planning the art library

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PLANNING THE ART LIBRARY Author(s): Evelyn K. Samuel Source: ARLIS/NA Newsletter, Vol. 5, No. 6 (OCTOBER 1977), p. 154 Published by: The University of Chicago Press on behalf of the Art Libraries Society of North America Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/27945890 . Accessed: 14/06/2014 04:03 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp . JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. . The University of Chicago Press and Art Libraries Society of North America are collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to ARLIS/NA Newsletter. http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded from 185.44.79.40 on Sat, 14 Jun 2014 04:03:03 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

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Page 1: PLANNING THE ART LIBRARY

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 .

Accessed: 14/06/2014 04:03

Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at .http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp

.JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range ofcontent in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new formsof scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected].

.

The University of Chicago Press and Art Libraries Society of North America are collaborating with JSTOR todigitize, preserve and extend access to ARLIS/NA Newsletter.

http://www.jstor.org

This content downloaded from 185.44.79.40 on Sat, 14 Jun 2014 04:03:03 AMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

Page 2: PLANNING THE ART LIBRARY

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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