Welcome to the Gabrielle Liese Research Library!

Make us your first stop with your questions about beads and beadwork and their historical, cultural and artistic significance.  We encourage scholars, students and enthusiasts to use our resources to help foster a better understanding and appreciation of beads.

Online Catalog

Please explore the library collection via LibraryThing.com which contains more than 1,000 catalog records.  Researchers should note that we have a large backlog of items to be cataloged.  This catalog is not yet comprehensive.

Visit the Library

The Gabrielle Liese Research Library recently doubled in physical space.  We now have a 400 square foot library that houses hundreds of volumes of books on beads, adornment, and cultures from around the world.  The Library also houses the Peter Francis Jr. library and archive collection.  

The Library is located in the museum at 5754 W. Glenn Drive.  Appointments to use the library are highly encouraged, though we try our best to serve walk-in researchers.  Contact Sue Bescher, Librarian, at 623-931-2737 to arrange a time to use the library and archival materials.  You may reach her online at library@beadmuseumaz.org.

Below are some helpful links for researchers.

Center for Bead Research
Visit the Center for Bead Research website at:
http://www.thebeadsite.com/cbr-dex.html

Yoruba Beaded Art
Visit the Yoruba Beaded Art website at:
http://www.beadmuseumaz.org/yoruba/yoruba.index.asp

Community Arts Resource Exchange (CARE)
Visit the CARE website at:
http://www.beadmuseumaz.org/Huichol/default.htm

Other Links of Interest
http://www.thebeadsite.com/
http://home.ease.lsoft.com/Archives/Beads-L.html
http://www.bead-database.org/
http://www.glass-beads.it
http://www.heard.org/
http://www.saudiexperience.com/