IU Bloomington is home to some of the country’s most esteemed libraries and museums, housing vast collections of contemporary and centuries-old works.
World-class museums and collections
130,000+Art books and related materials in the fine arts library
45,000+Artworks housed in the IU Eskenazi Museum of Art
IU Eskenazi Museum of Art
With works ranging from ancient gold jewelry and African masks to paintings by Claude Monet and Pablo Picasso, the Eskenazi Museum of Art boasts internationally acclaimed collections as well as contemporary exhibits. Students can study nearly every art-producing culture throughout history—all without leaving campus.
Visit the Eskenazi Museum of ArtDesigned by world-renowned architect I.M. Pei—who also designed the Louvre Pyramid in Paris—the IU Art Museum is ranked among the best university art museums in the country by Architectural Digest.
The “Light Totem,” created by IU professor emeritus of lighting design Rob Shakespeare, is an iconic staple of the Bloomington campus. In an IU tradition, students lie next to the Eskenazi Museum of Art at night and watch the rainbow light projections on the 70-foot wall.
Mathers Museum of World Cultures
Aside from its collection of 30,000 objects and 10,000 photographs from across the globe, the Mathers Museum offers students and faculty extensive research and training opportunities, as well as educational support and services.
Visit the Mathers MuseumThe Lilly Library
The Lilly Library is one of the largest rare book and manuscript libraries in the country. The Lilly Library’s collections include about 400,000 books, more than 100,000 pieces of sheet music, more than 7.5 million manuscripts, and 30,000 puzzles.
Explore the Lilly Library