Upcoming Adopt-a-Book Salons with Smithsonian Libraries and Archives

Get up close and personal with Smithsonian Libraries and Archives’ collections and experts through our new series of Adopt-a-Book Salons!

Our Adopt-a-Book program provides essential funding to support conservation, acquisition, and digitization of our materials while allowing you to commemorate an occasion, celebrate a milestone, or leave a legacy for a loved one. Each year, we invite guests to our Adopt-a-Book Evening to explore books available for adoption and learn why these items are crucial for researchers today.

This year, we’ve taken our annual event online and will be hosting a series of four intimate salons in March and April, where you’ll have the opportunity to interact with our librarians, archivists, and conservators. You’re invited to join us for all four events to see books and materials from all 21 of our library branches and the Archives!

Adopt-a-Book Salon: Global Perspectives

Thursday, March 18
5:30 to 6:45 pm ET
Focusing on the global breadth of our collections
Books from Anacostia Community Museum Library, Botany and Horticulture Library, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden Library, Warren M. Robbins Library at the National Museum of African Art, National Museum of Asian Art Library, National Museum of Natural History Library, Smithsonian Libraries Research Annex, and Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Library

Adopt-a-Book Salon: Off the Mall

Thursday, April 1
5:30 to 6:45 pm ET
Featuring an interdisciplinary selection of libraries located off the National Mall
Books from Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Library, Museum Support Center Library, National Air and Space Museum Library, National Postal Museum Library, National Zoological Park Library, and Smithsonian Environmental Research Center Library

Adopt-a-Book Salon: America the Beautiful

Tuesday, April 13
5:30 to 6:45 pm ET
Focusing on American art, history, and culture

Books from American Art and Portrait Gallery Library, John Wesley Powell Library of Anthropology, National Museum of African American History & Culture Library, National Museum of American History Library, Vine Deloria, Jr. Library at the National Museum of the American Indian, and Smithsonian Libraries Research Annex

Adopt-a-Book Salon: From the Vaults

Wednesday, April 28
5:30 to 6:45 pm ET
Featuring special collections, preservation, and the Smithsonian Institution Archives
Books from Dibner Library of the History of Science and Technology, Joseph F. Cullman 3rd Library of Natural History, and the Smithsonian Institution Archives

Tickets Information
$35 per person, per event. Purchase tickets here.
We’re offering a discount if you attend multiple events: $60 for two events (save $10), $85 for three events (save $20), and $115 for four events (save $25).

If you are unable to attend, please consider adopting a book online or making a donation.

We are committed to providing access services so all participants can fully engage in these events. Optional real-time captioning will be provided. If you need other access services, please email [email protected]. Advanced notice is appreciated.

Questions? See our FAQs at the bottom of this page.

Erin Rushing | READ MORE

Erin Clements Rushing is the Outreach Librarian for Smithsonian Libraries and Archives. She enjoys sharing the Libraries and Archives' treasures with new audiences and telling the stories from the stacks through various outreach efforts. She coordinates social media and the blog (Unbound), plans tours and manages the internship program. She also handles rights and reproductions for library collection images and acts as point person for copyright concerns. Erin holds an M.L.S from the University of Maryland, as well as a B.A. in History and Art History.