A special collections library such as Indiana University’s Lilly Library is a collection of collections. Our newly-renovated walls contain within them the legacy of the taste and technique, the dreams and desires of generations of book collectors who came before us. In this exhibition you will find books that can take you on a pilgrimage from Germany to Jerusalem, into the gaslit streets of Victorian London, or on an adventure with Agent 007.
As we celebrate the collectors of the past in this exhibition, we also look to the future and hope that the eyes, the minds, and the imaginations of our visitors will be activated, inspired, and empowered to collect in new and unexpected ways. At its best, book collecting inspires the curiosity to learn, the kindness to share, and the generosity to give back.
Public galleries are open Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Drop-in public tours are held on Fridays at 2 p.m.