[2] The impetus to found a non-profit publisher arose, in part, from the issue of library budget cuts in the early 2000s, which adversely affected the sales of art books.

Since its founding, Radius founder and Creative Director David Chickey estimates that the non-profit has donated nearly 40,000 books, especially targeting rural and underserved libraries.

In 2010, Michael Light: LA Day/LA Night and David Taylor: Working the Line were recognized for their inventive cover designs.

[citation needed] In 2014, Covert Operations Investigating the Known Unknowns and James Drake: 1242, both published in conjunction with Museum of Contemporary Art in San Diego, were selected books.

[citation needed] In 2014, Time listed three Radius Books in their Guide to the Best Fall Photobooks, including Julie Blackmon: Homegrown, Laura Letinsky: Ill Form and Full Void, and Michael Light: Lake Las Vegas/Black Mountain.