planning the art library
TRANSCRIPT
PLANNING THE ART LIBRARYAuthor(s): Evelyn K. SamuelSource: ARLIS/NA Newsletter, Vol. 5, No. 6 (OCTOBER 1977), p. 154Published by: The University of Chicago Press on behalf of the Art Libraries Society of NorthAmericaStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/27945890 .
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ARLIS/fMA NEWSLETTER
PLANNING THE ART LIBRARY
The literature pertaining to the design and planning of library facilities is voluminous, and many excellent treatises are ex tant to assist the librarian in establishing specifications for the best of all possible libraries. The authors of these texts, experts in library planning, are also available for consulta tion. As the majority of libraries have little experience in library design, they will be well advised to avail themselves of such counsel.
Art and archeology librarians must be aware, however, that their special requirements are not recognized by the archi tects and designers of general libraries. Art materials have unique characteristics and consequently require special equipment. The shelving and furniture suitable for the ge neral university library is likely to present major problems in the art reading room.
Collections of non-book materials, such as picture files, prints, and slides frequently form part of the art library. All of these clearly need appropriate storage cabinets and vie wing equipment. But, in addition to this obvious factor, even the books differ in format from those in other disci plines. Consequently, shelving for books should be eleven inches wide (in contrast to the normal seven inch width for shelves) and between shelves vertical intervals of fourteen inches are required. In addition, the art library usually in cludes a sizable number of books exceeding this fourteen inch vertical dimension. For these, horizontal storage on
rolling shelves is recommended.
Having specified the correct storage and shelving for the materials, the librarian must consider that the methods of art historical research dictate certain space requirements which also are idiosyncratic to our discpline. The standard (three foot) study carrel, a preferred item of furniture in many academic libraries, would be of limited usefulness in the art library. Carrels or small tables must be supplemented
with larger work-surfaces to permit visual comparison of illustrations from multiple sources, a technique which is basic to the methodology of art historical research.
As comparisons of illustrations might involve the use of lantern slides, books, microfiche or film in various com binations, these multi-media procedures require the appropri ate viewing equipment on surfaces of adequate size to per mit simultaneous occupancy by the necessary books, viewers, and concomitant note-taking paraphernalia.
Frequently readers wish to obtain copies of library ma terials. Although xerographic reproduction machines pro vide adequate copies of text and of line drawings, many users feel the need for a better quality of reproduction. Ideally, a special table with floodlights and a fixture for mounting a camera would be provided for the researcher who wishes to produce slides or quality illustrations.
In view of the numerous special features peculiar to the art research library, it becomes evident that the art librarian's participation in all stages of planning is essential to achieving a satisfactory result. The functioning of the completed faci lity might be seriously impaired unless the librarian is respon sibly involved in the planning.
-Evelyn K. Samuel
Institute of Fine Arts Library, NYU
Volume 5, Number 6 October 1977
Editor: Judith A. Hoffberg Book Review Editor: Robin Kaplan
CONTENTS
From the Editor: A Final Note.153
Planning the Art Library.154
Highlights of the New York Conference.155 From the Vice-Chairman. 155
Letters to the Editor. 156
Impressions/Ex pressions.156 ARLIS/NA CHANGES OF ADDRESS.156 ALA Annual Meeting: ACRL Art Section Highlights.157 Centre Pompidou: A User's View.157
Names in the News.158 News of our Members.158
Duplicate Periodical Exchange.158 Association of Architectural Librarians Meeting.159
Undergraduate Bibliographic Instruction at UCLA.160
Art Libraries Section Established at IFLA.161
Serials Exchange Service.161 Book Reviews.162-172 News from the Chapters.178-179 Museum TOL News.179 A Report on the First International Conference on the History
of Urban & Regional Planning.179 News and Notes.180 -191
ARLIS/NA Newsletter is published five times a year by ARLIS/
NORTH AMERICA [Art Libraries Society of North America], Judith A. Hoff berg. Editor, P.O. Box 3692, Glendale, CA 91201.
Copyright ? 1977 by ARLIS/NORTH AMERICA
The Newsletter is offered to members only. Membership is open to
all who are interested in visual librarianship. Classes of membership are Personal -
$25; Library Assistant or Student (with student cer
tification) - $10; Retired or Unemployed
- $8.50; Family member
ship - $30; Institutional -
$35; Sustaining - $150; Benefactor - $500.
Back Issues: Volume 1 - 4: $3.00 single issues; $15.00 set for each
volume. Add $2.00 postage outside North America. Index: Available
for first three volumes: $2.00 for members; $3.00 for non-members.
Microfiche:Available for Volumes 1 - 3, $10.00 per set.
ARLIS/NA NEWSLETTER is selectively indexed or abstracted in:
ADP (Art Design Photo); Art Bibliographies Modern; CALL (Current
Awareness Library Literature); IREBI (Indices de Revistas de Biblio
tecologia); Current Contents; LISA (Library and Information Science
Abstracts); Library Security Newsletter; and RILA.
Typesetting: Judith A. Hoffberg Printing: Glendale Instant Printing
OFFICERS FOR 1977: Nancy R. John, Chairman
Susan E. Wyngaard, Vice-Chairman, Chairman-Elect Karen J. Harvey, Secretary Sherman Clarke, Treasurer
John Murchie, Past Chairman
Regional Representatives: East: Julie A. Page Midwest: Christina Huemer
West: Katherine A. Jones
Canada. Mary F.Williamson
Amy Navratil, Membership Chairman
Judith A. Hoffberg, Executive Secretary
154
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