The physical collections of the Jessica R. Gund Memorial Library are designed to foster curiosity, support academic success, and inspire lifelong learning. We provide access to a variety of resources, including books, periodicals, and games, curated to align with and enrich the curriculum of the Cleveland Institute of Art. Explore our shelves and discover the perfect resources to complement and elevate your studies. If you have any questions about our collections, please reach out to the library.
The library's book collections include the general circulating collection, as well as several specialized collections.
Our graphic novels collection has a special focus on graphic narratives, personal narrative or memoirs, non-superhero fiction, and non-fiction. Additionally, the collection includes titles that double as artist books or that are by artists represented in the curriculum. Graphic novels by CIA graduates and faculty are also included in the collection.
The library has a collection of pop up books that spring to life by showcasing the marriage of the art of storytelling with paper engineering.
The Teaching + Learning Resource Collection was established in 2021 as a collaboration between the Office of Academic Affairs and the Library. It exists to support and advance pedagogical development on campus. The resources in this collection cover a wide range of topics related to teaching and higher education. For more information about this collection, please visit our Teaching + Learning Resource Collection Guide.
Special Collections include items that are rare, fragile, or valuable. In order to use items from special collections, please make arrangements with the library staff by emailing library@cia.edu. Please also see our Artists' Books page.
The library is always adding new books. To see what's new, be sure to visit our New Books at CIA guide every month!
While most of our magazines, journals, newspapers, and other periodicals are now available digitally, we still have print subscriptions to some titles. These items do not circulate, but you are welcome to use them in the library.
The library's game collection circulates to CIA students and employees and is made up of classic board games and some quirky titles you may not ever have played before! The library welcomes game playing in the library and hosts several game nights each year. The collection includes all of the inaugural cohort of classic board and card games recognized as "Platinum Plays" by the American Library Association's Games and Gaming Round Table.