The Artist's Library

A guide to libraries as creative spaces including exercises, best practices, and examples for artists, librarians, and community members.

Creativity, like information, is free to everyone who steps into a library. An offshoot of the Library as Incubator Project, The Artist’s Library offers that an artist is any person who uses creative tools to make new things, and provides the guidance and resources to make libraries come alive as spaces for art-making and cultural engagement. The book draws attention to the physical and digital collections and resources that may be of particular use to artists and writers, provides ideas for art education opportunities within libraries, and offers practical how-tos for artists and libraries alike. From the crafty (pop-up books) to the community-minded (library galleries); the documentary (photo projects) to the technically complex (“listening” to libraries via Dewey decimal frequencies), the case studies included in the book feature artists, writers, performers, and libraries that embody the “library as incubator” spirit.

Publication date: May 13, 2014

Format: Trade Paper

Dimensions: 5 x 7

Page count: 212 pages

ISBN: 9781566893534

Laura Damon-Moore is a librarian, blogger, and avid art-maker in her spare time. Laura received her master’s degree in Library & Information Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2012 and graduated from Beloit College with a double major in Literary Studies and Theatre Arts (Acting) in 2008. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin with her husband James and her chinchilla Barnaby Jones.

Erinn Batykefer is a librarian, a writer, and a lifelong do-it-yourselfer. She’s worked in libraries almost constantly since she was fifteen—both as a staffer and as a writer scribbling away at the back of the 811s. She earned an MFA in Writing and a Master of Library and Information Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her first poetry collection, Allegheny, Monongahela (Red Hen Press 2009) won the Benjamin Saltman Poetry Prize.

“The Artist’s Library is designed to give readers an overview of the landscape they’ll be exploring and share specific examples of how artists have used libraries in their work.”

—The Capitol Times

“Librarians Damon-Moore and Batykefer (cofounders, with Christina ­Endres, Librarian as Incubator Project [LaIP]) have succeeded in producing a guide that benefits artists, librarians, and all creative learners.” 

—The Library Journal

“This quirky and imaginative book celebrates individuals’ potential for creativity and libraries as vital and vibrant community resources.” 

—Kirkus

“The Artist’s Library: A Field Guide is the best kind of self-help book—the library providing intellectual and artistic growth on a personal level.” 

—NewPages

“This is a fun and accessible guide, particularly for young readers who may not be aware of everything the library has to offer.” 

—Publishers Weekly

“In an overstimulated age, when inspired contemplative space can be challenging to secure—whether you live in a culturally rich city or a more remote locale—it can be easy to forget that libraries even exist, that there’s a place full of literature, art, reliable resources, and unimpeded quiet available for free—often just a walk or short drive away.”

—Poets & Writers

“Like the generosity of the library itself, this little book is an inventive and highly accessible source book, sure to inspire new forms of art, engagement and learning.”

—Journal Sentinel

“The Artist’s Library is brought to us by the inspired folks at The Library as Incubator Project and . . . is a celebration of artists and their use of the library as a space, as a resource, and as a creative font.” 

—MPL Mad Reads

“[The Artist’s Library] details unexpected (and easy) ways to use library resources to boost your creativity, whether you’re a professional artist, writer, or performer—or simply have an itch to create something cool.” 

—Book Riot

“In [The Artist’s Library], Laura and Erinn share some artistic projects that prove today’s library isn’t the shushing environment you may remember from first grade.” 

—Midwest Living

“Required reading for anyone interested in art, books, society, creativity, and information. Namely, everyone.”

—Wendy MacNaughton

“The Artist’s Library: A Field Guide is an immeasurable delight in its entirety.”

—Brain Pickings