The Center's library has approximately 17,000 books and exhibition catalogues, an archive of more than 1,600 artist and subject files documenting the contemporary visual arts from the mid 1960s to the present, and a slide collection. The library has particularly strong collections of exhibition catalogues and monographs on individual artists, including catalogues and monographs documenting the work of artists represented in the Marieluise Hessel Collection. It also has special collections of catalogues documenting the exhibition history of selected important galleries and museums as well as major international biennials.

CCS Bard Library with view of survey of Contemporary Independent Cultural and Arts Publications, curated by Max Hernández Calvo