About

History

In 1998, PNCA relocated from its former location at the Portland Art Museum to a new location at 1241 NW Johnson Street. It quickly became obvious that the school would need its own library, separate from the shared Rex Arragon Library at the Portland Art Museum, so Robert Craddick, PNCA library director, and the Board of Governors took on the task of creating a library out of whole cloth. The senior painting studios in PNCA’s Goodman building were relocated to a new building, and in the fall of 2001, the Charles Voorhies Fine Art Library was born.

In 2008, the College initiated the process to acquire the 1916-era former federal building at 511 NW Broadway on Portland’s North Park blocks as a gift from the U.S. Department of Education.

PNCA’s new Arlene and Harold Schnitzer Center for Art and Design is a historic Federal Building reimagined by award-winning architect Brad Cloepfil.

Classes began in the new campus building on February 2, 2015 signaling a new era for arts education in the Pacific Northwest and serving as a dynamic platform for the arts on Portland’s North Park Blocks. The Albert Solheim Library is a spacious and light-filled sanctuary on the west side of the building.

In July 2021, PNCA merged with Willamette University and the Albert Solheim Library joined the Willamette University Libraries System with the Salem campus libraries, the Mark O.Hatfield Library and the J.W. Long Law Library. As part of the WU Libraries System, PNCA is now a member of the ORBIS Cascade Alliance.

Collections and Facilities

The Core Collection

PNCA Library's core collection consists of materials essential to the curriculum and new materials selected by library staff to mirror the PNCA curriculum. The library provides coverage of all subjects and viewpoints, with the majority of materials concerning the history and current practice of art and design.

Collection Specifications

PNCA's library houses over 43,000 books and other items. This collection includes PNCA student thesis works (1958-present), over 3,600 DVDs and VHS about art, culture, psychology, history, and other subjects, including some hard-to-find works, and an excellent selection of art and liberal arts related periodicals. The collection is organized according to the Library of Congress Classification system.

Our library also provides access to several online databases. Access is limited to students, faculty and staff.

Archives & Special Collections

The library houses an unprocessed collection of archival materials including course catalogs, historical photographs, and oral histories. Please email pnca-library@willamette.edu to gain access to these archives. Note: because this collection is as-yet unprocessed, please allow at least one week for retrieval of archival items.

The library also has a small collection of special items, including signed artist books. If you find an item in the library catalog with the prefix SPEC in the call number, it resides in Special Collections. You may email pnca-library@willamette.edu for a request for retrieval.

Library Computers

The library has a number of iMacs which are available throughout the library during regular business hours.

Library computer use is restricted to the PNCA community.

Other Facilities

Two flatbed scanners, color photocopier, and typewriters are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Contact

Email:

For circulation needs such as renewals, holds, and all other questions: pnca-library@willamette.edu

Phone:

503-821-8966

Address:

511 NW Broadway
Portland, OR 97209

Accessibility:
There is a ramp at the entrance of PNCA on the southwest corner of the building. The library is on the first floor and can be entered with the automated door. If you would like to use the elevator to reach the library mezzanine floor, please see circulation staff at the desk near the entrance.