Access to the Rare Book and Special Collections are available to the public upon request, by completing the online form. Please review the following procedures prior to making a request. Upon receipt of the request, a King Library representative will be in touch. For additional questions, please call the King Library at 561-655-2766.
Rare Book & Special Collections Usage Procedures
- King Library materials shelved in the Rare Book Room or Special Collections shelves do not circulate
- If items are available in digital format, there may be a restriction on handling or photocopying if original(s) have been determined too fragile for examination
- Research and personal interests in these materials are subject at all times to copyright advisories; additional information is available at the United States Copyright Office’s website copyright.gov
- The King Library does not own copyright on most of our materials
- Appointment times are restricted to two-hour segments to minimize material exposure
- Pre-scheduled researchers are required to store personal property in a staff office during the appointment times
- Multiple item requests may require separate appointments, only one item at a time may be examined
- All library staff instructions need to be followed (glove use, desk location, etc.)
- Only pencils and standard note-taking paper and muted cell phones are permitted while examining materials at a designated table in the second floor reading room
- All materials will be examined in the presence of a staff member
Scanning and Photography
- All images scanned or photographed (no flash) must be documented in the King Library Rare Book & Special Collections log (see a staff member)
- A $5 fee will be charged for the first 10 (ten) color images scanned (@.50); each additional image incurs a $2 charge
- Image scans require that library staff operate the equipment, users should assist as follows:
- Organize and identify all pages/images/digital images before requesting staff assistance
- Scans may be sent via e-mail to the researcher or
- Researcher may purchase a thumb drive from the library for $5 or supply their own thumb drive (unopened and in the original package
- All images scanned or photographed (no flash) must be documented in the King Library Rare Book & Special Collections log (see a staff member)
- A $5 fee will be charged for the first 10 (ten) color images scanned (@.50); each additional image incurs a $2 charge
Mizner Scrapbooks
Addison Cairns Mizner (1872-1933) was a renowned architect known for his Mediterranean Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival style interpretations that left an indelible stamp on South Florida, most notably Palm Beach and Boca Raton, where it continues to inspire architects and land developers. The Mizner Collection at the Society of the Four Arts consists of his 25 personal scrapbooks which include his thoughts, travels, and inspirations, and are organized by subject matter.
Mizner Library
Mizner’s private working library consists of his collection of books mostly topics of European Architecture and decoration. The collection consists of more than 200 volumes, many of which have been digitized and are searchable.
Florida Collection
The King Library Florida collection contains over 500 books covering subjects ranging from Florida’s history prior to statehood, to native plants and wildlife, to biographies of notable Floridians and more. There is a large emphasis on South Florida with many books covering the Flagler Era and the Gilded Age. Several books also focus on architecture and its significance throughout the Town of Palm Beach. The collection is housed on the first floor of the King Library.
The library also houses a Palm Beach collection containing back issues of Palm Beach Life and Palm Beach Social Pictorial publications. There is also various Palm Beach ephemera and social registers available for research. These are available upon request on the 2nd floor.
Elliott Collection
The Elliott Collection consists of 8 rare books written by The Society of the Four Arts founder Maud Howe Elliott. Much of the collection was authored by her and her sisters, Laura E. Richards and Florence Hall about their mother Julia Ward Howe for which they won a Pulitzer Prize. The collection was given to The Four Arts at the start of its first library by Elliott.