How to Use the Getty Library

The Getty Library is one of the world’s largest and most comprehensive art libraries. It houses over 1.75 million books, periodicals, and auction catalogs focusing on the history of art, architecture, and archaeology.

The library’s special collections include archives of artists, art historians, art dealers, and art critics, architectural drawings and models, rare photographs, artists’ books, and more that are made available by appointment.

It’s an amazing resource for scholars and researchers looking to expand their knowledge and understanding of art history and visual culture through the ages. If you’re interested in becoming a Getty Library reader, here is how to do so.

Step 1. Have an art-related question or interest that our resources can help with.

While most researchers of the library are professional scholars, curators, and undergraduate and graduate students, there are no educational requirements to becoming a reader. All you need to access our resources is availability, time, and a desire to find answers.

Step 2. Check for resources.

The Getty Library’s collections aim to cover the full breadth of art history. Search in the Library Catalog to see if the resources you’re looking for are available. Many important art historical texts and resources are available digitally through the library’s online catalog for those unable to visit in person. To find digitized material, conduct a search in the Library Catalog, and refine your search by selecting “GRI digital collections.”

While walk-ins are welcome to explore our resources in the reading room located at the Plaza level, many of our books and special collections require extra time to be made available for study. Contacting a reference librarian ahead of your visit will help you assess how to access the materials that will be helpful to your research goals since 80 percent of the library books, serials, and auction catalogs are located in offsite remote storage.

Step 3. Contact the library to discuss registering as a Reader.

There are three levels of readership.

Plaza Reader

A Plaza Reader is a perfect fit for the casual library user or a visitor curious about the library’s offerings.

What resources are available as a Plaza Reader? A Plaza Reader has access to materials available in the Plaza Reading Room which houses the latest art magazines and periodicals, subscription databases that are accessible on-site, Getty Publications, and more.

A Plaza Reader is able to request library materials from our stacks, storage, and the Library Annex to be used in the Plaza Reading Room and they may be kept on the reader reserve shelves for return visits.

What is required to become a Plaza Reader? Plaza Readers only need a government-issued photo ID and you can register same-day during a visit, or plan in advance by filling out the Getty Library Reference Request Form.

Stack Reader

Stack Reader access is a perfect fit for students and researchers of all levels who are looking to visit the Getty Library many times for their ongoing research.

What resources are available as a Stack Reader? Stack Readers have access to the three levels of the Getty Library and the open area book stacks during open library hours, the photo archive, and use of special collection materials in the Special Collections Reading Room with an advance appointment.

Additionally, Stack Readers are able to request library materials from storage and the Library Annex to be used in the open areas of the library. Materials may be kept on the reader reserve shelves for return visits.

What is required to become a Stack Reader? A person interested in becoming a Stack Reader needs a government-issued photo ID along with an institutional affiliation ID or a brief description of their research needs so we can make sure our library is a fit for their inquiries.

Extended Reader

Extended Reader access may be available to researchers working on long-term research projects that require intensive use of Getty Library materials.

What resources are available as an Extended Reader? Extended Readers have access to the library from 8:30am to 7pm seven days a week. They have access to the three levels of the Getty Library, the open book stacks, the photo archive, and use of special collection materials in the Special Collections Reading Room with an advance appointment from 9:30am to 5pm on weekdays. Extended Readers are also eligible to apply for study carrels to use while at the library.

Like other Reader levels, Extended Readers are able to request library materials from storage and the Library Annex to be used in the open areas of the library and materials may be kept on the reader reserve shelves for return visits.

What is required to become an Extended Reader? Extended Readers need a government-issued photo ID, a description of your research project, and the names of two references. Extended Reader applicants need to have already registered as Stack Readers, have taken a library use tour, and are familiar with the Getty Library and its material. Extended Reader access is by application and reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Step 4. Contact our reference staff.

Once you’ve searched the library resources for material of interest, contact the library to make an appointment.

Library staff can be reached at (310) 440-7390, reference@getty.edu, or through the Library Reference Request Form online.

Even if you’re not finding what you’re looking for, an appointment with one of our reference librarians can help.

Whether or not our library can help you find the answers to your questions, our librarians can point you in the right direction. Getty has many resources outside of the library, so there is a possibility that Getty can still help you on your research journey. For example, did you know that the museum’s photographs and manuscripts departments each have a study room available by appointment? Also, The Getty Research Portal is a free online search platform providing access to an extensive collection of more than 215,000 digitized art history texts from 49 art libraries around the world.

Good luck on your research journey!