About the library

The library is one of Sweden's largest libraries in arts and design. Our collections reflect the education and research of the university: art, design, arts and crafts, arts education and visual communication. The library is open for everyone.

A pair of red ibrary couches

Konstfack was originally called Söndagsritskola för hantverkare (=Sunday drawing school for craftsmen). The school was founded in 1844 by Nils Månsson Mandelgren. In the same year, Mandelgren laid the foundation for the library through his donation consisting of 600 books and plates. In the older collection there are a lot of material with gravures and drawings mostly from the 19th century, but also from the 16th and 17th centuries.Since 2014, Konstfack and the library is placed in L M-Ericssons old telephone factory at Telefonplan, Hägersten (Stockholm).



Library goals

To offer Konstfack students and employees relevant and current literature in a user-friendly way

To support students' development of information skills so that they can independently search, gather, critically interpret and use information

To develop Konstfack's digital learning environment

To create a good study environment for Konstfack students

To present Konstfack's research findings and artistic work for the surrounding community

Collections in the library

Library floor:

  •  New books
  •  Course literature
  •  Encyclopaedias
  •  Journals from current year and two more years
  •  Timeline video library
  •  Childrens' illustrated books

In the stacks, one floor down:

  •  Older books
  •  Journals older than 3 years and discountinued subscriptions
  •  The old collection (in-house use only)
  •  The Martin collection
  •  The Zickerman collection

  

 

Old KonstfackValhallavägen

Top left: The library at Mäster Samuelsgatan, taken 1957 (Visible in the background is Anders Billow, the well known graphic designer who became librarian at the school in 1941)

Top right: The library at Valhallavägen shortly after the move to the new premises in 1959.