OKBN * ARLIS/NL is an alliance of Dutch art and reference librarians who work for libraries or institutions specialized in the field of (the history of) the visual arts and architecture. In 1982 the first (informal) meetings were organised. Eight librarians met to share experiences and to gain in wisdom. Representatives of the affiliated institutions have met three or four times a year since, each meeting being hosted by a different member institution.

In 1995 it was decided to form an officially registered society and on February 26, 1996 the society OKBN * ARLIS/NL was founded. Its members are the affiliated institutions, each with one vote, and private members: information specialists who have a special interest in this discipline, but who are not entitled to vote. The board of OKBN, chosen from the society members, counts no less than five members.

Its membership includes the libraries of prominent academic institutions, such as university and museum libraries, the libraries of art academies and those of specialized institutions, such as the Rijksdienst voor de Monumentenzorg (State Service for the Conservation of Monuments and Historic Buildings and Sites) and the Nederlands Architectuurinstituut (NAi, Netherlands Architectural Institute).  See ‘Leden‘ for detailed information about the members.

By organising meetings and workshops about common points of interest and the maintanance of a website and a community platform for its membership, OKBN encourages of the exchange of information and the professionalisation within the discipline.

OKBN is the relevant representative body for other national and international organisations as ARLIS/Flanders, ARLIS/NA, ARLIS/UK & Ireland and the IFLA Section of Art Libraries to connect with Dutch art libraries. With success, OKBN * ARLIS/NL (co-)organised three succesful international conferences of the IFLA section of Art Libraries in Amsterdam (1986, 1998, 2023), and several (inter)national symposia.

Literature in English (selection):

• Art libraries and art librarianship in The Netherlands. Special issue of Art Libraries Journal 12 (1987) no 1.
• Geert-Jan Koot. “10 years of ARLIS in The Netherlands”. Art Libraries Journal 17 (1992) 27-30.
• Michiel Nijhoff, “Museum Libraries : From Hidden Treasures to Treasured Information Centers”, Paper 64th IFLA General Conference Amsterdam, August 16 – August 21, 1998.
• Geert-Jan Koot, “What’s wrong with museum libraries? The impact of electronic developments on museum librarians”. Lezing conferentie ARLIS/UK & Ireland The changing agenda for art libraries, Cambridge juli 2000.
• Art libraries and art librarianship in The Netherlands. Special Issue of Art Libraries Journal 34 (2009) no. 4.
• Heleen Homma; Martien Versteeg, “Viewpoint : new strategies for Dutch Art Libraries”. Art Libraries Journal 34 (2009) 4-7