Billie Jane Baguley Library and Archives

The Heard Museum is home to the Billie Jane Baguley Library and Archives — a comprehensive research facility offering extensive information about indigenous art and cultures from around the world and an unparalleled resource collection on nearly 25,000 American Indian artists.

The Library and Archives collections reflect the museum’s permanent collections, with particularly strong holdings in:

• American Indian artists’ biographical resources
• American Indian art and culture of the Southwest
• American Indian fine arts
• Works created by American Indian authors including creative writing and a variety of Native studies
• Inuit art and culture
• Indigenous arts of Oceania, Africa and Asia
• General anthropology and art history
• Museum studies and library and archival sciences

The Library and Archives is named for longtime Heard Museum Guild volunteer Billie Jane Baguley, who contributed tirelessly to the growth of the facilities, its resources and organization. Dedicated volunteers provide thousands of hours of assistance to the Library and Archives each year.

Visiting the Library and Archives

Visitors must sign the guest register at the Library Information Desk. The library does not allow any bags, parcels, briefcases or other personal belongings in the facilities. All personal belongings must be checked in at the Security Post located at museum admissions. Notepads and pencils are allowed in the Library. The Library and Archives staff reserves the right to verify the identification of a patron. The staff also reserves the right to inspect all materials held by a patron entering or leaving the reading area.

Reference Assistance

The Library and Archives staff accepts reference questions of a brief nature. Questions may be submitted by any means including email, mail and telephone. Individuals who submit inquiries must provide their full name, address and telephone number. Staff and volunteers of the Library and Archives will reply in a timely manner. Patrons with reference questions that require extensive research are invited to visit the Library and Archives and use its resources. A library staff member is always on duty during open hours to assist patrons onsite.

Access to Archival Collections

Collections may be viewed in person by appointment only. Select materials from archival collections may be viewed online through the Digital Library. All archive patrons must complete a Registration Form. Access to some materials may be restricted by donor agreements.