Access the Helen Fowler Library Virtually

Over a year ago, the Helen Fowler Library temporarily closed its doors to the public in preparation for its move to the new Freyer – Newman Center. We packed up our collections, moved them offsite and got to work on preparing for the new space. And now, even as the Gardens gradually and carefully re-opens, we'll be waiting just a little bit longer to open the library.

However, that does not mean our community has to wait to access our collections – there are still ways to enjoy our very special library from home. Anyone can go to our library catalog where we have curated several searches. In the Special Searches tile below the search bar you will find eBook links to kids’ books and cookbooks. Several horticultural magazines with free access are listed, as well as some of our rare books, where digitized copies are hosted with the Biodiversity Heritage Library.

We continue to host our nature-centric seasonal book club (online for this spring) and we’ll soon have info on the website about our now virtual summer reading program! While our print resources are currently limited, we still welcome our patrons and community to reach out to the library with inquiries and, if you are a member, to register for eBook access. You can contact the librarians at library@botanicgardens.org.

We look forward to seeing everyone when the new library does open. But, for now, we hope to see you in the digital realm. Enjoy, and happy reading!