The AOS library was opened in the sping of 2017 and is located on the lush, beautiful grounds of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Coral Gables, Florida. Our library is open to the public by appointment. There is something for everyone in the AOS library. Visitors are welcome!
The AOS "Founders Wall" at the AOS Library
Access
The AOS Library is open to all researchers, as well as those simply yearning to increase their orchid knowledge. The Special Collections & Rare Book Room is located above the Fairchild Tropical Garden Visitor’s Center, via the North entrance.
Library Hours
By Appointment Only. Contact headquarters (305) 740-2010, theaos@aos.org
Special Collections Library, Archives and Rare Book Collection
The American Orchid Society Library has attained a valuable collection of rare, antiquarian and modern books of enduring worth; both for intellectual content and as historical works of art. The AOS library fills a unique niche in the orchid community, and is an invaluable tool to researchers, aspiring judges, scholars as well as amateur orchidists.
The Library has a notable collection of rare books that reinforce the society’s holdings by means of scholarly relics and historic artifacts. The rare print monographs can be found in various languages, and include a wide variety of subject matter in regard to orchid flora. Materials are available for research in the library reading room at Fairchild Tropical Garden.
The American Orchid Society Archives collects material in all formats documenting the executive, intellectual, cultural, and social life of AOS from its founding to the present. The Archives serves as the principal repository for official records, personal papers, meeting minutes, publications, photographs, videos and any other historical materials; hence it’s the societies’ collective memory.
Library committee members will be working on the History Archive Project. Within the archives are important chronicles, photos and videos; and the goal is to assemble, appraise and update them in order to create an engaging presentation for the approaching 100th anniversary celebration. The Archive Collection is stored at the AOS Main Office.
Efforts to expand the archive are ongoing. The curators welcome additional historical contributions. If you have something to add, please contact the office.
