We open this issue of the Art Libraries Journal with Karen Attar’s fascinating discussion of the challenges and benefits of taking over responsibility for art collections within an academic research library, in her case, those of the central University of London at Senate House Library. Lluís Tembleque Terés closes it with his inspiring article on the ongoing work to transform the library services of the London Museum, as the organisation prepares to re-open in 2026 in a brand-new space located in Smithfield, City of London. As part of this development, a range of rare books and special collections are being re-catalogued in two collection management systems, the library’s and the museum’s, another example of the deepening integration and interconnection of the activities that librarians, archivists and curators traditionally would carry out independently.

In between these London made bookends, the rest of the issue is dedicated to three articles on current developments in Spanish art libraries, all based on papers originally presented at the 10th International Conference of Art LibrariesFootnote ¹ that was held at the Museo Nacional de Arte de Cataluña, Barcelona, on October 3-5th 2024. Alberto Medina Morales shares an overview of the innovative and ambitious public engagement programme at the Library and Documentation Centre of the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia in Madrid, Beatriz Martín García and Luis Martínez-Uribe provide a survey of the rich art library and archive collections at the Fundación Juan March, as well as their integrated approach to collection management using open access databases, while Paula Sánchez García looks at the history of the library of the Instituto del Patrimonio Cultural de España, one of the most important specialist libraries in the Spanish-speaking world for conservation and restoration, and their plans for the future.

Another article, focusing on the recent digital projects at the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, will be published in a forthcoming issue (volume 51, issue 2) and we hope to continue these conversations with colleagues in Spain and further afield. We look forward to further contributions, debates and professional reflection in 2026!