The first part of this two-part article reporting on visits made by the author to art libraries in West Germany in September 1979, concentrates on the Kunstbibliothek and the Museumsbibliothek der Staatlichen Museen Preussischer Kulturbesitz in Berlin, the Bibliothek des Germanischen Nationalmuseum, Nuremberg, and the Kunst- und Museumsbibliothek der Stadt Köln. The scope and organisation of these libraries is described and general topics such as the exchange of publications between museums, and co-operation between libraries are raised. (To be concluded in the next issue).