Art for Everyone: How Public Libraries Expand Access
Introducing children to viewing, creating, and enjoying art at a young age helps them appreciate it throughout their lives. Some children are exposed to various forms of art because it is part of their daily life or because they have easy access to museums and galleries in their community. But in many areas across the country, access to museums and art galleries can be cost prohibitive. That is where the public library comes in!
While some museums, including the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., offer free admission, millions of people across the country do not have easy access to them. According to the 2024 Annual Survey of Museum-Goers from the American Alliance of Museums and Wilkening Consulting, museum admission costs vary widely, from a few dollars to $40–$50 per adult at some institutions. Among U.S. adults who visit museums at least occasionally, cost was the number one barrier to visiting more often. Among frequent museum-goers, younger adults were twice as likely as seniors to be concerned about admission costs.
In response to those barriers, and in an effort to enrich and inspire customers of all ages, many library systems have stepped up to provide access to art in a variety of forms.
Borrowing Art from the Library
Brooklyn Public Library in New York recently launched a lending program featuring art by local artists. Library cardholders can check out pieces of art for up to three weeks. The program is reminiscent of an art-lending program the library first experimented with in 1950.
The Braddock Carnegie Library in Pennsylvania began offering take-home access to contemporary artworks in 2023 as part of an artist project.
The Metro Arts Lending Library Collection at Nashville Public Library in Tennessee allows customers to borrow pieces of art for up to three months, with one renewal for an additional three months. The collection includes framed paintings, photographs, and mixed-media works created by local Nashville artists.
The partnership between Metro Arts and Nashville Public Library launched the collection in summer 2021 with the goals of expanding access to the arts for Nashville residents while providing direct support to local artists. Metro Arts’ stated vision is that “every Nashvillian should have access to a creative life,” and few places are more accessible than a city’s public libraries.
Opening the Doors to Museums
The Seattle Public Library in Washington has a museum pass program where library cardholders can get free admission to participating Seattle museums and other cultural attractions.
Customers can reserve one pass per calendar month, with new passes available every day after noon. Participating institutions include museums devoted to art, aviation, nature, science, and industry.
The Anne Arundel County Public Library in Maryland offers passes to the Museum of Historic Annapolis and historic venues such as the William Paca House and Garden, Hammond-Harwood House, and Historic London Town and Gardens. The museums and historic sites showcase interactive displays and artifacts from throughout history.
Without passes, admission costs can add up quickly for a family.
Many library users might not know which museums offer free admission and may assume that cost is a barrier. Libraries can encourage access by sharing information such as lists or guides to museums and other cultural institutions in their area. If free passes aren’t feasible, libraries could also explore partnerships that offer customers discounted admission.
Bringing Art into the Library
There are also other ways to appreciate art at the library. From displays of art created by students to exhibits by community members from the local senior center, art displayed around the library can be appreciated by everyone while also brightening up the facility. Community exhibits may also introduce new visitors to the library when artists invite friends, family, and others to see their work.
These exhibits can be achieved through local partnerships with schools, nonprofits, arts organizations, senior centers, and other community groups. Some public libraries have also exhibited art created by staff, which is an excellent way to highlight local talent.
Creating Art at the Library
Of course, homemade art by children and customers of all ages can also cultivate an appreciation for creativity and different art forms.
Anne Arundel County Public Library regularly runs process-art programs for preschoolers where children can use an assortment of materials to create artwork in their own style. The library also runs “All Abilities” art programs designed for customers with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Art programs can be provided for all ages at a reasonable cost and can give participants opportunities to explore new materials, find inspiration, develop their skills, and discover new interests.
Libraries don’t need an art-lending collection or a large museum-pass program to help make art more accessible. A display of work by local students or artists, a partnership with a school or nonprofit organization, a guide to free museum opportunities, discounted museum admission, or an inexpensive art-making program can all provide ways for customers to experience art.
Whether they are borrowing art, visiting a museum, viewing an exhibit at the library, or creating something themselves, library customers can find opportunities to explore and enjoy art. And public libraries can help make those opportunities available to everyone.
References and Notes
American Alliance of Museums and Wilkening Consulting, “Cost of Admissions and Museum Visitation: A 2024 Annual Survey of Museum-Goers Data Story”
Art & Object, “How Public Libraries Are Making Art More Accessible”
Nashville Public Library, Metro Arts Lending Library Collection
The Seattle Public Library, Museum Pass
Anne Arundel County Public Library, Museum Passes Available for Checkout
Tags: Access to the Arts, Art in Libraries, art lending, community partnerships, library programming, Museum Passes
