The Nudist Research Library Consortium is now accepting researcher applications

Preserving the history of social nudism by joining the Nudist Research Library Consortium

As a volunteer director on the board of the Western Nudist Research Library, I've been personally involved with the Nudist Research Library Consortium for the past three years. In that time, I’ve seen the collaborative initiative grow from an intangible dream to an actualized reality. After four years of diligent work by a small team of dedicated volunteers, a database of digitized research materials relating to the nudism movement is now available and is accepting applications from qualified researchers. Interested? Curious? Here’s some more information to hopefully answer any questions you may have.

What is the consortium?

The Nudist Research Library Consortium is a cooperative agreement between four independent American research libraries. The four libraries that make up the consortium are the American Nudist Research Library (ANRL), the Naturist Education Foundation Research Library (NEFRL), the AANR-NW Regional Library & Archive, and the Western Nudist Research Library (WNRL).

Each of the libraries in the consortium is dedicated to the mission of preserving and archiving the history of social nudism for research and posterity. The common hurdle faced by these libraries is providing access to our remote collections to researchers around the world who may not be able to visit a library in person. This challenge led to the creation of the consortium four years ago, established with the goal of collaboration in digitizing our unique research materials and sharing information and best practices. After years of concerted effort to digitize our holdings, we are excited to announce that we have reached phase two of the project: opening access to researchers. We've recently approved our first applicants, which is a significant milestone in our mission to promote improved access to materials related to the history of nudism.

Benefits of membership

Members of the Nudist Research Library Consortium get access to a wide variety of educational materials related to the history of nudism available through the various libraries in the consortium, including searchable view-only access to the full digital catalogues of ANRL and WNRL. These materials include books, magazines, newsletters, films, photographs, and more. By gaining access to these primary sources, researchers and enthusiasts can have a rich world of materials at their fingertips, and better develop a more comprehensive understanding of the history of social nudism in America and beyond. Of course, your membership fee also supports the work of the consortium and the independent libraries that form it.

Learn about the libraries

AMERICAN NUDIST RESEARCH LIBRARY

The American Nudist Research Library (ANRL) was founded in 1979 and is located on the grounds of Cypress Cove Resort in Kissimmee, Florida. ANRL has a strong collection of national and foreign magazines, club newsletters, ASA/AANR documents, Who’s Who files, and videos related to the history of nudism. ANRL has electronically scanned all magazines and newsletters in their collection, and digitization efforts continue on the rest of the collection. ANRL is an independent 501(c)3 non-profit corporation, and annual and life memberships are available. Learn more at ANRL.org

WESTERN NUDIST RESEARCH LIBRARY

The Western Nudist Research Library (WNRL) was established in 2006 on the grounds of Glen Eden Sun Club in Southern California. WNRL is a mission-driven, independent library collecting, preserving, and displaying materials related to the origin and development of the American nudism movement. Their holdings include books, magazines, newsletters, film, video, photographs, and artifacts, some dating back over a century. WNRL also features an open terminal accessing the combined digital collections of WNRL and ANRL. WNRL is a volunteer-run nonprofit 501(c)3 corporation, and tax-deductible memberships are available for $25 per year. Join at WNRL.org

NATURIST EDUCATION FOUNDATION RESEARCH LIBRARY

The Naturist Education Foundation Research Library (NEFRL) was established by the Naturist Education Foundation in 2014. With over 16,000 magazines and 1,000 books, it is one of the largest naturist-related collections open to the public. The library is available by appointment, but library services are primarily provided through the Internet. Anyone can submit a research request for specific items, and registered library patrons can virtually “check out” select items through their Digital Loan program. NEF is a 501(c)3 non-profit charitable organization, and library registration and services are free of charge. Learn more on their website.

AANR-NW REGIONAL LIBRARY & ARCHIVE

The AANR-NW Regional Library and Archive was established in 2008 and operates as a repository for regional materials and a viewing library for nudist books, magazines, photos, slides, films, and club memorabilia. The library is supported by the American Association for Nude Recreation - Northwest (AANR-NW) and offers regular visitor hours in the summer season and by appointment. The library is located at Willamettans Family Nudist Resort in Springfield, Oregon. To visit the library, contact them at historian@aanr-nw.org.

How can someone join?

To join the Nudist Research Library Consortium, interested individuals must apply through one of the four libraries. Applicants must have a membership with a library OR a referral through an existing trusted researcher, and all members must be approved by the consortium board. Participating researchers are expected to produce publishable results. There are no application fees, and application processing may take several weeks. Once approved, membership costs $100. If you’re genuinely interested in applying but not sure where to start, please send me an email.

Joining the Nudist Research Library Consortium is an amazing way for anyone interested in the history of social nudism in America to gain access to primary sources and digitized collections for research projects of all kinds. 🪐

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