource Guides
Resources for Art Assessment