The Ringling Library is one of the largest art museum libraries in the Southeast United States, containing more than 85,000 holdings, including books, exhibition catalogues, periodicals, and auction catalogues. The Library conducts and supports research on the Museum's collection of Italian and European Baroque art, Modern and Contemporary Art, Decorative Arts, Peter Paul Rubens, Theatre History, and Photography. The Library collects research materials encompassing the entire history of art, art education and conservation and houses a collection of rare books from the 16th - 20th centuries, including the personal library of John Ringling.

The Library is a member of the Southeastern Library Network, Florida Library Information Network, Tampa Bay Library Consortium, Florida Library Association, and the Art Libraries Society of North America. The Library has extensive ephemeral files on artists in the Ringling collection, the Museum complex, and artist and museum files from around the world.

The Friends of the Ringling Library was formed in 2007 and supports library acquisitions and projects.

Hours

Public and Students: Monday - Friday: 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Museum Staff, Docents and Volunteers: Monday - Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 

Contact

To make an appointment: email: library@ringling.org or call 941.359.5700 Ext. 2700 or 2702.

Location

The Library is located in The Ringling Education Center on the south side of the The Ringling Estate off Bay Shore Road. To access the library, sign-in at the Security desk located in the lobby of the Education Center.