Herron Art Library
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Additional Info
The Herron Art Library welcomes those affiliated with the IU Indianapolis campus, IU system, local community, and visiting scholars researching the visual arts. The library’s mission is enacted through:
- Collection development: Our staff selects and maintains research materials and objects that support the teaching, learning, and research mission of the Herron School of Art + Design.
- Teaching in the classroom: Art librarians provide information literacy instruction to students in the classroom and art-based research support to faculty.
- Student experiential learning and employment: The library provides student employment and internships that offer a strong foundation in careers for the visual arts, art librarianship, and the book arts—across academic, public, and cultural heritage organizations.
- Programming, events, and community outreach: The library organizes and sponsors a range of events that are open to the public, including visiting book artist talks and an annual display, celebration, and digitization of Herron student book arts projects. We also regularly host K-12 field trips and local artist association meetings, such as The Portfolio Club.
- HAL Fine Press / Book Arts Collection: A specific area of focus for the library is the growth of our notable Fine Press / Book Arts collection, which is approaching 1,000 items. Often referred to as artists’ books, these works offer unique expressions of art, reflecting the qualities, functions, and structure of the book. They are creative works produced in a wide variety of structures, themes, materials, and mediums. Artists’ books may be produced in small editions or as one-of-a-kind art objects—all with the intent to be interactive, intimate, works of art mirroring personal, social, or ecological themes. The Herron Art Library is home to many important contemporary book artists such as Julie Chen, Rebecca Goodale, Bea Nettles, and many other acclaimed artists.
Your gift can support a wide range of important needs at the library, including but not limited to:
- Purchase of research materials and artists' books that support the teaching, learning, and creative work of Herron School of Art + Design students and faculty, as well as visiting researchers
- Employment of students in career-impacting, on-campus jobs in the library
- Programming and events connected to the library’s collections
Thank you for your generous support of this vital resource for our campus and community!
Your giving matters
I am eternally grateful to have attended Herron, due to its fine artist book collection and library. In fact, I probably spent too much time perusing the collection instead of actually making work! I was even fortunate enough to have finished a commissioned sculpture for the University Library atrium, which centered on handmade artist books being placed into their collection. In short, I've carried these experiences with me beyond my time in Indy and still produce artist books as a part of my practice.
Austin Reavis BFA'10
Important Disclosures
Please note, the name and purpose of the fund displayed on this page constitute the authorized description of the fund by the Indiana University Foundation, Inc. Your gift supports the fund as described herein.
In July 2024, IUPUI became Indiana University Indianapolis and is no longer affiliated with Purdue University. The IU Foundation is in the process of updating all fund titles and fund descriptions to reflect this change. Effective July 2024, even though IUPUI may be mentioned on this page, gifts to this fund will be administered by the Indiana University Foundation, Inc., on behalf of Indiana University Indianapolis.