The National Museum of Women in the Arts was established in Washington in 1981 to make known the achievements of women in the visual arts. Its Library and Research Center plays a central part in the Museum’s essentially educative role, providing information on art by women primarily by means of one of the largest specialised collections of materials on women’s art. This includes extensive archival files and a number of special collections. Ongoing projects include the compilation of a database on women artists, an inventory of works of art by women in private and public collections, and an index to women artists documented in group exhibition catalogues. The activities of the Library and Research Center demonstrate how this and other art libraries can counteract the neglect of women in the arts.