Inspiring Collections through the Best in the Arts   


Oftentimes, books and audio-visual materials in the arts aren't at the top of the list for public librarians to see when ordering books from large distributors. Nowadays, public libraries lean towards popular or trending books because their demand is higher. This new list is our quest to present books and albums in the arts that may be trending in the arts world or can be used to create programs for the public. Each item contains the audience that would most likely be interested in using the material.

We also outlined different ways to market each item to the public.

 

In Rotation: Our Current Edition Picks

      Listening Room: Album Picks

      Audience Key


      Knowing your residents and how they use your collection can make a huge difference when offering the arts in your collection or in programming. Below are some helpful categories to help you make a better decision when choosing items or introducing items to library patrons.

       


      NOVICE

      A novice is a patron who does not know about the arts but is looking for new interests. Items pertaining to novices are for public collections that call for the library to introduce the arts to these patrons and ignite their interests. They often know much more about popular culture than what’s happening in the arts.

       

      EXPLORER

      These items are for customers who have some knowledge of the arts and want to learn more. Oftentimes explorers stream music from library streaming services. They may take out music and art biographies and may attend music and art programming at your library.

       

       

      AFICIONADO

      Ordering for aficionados requires knowledge about their habits when consuming the arts. These patrons are aware of the arts through museums, classical music, jazz and more… Oftentimes, these patrons attend music and art programming at your library. Aficionados are professionals in the arts world with thorough knowledge of visual and/or the performing arts.

       

      Golden Age by Erin Morley, Lawrence Brownlee, Münchner Rundfunkorchester

      Piano Book 2 by Lang Lang

       

      Schubert: Chamber Music [Box Set]

      Diogenes Quartet, Aapo Hakkinen, Klavier Trio Amsterdam

       

       

      Art Book Picks

      Black Artists in Their Own Words

      by Lisa E. Farrington (Editor)

       

      Native Studio Art Since the 1920s: The Healey Collection Edited by Alexander Brier Marr   

      Abstract Expressionism—and   Beyond American Painting in the Collection Reinhard Ernst Edited by the Reinhard & Sonja Ernst Stiftung Foundation       

      Edmonia Lewis Said in Stone by Jeffrey Richmond-Moll and Shawnya L. Harris             

       

      Mrs Kauffman and Madame Le Brun: The Extraordinary Entwined Lives of Two Eighteenth-Century Painters by Franny Moyle                        

      Derrick Adams: Essays by Hallie Ringle, Salamishah Tillet, and Dexter Wimberly, and an interview by Sandra Jackson-Dumont                          

      Music Book Picks

      Letters for the Ages Great Musicians by James Drake (Anthology Editor) , Edward Smyth (Anthology Editor)

      Faith, Family, and Flag: Branson          Entertainment and the Idea of America

      By Joanna Dee Das

       

      Opera and the Built Environment by Laura Vasilyeva                        

      Our Picks: Fall-Winter 2025-26 Edition


      art books   hybrid books  music books   albums

      Art Book Picks

      Black Artists in Their Own Words

      by Lisa E. Farrington (Editor)

       

      Native Studio Art Since the 1920s: The Healey Collection Edited by Alexander Brier Marr   

      Abstract Expressionism—and   Beyond American Painting in the Collection Reinhard Ernst Edited by the Reinhard & Sonja Ernst Stiftung Foundation       

      Edmonia Lewis Said in Stone by Jeffrey Richmond-Moll and Shawnya L. Harris             

      Hybrid Book Picks (Covers multiple arts sectors)

      Judy Garland: The Voice of MGM by Scott Brogan (Author)                

      Music Book Picks

      Opera and the Built Environment by Laura Vasilyeva                        

      The Understudy, A Novel by Morgan Richter                   

      Pan, A Novel, by Michael Clune        

      Faith, Family, and Flag: Branson Entertainment and the Idea of America By Joanna Dee Das

       

      Album Picks

      Beethoven for Three: Symphony No. 1 / Op. 70, No. 1 “Ghost” / Op. 11 “Gassenhauer”: Yo-Yo Ma, Leonidas Kavakos & Emanuel Ax

       

      Duarte: Americana, Original Guitar Works and Arrangements of 12 Songs by Gershwin, Francesco Cipriano (Artist), John Duarte (Composer)

       

      Doppelgänger by Jonas Kaufmann

       

      Our Picks: Summer-Fall 2025 Edition


      art books   hybrid books  music books   albums

      Art Book Picks

      Sargent and Paris by Stephanie L. Herdrich (Author), Caroline Corbeau-Parsons (Contributor), Caroline  Elenowitz-Hess (Contributor)                          

      Frida Kahlo's Month in Paris: A Friendship with Mary Reynolds by Tamar Kharatishvili Alive Piliado Santana Caitlin Haskell (Editor)       

      Black Artists in Their Own Words

      by Lisa E. Farrington (Editor)

       

      Wayne Thiebaud: Art Comes from Art by Timothy Anglin Burgar(Editor), Rachel Teagle (Contributor), Eve Aschheim (Contributor)                            

      Hybrid Book Picks (Covers multiple arts sectors)

      Audrey Hepburn: A Life of Beautiful Uncertainty Hardcover by Tom Santopietro (Author), Jeffrey Banks (Commentary)                       

      Judy Garland: The Voice of MGM by Scott Brogan (Author)                

      Music Book Picks

      The Unexpected Diva by Tiffany Warren            

      The Shortest History of Music: From Bone Flutes to Synthesizers, Hildegard of Bingen to Beyoncé… by Andrew Ford                       

      Resonant Minds by Sheila Leila & Mort Sherman            

      Album Picks

      Britten & Shostakovich: Music based on texts by Michelangelo

       

      Wagner: Der fliegende Holländer

       

      Our Picks: Spring-Summer 2025 Edition


      art books   hybrid books  music books   albums

      Art Book Picks

      A Handbook of Latinx Art by Rocío Aranda-Alvarado (Editor), Deborah Cullen-Morales (Editor)             

      Siena: The Rise of Painting- 1300-1350 by Joanna Cannon

       

      Monet: The Restless Vision by Jackie Wullschläger


      Hybrid Book Picks (Covers multiple arts sectors)

      Looking at Fashion: A Guide to Terms, Styles and Techniques by Debra N. Mancoff               

      Matriarch: A Memoir by Tina Knowles                  

      Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray     

      Music Book Picks

      The Unexpected Diva by Tiffany Warren            

      Tchaikovsky’s Empire: A New Life of Russia’s Great Composer by Simon Morrison                      

      The Shortest History of Music: From Bone Flutes to Synthesizers, Hildegard of Bingen to Beyoncé… by Andrew Ford                       

      Album Picks

      Maria Soundtrack

       

      Leonard Bernstein: Beethoven: Symphony No. 5

       

      Donizetti Songs: Lawrence

      Brownlee & Carlo Rizzi

       

      Our Picks: Winter-Spring 2025 Edition


      art books     music books     albums

      Art Book Picks

      Mandalas: Mapping the Buddhist Art of Tibet by Kirk A Behrendt                     

      Siena: The Rise of Painting- 1300-1350 by Joanna Cannon

       

      Monet: The Restless Vision by Jackie Wullschläger


      Music Book Picks

      South Side Impresarios How Race Women Transformed Chicago's Classical Music Scene by Samantha Ege

       

      Ira Gershwin: A Life in Words by  Michael Owen                                   

      Juilliard School Library Music Manuscripts: By and For  Performers Edited by Jane Gottlieb, with Richard Griscom

       

      Music Marketing for the DIY Musician Creating and Executing a Plan of Attack on a Low Budget, Third Edition by Bobby Borg                                

      *Childrens Book Pick

      A Symphony of Stories Musical Myths and Tuneful Tales by James Mayhew                

      Album Picks

      Andrea Bocelli- Duets: 30th Anniversary (CD)

       

      Brahms: Piano Concertos and Solo Piano- Opp 116-119, Igor Levit, Christian Thielemann and Wiener Philharmonic (CD)