Hidden Gems: Creative Artists and Historical Society Libraries and Archives.

Creative artists frequently turn to academic or public libraries for research. Rarely do they seem to turn to historical society libraries and archives. This article describes three benefits of using historical society libraries and archives to creative artists: the collections themselves, the different ways artists use the collections, and the staff expertise available at these institutions. It explores why resources at historical society libraries and archives may be underutilized. The role of reference librarians in promoting historical society repositories is discussed, and suggestions for reference providers (at historical societies and other types of institutions) are offered. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]