The Handbook of Art and Design Librarianship

Book excerpt: While much attention has been paid to art librarianship as it exists in museum settings, comparatively less notice has been taken of academic and art-and-design-school art librarianship as a distinct focus. However, the skills of subject specialists in the arts and their advocacy on behalf of their users are fundamental elements in vital art libraries that fully support and anticipate the needs of artists, designers, architects, and the historians who study these disciplines. Put together by an international team of contributors, this essential handbook examines methods of innovative librarianship in academic and art school libraries throughout the world. With a focus on the intersection of best practice and best opportunities, the book brings together the philosophies and realities of the most creative librarians working in the field of art librarianship today and serves as a field guide to academic art libraries in the twenty-first century. Key discussions include: the role of liaison to the visual arts visual literacy for highly literate viewers art history pedagogy and special collections technology in an art and design library collection management, renewal, and de-accession new forms of scholarly communication and their impact on art librarianship the making of the 21st century art library. Readership: This timely book is essential reading for all information professionals working in art and design environments. It will also be of interest to students of librarianship interested in the challenges currently facing professionals working in this specialized area.