Smithsonian Libraries and Archives Tours for ALA Annual

Will you be in Washington, DC for the American Libraries Association Annual Conference? The Smithsonian Libraries and Archives invites colleagues from around the world to tour four of our locations as well as our newest exhibition, Music HerStory, while visiting for ALA Annual. These special behind-the-scenes tours will give guests an opportunity to see our spaces, explore our archival collections and library materials, and meet our staff. We look forward to seeing you!

Below is additional information about each tour opportunity and registration links. Space is limited and registration is required. Space is extremely limited. If your plans change, please be sure to update your rsvp so that another guest may attend. Registration will close at 3 pm the day before the tour.

Note that these tours are located in different buildings 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 and Archives staff and escorted to the tour location.

Due to regional levels of COVID-19, the Smithsonian currently requires all official visitors, including tour attendees, to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test, taken within the last 72 hours, upon arrival.

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

Smithsonian Institution Archives

600 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C., 20024
Thursday, June 23, 2022
4 pm

The Smithsonian Institution Archives captures, preserves, and shares with the public the history of our extraordinary Institution. The Archives holds approximately 44,000 cubic feet of archival records and nearly 3 million photographic images. The collections include official records of the Smithsonian, personal papers of individuals associated with the Smithsonian, and oral and video histories. The collections provide primary research resources for anyone interested in Smithsonian history and the history of American museums, science, technology, art, and cultural development.

Guests will be met in the building lobby and escorted to Suite 3000.

Smithsonian Institution Archives Tour Registration: https://s.si.edu/3MU0xzI  

American Art/Portrait Gallery Library

Victor Building
750 9th Street, NW#2100
Friday, June 24, 2022
10 am

Our newly renovated American Art/Portrait Gallery Library supports the research of two museums, the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery. Its collection includes 180,000 books, exhibition catalogs, catalogues raisonnes, serials and dissertations 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.

American Art/Portrait Gallery Library Tour Registration: https://s.si.edu/3NzIH56

Music HerStory: Women and the Music of Social Change Exhibition

National Museum of American History
Constitution Ave, NW, Between 12th and 14th Street
Monday, June 27, 2022
9 am and 10 am

A collaboration between the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage and the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives, this brand new exhibition explores the rich contributions of American women across a wide range of musical roles and genres. Tours will be led by exhibition curator Meredith Holmgren, the Smithsonian’s first Curator of American Women’s Music.

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.

Music HerStory Tour Registration:

Joseph F. Cullman 3rd Library of Natural History

National Museum of Natural History
10th Street and Constitution Ave, NW
Monday, June 27, 2022
1:30 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.

Joseph F. Cullman 3rd Library of Natural History Tour Registration: https://s.si.edu/3wJDroI

National Museum of Natural History Library

National Museum of Natural History
10th Street and Constitution Ave, NW
Monday, June 27, 2022
3:00 pm

The National Museum of Natural History Library collects scholarly, highly technical and research-oriented materials in cross-disciplinary topics within the general areas of interest to the museum it serves. It contains about 120,000 items on general science, biodiversity, biology, ecology, evolution, genomics, geology, oceanography, (invertebrate) paleontology and wildlife conservation. This tour will include the main branch and one or two specialized collections within the building.

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.

National Museum of Natural History Library Tour Registration: https://s.si.edu/3Gl6dk1