The Resource Center provides materials such as slide kits, art access kits, videotapes, audio cassettes, books, posters, and printed material on the museum's collection to teachers and students. Most materials were available for loan. Some items could also be purchased, such as slide kits, individual slides, videotapes produced by the Saint Louis Art Museum, handbook of lesson plans, and children's gallery guides. Information sheets on objects in the collection were distributed to the public free of charge. There were satellite centers in St. Joseph, Cape Giradeau, Springfield, and Lebanon, Mo., and Belleville, Ill.

The following personnel held positions in the Resource Center: Raymond Breun, Coordinator, Teachers Resource Center, 1971-1975. Susan Ray Rensing, Assistant, Teachers Resource Center, 1975. Kathy Rubin, later Kathleen A. Walsh, Coordinator, Resource Center, 1977-1979. Susan Rahmberg, Assistant Coordinator, Resource Center, 1980-1982; Coordinator of Extension Services, 1983-1986. Hedy Ehrlich, Coordinator Resource Center, 1981-1985; Head of Resource Center, 1986-1987. Carol Washburne, Head of Resource Center, 1987-1992. Cheryl Weiss Benjamin, Coordinator of Extension Services, 1987-1992; Resource Center Manager, 1993-2000. Suzanne Hooker, Program Assistant, 1987-1992; Circulation Assistant, 1993-. Barbara-Decker Franklin, later Barbara Decker, Head of Teacher Services 1993-. Emily Horton, Family Programs Coordinator and Resource Center Manager, 2000-2006.

The Resource Center was reorganized under the Richardson Memorial Library in 2003 under Head Librarian Marianne Cavanaugh. The space formally occupied by the Center was repurposed as the Archives Office from 2008-2018. The Center was formally discontinued during the 2019 Budget Process. Files formerly in the office of the Head Librarian were transferred to the Museum Archives.