IFLA Art Libraries Section Newsletter
international federation of library associations and institutions № 62, 2008
Contents Editorial
Editorial 1 Upcoming events include a very exciting pre-conference in Art Libraries Pre-conference 2 Montreal, hosted by the Montreal–Ottawa–Quebec chapter of Art Libraries Open Session 3 the Art Libraries Society of North America (ARLIS/NA MOQ). Art Libraries off-site Workshop 5 The theme of the pre-conference is Art“ Documentation / Local 10th and 25th Anniversary Content / Global Context”. In Quebec there will be both an open of OKBN ARLIS/NL 8 session on Sunday 0th August with the theme “Advancing National Reports 11 Cultural and Social Diversity through Global Partnerships: • Russia 11 The Art Library’s Role in a World without Borders” and an off- New Publications 13 site workshop on Tuesday 2th with the theme “Objects and • Art libraries Journal 13 • Fornvännen – Journal Projects: Art Libraries developing Partnerships and Tools to- of Swedish Antiquarian wards sharing Knowledge/a better Understanding/discovering Research goes Digital 13 Common Treasures”. The abstractsof the papers to be presented • New Visual Arts Issue at our Sessions in Quebec are published in this Newsletter. of the Hispanic Research I also want to express my concern about the tendency towards Journal 14 lower membership in Art Libraries Section. The membership of General Announcements 15 our section went down from 86 in 2006 to 79 in 2007. This means ALS Standing Committee 16 that also the amount of administrative money we receive from IFLA HQ went down from 60 Euro in 2007 to 325 Euro in 2008. Consequently we will not be able to produce two issues of our Newsletter per year unless we find new sources of finance or are able to promote membership of the Section. Thank you for all the contributions to this Newsletter!
Eila Rämö Editor Montreal Welcomes the ifla Art Libraries Pre-conference
Canadian art librarians will welcome a publishing program, and special an international roster of colleagues projects. to Montreal, 6–8 August 2008, for the IFLA Art Libraries pre-conference, Art Deco hosted by the Montreal–Ottawa– Montreal ranks among the top ten Quebec chapter of the Art Libraries cities worldwide for Art Deco archi- Society of North America (ARLIS/NA tecture. A walking tour, expertly IFLA Art Libraries MOQ). The conference theme, “Art guided by members of the Art Deco Section Newsletter Documentation / Local content / Society of Montreal, will provide Global Context”, sets the stage for an introduction to architectural treas- ISSN 026-52X (print) participants to explore common ures circa 920s to 940s. ISSN 87-633X (online) interests in documenting, providing access to and preserving the record of Musée d’art contemporain Editor the visual arts. Progam information de Montréal Daniel Langlois Eila Rämö and the registration form are available Foundation University of Art and Design. at the conference website.1 In the afternoon and evening the Library Musée d’art contemporain de Mon- Hämeentie 35 C Bibliothèque et Archives tréal will welcome us. The Média- 00560 Helsinki nationales du Québec thèque,5 founded in 965, is one of Finland The program begins at Bibliothèque Canada’s largest libraries devoted to E-mail: eila.ramo@taik.fi et Archives nationales du Québec contemporary art. Other highlights 2 Layout (BAnQ), with guided tours of the will be access to the first triennial Jani Pulkka new Grande Bibliothèque, officially of Quebec contemporary art and opened in 2005, followed by a rare dinner on the terrace overlooking Printed by display of magnificent maps of North the Place des Arts complex. In the Multiprint, Helsinki, Finland America from the age of discovery. evening we will learn about the In addition to its mandate as a public Centre for Research and Documen- Illustrations library, BAnQ houses Quebec’s tation of the Daniel Langlois Foun- IFLA and the authors. national and heritage collections dation.6 TheCentre’s collection in a number of locations. We will covers major trends and practices The Newsletter is produced and be generously hosted by BAnQ at that have emerged in electronic and distributed with the generous support of the Getty Research the Centre d’archives de Montréal, media arts from the early 960s to Library. a fine beaux-arts building, and the today. Preservation Centre, which holds The Newsletter is available also special collections, including BAnQ’s Canadian Centre for Architecture in electronic form on IFLANET at celebrated artists’ book collection.3 Day three begins at the Canadian http://www.ifla.org/VII/s30/index. Centre for Architecture, a museum htm#Newsletter Artexte and research centre. Founded in Day two begins with breakfast 979 by architect Phyllis Lambert, Next Issue and a presentation from Artexte, a the CCA building (989) and garden Copy deadline is 3st October 2008. pioneering information centre for now share the site of the historic contemporary visual arts.4 Founded in Shaughnessy House (874). The Li- Contributions should be sent to the 7 Editor. In order to maintain an up- 980, Artexte developed a significant brary is an international research to-date Mailing List please ensure collection of art documentation. It collection focused on architecture that your address details are correct. is now the centre for a host of creative and the built environment, with Send any changes and corrections activities supporting advanced emphasis on rare books and special to the Editor. research, such as artists’ residencies, collections. ifla art libraries section newsletter • 62/2008 3
Art Libraries Open Session
Rare Books Division, Advancing cultural and social signed by the four partners the Royal McGill University Library diversity through global partner- Swedish Academy of Letters, History The day concludes with a hosted visit ships: the art library’s role in a and Antiquities, the National Histori- to the Rare Books Division of McGill world without borders cal Museums (the Museum of Na- University Library8 or optional Sunday 0th August 2008, 3.45–5.45 tional Antiquities and the Royal Coin visits on your own, to the Montreal Cabinet), Stockholm University and Museum of Fine Arts (public admis- the Swedish National Heritage Board, sion) or the McCord Museum of Abstracts of the Papers with the purpose of strengthening Canadian History (public admis- and developing the library’s services sion). After more than a century of Cultural heritage – the Art Library to the research community. In 2005 a collecting, McGill University Library cuts across borders in Sweden network was formed by seven libraries has significant rare book holdings in Kerstin Assarsson-Rizzi in Stockholm, with the specific aim to art and architecture, as well as stellar The Swedish National Heritage improve the quality of library serv- collections in subjects areas such as Board, Library. Sweden ices to research in the humanities. In Canadiana, history, literature, philos- 2007 a new search service was opened ophy, travel, and a major collection in A presentation is made of recent de- on the internet which enables cross the history of the book. The Division velopments in Sweden in which Vit- searching of major databases covering also houses several of the outstanding terhetsakademiens bibliotek (The Li- various aspects of the Swedish cultural rare collections of the branch libraries, brary of the Royal Swedish Academy heritage. Two databases hosted by the including the Blackader Lauterman of Letters, History and Antiquities) at library form part of this service. The Library of Architecture and Art. the Swedish National Heritage Board process of cutting across institutional is a partner in the development of and sectorial borders is facilitated by notes services both physically on the library modern technology. 1 www.artexte.ca/ifla2008/preconference.html premises and digitally on the internet. 2 http://www.banq.qc.ca/ In September 2007 an agreement was Don’t fence me in! Reconsidering 3 See Sylvie Alix, “L’histoire de livre the Role of the Librarian in a Global d’artiste au Québec” in Essays in the Age of Art and Design Research History of Art Librarianship in Canada, Heather Gendron www.arliscanada.ca/hal. 4 www.artexte.ca. See also Danielle Léger, University of North Carolina (UNC), “Le Centre d’information Artexte: un USA. mandat, et un parcours, atypiques” in Essays in the History of Art Librarianship When we define society today as a in Canada, www.arliscanada.ca/hal “global society” it is as if to say that 5 http://media.macm.org we are, or at least we strive to be, an 6 http://www.fondation-langlois.org/html/e/ interconnected society. Even more page.php?NumPage=47 so than if we were to say society is 7 http://www.cca.qc.ca/ See also Rosemary “worldwide”. In a “global society”, Haddad, “So Hopefully and Imaginatively borders are traversed and the phrase Founded”: TheCCA Library to 998” in connotes interaction, participation, Essays in the History of Art Librarianship in Canada, www.arliscanada.ca/hal and inclusiveness. As both products 8 http://www.mcgill.ca/rarebooks/ of a global society and in response to the globality of their respective fields, this global condition prompts artists jo nordley beglo and designers to cross two types of National Gallery of Canada borders: physical and methodological. Library and Archives Vitterhetsakademiens bibliotek. In this paper, the crossing of meth- Foto: Bengt A. Lundberg, RAÄ. odological boundaries is the focus. 4 ifla art libraries section newsletter • 62/2008
The highly individualized nature of be identified. Within library science tion of American Social Commentary art and design research is recognized little research has been conducted on Art, and has already begun building and serves as a launching pad for how artists and designers seek data, programs around the collection. The exploration of the question: How can information, and knowledge. Future OSU Libraries have strong special librarians shape their practice in order research could include how students collections holdings in theatre and to respond better to the needs of con- in art-practice PhD programs cartooning and comics and list as part temporary artists and designers? conduct research. Similar research of their mission engagement with the Distinctions are made between the could be done that identifies how community and the promotion of life- terms data, information, and knowl- professional industrial designers work long learning. The partnership is seen edge. The concept of the librarian as and what their needs are in relation as a way to bring the two institutions a “knowledge-counselor” provides a to knowledge-seeking. With a better together toward work for a common framework in which librarians act understanding of art and design goal, taking advantage our collections as partners with artists and designers research, the roles art librarians play and team expertise. in the process of generating new ideas can be reconsidered. On the libraries’ end, the partner- and good questions, in addition to ship has involved members from seven the process of locating data. Two in- Artist as activist: The Ohio State different departments: the Theatre class exercises are described that help University Libraries and the Research Institute, the Cartoon Re- artists and designers cross the borders Columbus Museum of art Project search Library, University Archives, of their respective disciplines. The to Promote Collections, Outreach, Rare Books and Manuscripts, the Fine first exercise is designed to take place and Community Learning. Arts Library, the Technical Services within a larger discussion about the Amanda Gluibizzi Department, and, interestingly, the importance of a “diversity of thought” Veterinary Medicine Library, whose in the process of art making and In the winter of 2007, the OSU Librar- librarian was asked to act as the pro- design. Students visually map their ies partnered with the Columbus posal developer and to work with research interests and, in the process, Museum of Art to develop a program the Museum to develop the planning identify gaps in their own knowledge. for exhibiting works from and dis- stages of the program and to write a The second exercise dovetails with the seminating information about col- grant proposal for a Museum/Library first. The concept of information is lections that involve activism on Partnership grant from the Institute discussed in a broader sense. In order the part of artists. The Museum has of Museum and Library Services. to emphasize the point that the re- recently acquired objects from the On the Museum’s side, the curator of search students will conduct requires Philip J. and Suzanne Schiller Collec- American art, the registrar’s office, a “diversity of sources”, information education, and development were all and data are defined as extending involved to present possibilities for beyond library resources and inclusive collaborative work. of sources generated by the students What has resulted is a vision for a themselves. Students learn about dynamic cross-collections program library resources within this context that will involve an exhibition, a and are given an exercise in which symposium, an interactive web site, they are required to use sources from and educational activities. Under the three different disciplines, in order umbrella theme of Artist as Activist, to gather new information that relates we identified three topics that are to their research. pertinent to our city and region: the The concept of librarians as knowl- George Tooker, Lunch, 964 welfare of children, civil rights, and edge-counselors encourages a Columbus Museum of Art, Ohio: artists’ responses to war. The programs Museum Purchase, Derby Fund, broader view of their role in art and from the Philip J. and Suzanne will reach the entire city through an design research. Subsequently, new Schiller Collection of American exhibition in recovered downtown opportunities for intervention can Social Commentary Art 930–970 space, through school programs and ifla art libraries section newsletter • 62/2008 5
Art Libraries off-site Workshop
lesson planning, and will make a com- Art libraries developing partner- of the artist in the words of Guillermo mitment to intergenerational inter- ships and tools to share knowl- Gómez Peña: “The artist should over- action with activities for senior citi- edge, improve understanding, step, make bridges, interconnect, zens and elements online and in the and discover common treasures reinterpret and redefine; in order to exhibitions that will allow for sharing Tuesday 2th August 2008 find the external limits of his or her and response from our visitors. Théatre de la bordée: culture and cross over them.” 1 This project has successfully brought www.bordee.qc.ca to the table libraries, university depart- Salle Jean Jacqui Boutet, 3rd floor Another concept related to frontier ments, the Columbus Museum, and is crossing. This is a topic inviting other community partners to work research and development. for a common goal. I will be speaking Abstracts of the Papers We could also understand frontier about our ideas for programming and as a limit, an impossibility, an ob- outreach and discussing ways that Sin Fronteras: Mexican painters stacle, a bump, as a narrow margin art libraries can be active members of in a visual/virtual dialogue operation, or else as a playground cultural networks and can contribute Elsa Barberena, Carmen Block where we develop our existence, as to the active intellectual life of our and Guillermina Osorio an anthropological place where we communities. Universidad Nacional Autónoma invent full personal or community de México life forms. By crossing we weave connections, The purpose of this Project is to and protect the ‘other’ with hospital- present a web-base look-up tool to ity. We transform the stranger in allow users, students and research- guest due to our ability or talent to ers, who wish to find out more greet and secure the ‘other’ existence about information on Mexican and the living together. 2 painters. The authors’ desire is that it could become a world beating information, imagination discovery tool. and inspiration The idea came from theIFLA David. R. Dowell, librarian, in a dia- Art Libraries Section programme logue within our profession suggests under the general theme: “Libraries more than information in libraries, without borders: Navigating towards imagination and inspiration will global understanding”. Thus we lead us to innovation. He defines begin by developing two concepts; imagination as “the act of creating borders and digital world. images in our minds of things we have not fully experienced through definitions: our senses.” Border is the line or frontier area Could we compare this with the separating political divisions or geo- artistic creation? We, librarians by graphical regions; a boundary. means of this presentation want to Frontier is an international border. give information about Mexican It refers both to a geographical painters as the beginning of the imagi- boundary as well as to a cultural one nation that Dowell points out. 3 – physical and metaphorical mean- ings which refer to zones of response We wish to navigate towards a global where different painters present their understanding of our Mexican paint- interpretations and ideas. The cultural ers in a virtual manner as a digital boundary is related to the function library without borders. 6 ifla art libraries section newsletter • 62/2008
notes: example the Bildarchiv Foto Marburg, ies has been compiled. A traveling 1 Guillermo Gómez Peña, a Mexican into artlibraries.net. exhibit illustrating the project has artist founder of the “Taller de Arte Other innovations presented just completed a tour of 65 com- Fronterizo”. Imágenes de masdearte.com concern the rather recent web portal munities in Illinois. Each hosting en la “Frontera”.Lo más destacable www.arthistoricum.net, a bibliograph- library sponsored public programs de los Projects Rooms. arco 2002. ic and scholarly portal dedicated to on art-related topics, often featuring http://www.masdearte.com/arco/ item_recorridos.cfm?noticiaid=5976. further the role of ‘the digital’ within local artists or architects. Public Consulted 9/0/08. our discipline. Some digitization and awareness to local cultural heritage 2 Aranguren Gonzalo, Luis. “Tenta- online publication projects as well was emphasized. Viewed collectively, ciones de acción” Cuestión social. databases newly developped within the art in Illinois libraries is a large 6:(2008)p.20. arthistoricum.net will be discussed, as and diverse collection of paintings, 3 Dowell, David. R. “The “i” in libraries”. for example the repertory for ongoing sculptures, architectural or environ- American libraries. 39(-2):42. January– and finished Ph. D. and Master’s thesis mental works of art, and graphics. February 2004. in Germany and abroad. Moreover, From diverse Illinois landscapes a new arthistoricum.net retrieval to distinguished sculptures, from artlibraries.net and function will allow to initiate searches Carnegie structures to modern addi- arthistoricum.net: New devel- not only within the portal itself and tions – library art is an integral part opments and co-operations adjoining, decentralized databases, of our cultural legacy. Rüdiger Hoyer but also to use directly other selected TheIFLA presentation will describe Library of the Zentralinstitut für international academic web portals the research process and review the Kunstgeschichte, Munich. Germany. for art history. Thus, arthistoricum. outcomes, focusing on the project’s Jan Simane net may serve as a real focal point for Internet presence. The research team Library of the Kunsthistorisches international web based knowledge of three persons, one each for art, Institut in Florence (Max-Planck- bases for the history of art. architecture, and technology, will Institut), Italy. be present to provide details and Libraries Reflecting Architectural answer questions. The traveling panel Right for the occasion of the IFLA and Artistic Heritage exhibit and related publications will conference in Québec, two important Allen Lanham, Marlene be mounted at IFLA for the day of Canadian art libraries have recently Slough, Nackil Sung the presentation, if the Art Section been added as target systems of Eastern Illinois University, the specialised search engine www. Booth Library artlibraries.net: the libraries of the Charleston, IL USA Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montréal, and of the National Gal- Art and Architecture in Illinois Librar- lery of Canada, Ottwa. We would ies celebrates the rich architectural like to demonstrate how the peculiar and artistic heritage of Illinois librar- collection strengths of these and other ies. It is an on-going project that docu- libraries serve to improve the results ments the look of academic, research, of bibliographical requests, but also and public libraries in Illinois one how heterogenous data formats and hundred years after Andrew Carnegie. subject indexation methods that are Current public art holdings as well as still impeding optimum results should information about the artists, archi- be handled. Furthermore, we will tects, and architectural firms repre- present and discuss with the audience sented in these libraries are addressed. new developments and possible co- An online digital inventory with operations, especially the way of inte- photographs of art works in more The Art and Architecture in Illinois grating online image databases, as for than 600 academic and public librar- Libraries project logo. ifla art libraries section newsletter • 62/2008 7
so desires. Information on how the initiative developed may serve inter- national librarians as a model for use in other regions of the world. The original project was funded by the Illinois State Library using Federal LSTA monies and by Eastern Illinois University’s Booth Library. Come and explore another facet of libraries in the United States, using the state of Illinois as a backdrop. Explore the depth and diversity of arts in our libraries and how all libraries can showcase their cultural heritage.
Global Perspectives: a Celebration of Children’s Art and Imagination Kathleen C. Lonbom Milner Library, Illinois State We and Our Instructor, female, 0 years of age, Romania University, USA Milner Library’s International Collection of Child Art The International Collection of use of the artwork in the academic been growing in number, and more Child Art is a resource comprised of community for educational purposes electronic resources in art history more than 9,000 artworks created and scholarly activity, and the role become available. Next to the numer- by children from 50 countries and this visually rich collection plays in ous databases which list iconographic cultures. The collection is housed and advancing the institutional commit- documents or “objets d’art”, art peri- managed by Illinois State University’s ment to provide access to an expansive odicals, exhibition catalogues and il- Milner Library as part of its Special universe of creative expression. The lustrated books are also made accessi- Collections. This resource celebrates discussion also presents information ble on line, and a lot of libraries launch the creativity and innovative work about the ongoing digitization of the digitization programs comprising produced by children with a global artwork and the active pursuit of de- texts and images, both in art history perspective. Thought provoking veloping partnerships with agencies to and in archaelogy. All these resources representations of whimsical animals, obtain external funding and support complement each other, creating a fanciful portraits, and musings on enhanced access to the collection, kind of world art history network. daily life provide a window for the primarily through digitization, but This paper deals with the digital viewer to share the often magical also through increased exposure of offer in France, by presenting two outlook of a child and gain a deeper the young artists’ work via virtual and main initiatives: the “Gallica2” pro- understanding of a child’s visual traveling exhibits. gram of the French National Library, experience. The collection simulta- and the “Digital Library” of the neously provides a reflection of The Landscape of Digitization Library of the National Institute of diversity and commonality as rep- in French Art Libraries Art History (INHA). resented through the lens of visual Lucile Trunel Gallica’s digital library allowed to culture. Bibliothèque nationale de France digitize between 995 and 2006 ap- The presentation discusses the proximately 90 000 texts and 80 000 collection’s origins and history, the In recent years, international initia- images, but since 2006, a new step scope and contents of the collection, tives in the field of digitization have has been taken within the context 8 ifla art libraries section newsletter • 62/2008
10th and 25th anniversary of okbn * arlis/nl
of the European Digital Library. The The consortium Overleg Kunst(his- tutions that have for various reasons BnF is digitizing “massively” about torische) Bibliotheken Nederland * built up a specialized collection in the 00 000 books a year until 2009, in Art Libraries Society / The Nether- field. text and image mode. Among these lands (OKBN * ARLIS/NL) brings OKBN’s status as a legal entity gave documents, we shall find a great together librarians and subject-spe- it a stronger juridical and administra- corpus of art periodicals, exhibition cialists working in Dutch libraries of tive basis for realising its goals. These catalogues, and texts covering the museums, universities and research vary from practical matters related whole of art history, but especially in institutions. On 4 December 2007 to acquisition, cataloguing and the fields of excellence of the special- OKBN celebrated the society’s 0th shelving, to more fundamental issues ized departments of the library: print, anniversary as a formal body, and its such as the library’s position within photography, numismatics, musics, even longer existence as an informal an organisation. The challenges of performing arts. consultative body. On this day automation and the opportunities of TheINHA ’s digitization program OKBN launched the festschriftKunst- the digital era run throughout OKBN’s contains about a thousand of “refer- bibliotheken in Nederland. Tien korte history. One constant aim of OKBN is ence classics” in art history from the schetsen (Art libraries in the Nether- to offer an accurate overview of loca- 7th to the 9th century, and special- lands: Ten brief sketches). The theme tion, size and nature of collections of ized documents, like the Louvre of this publication is the history of art historical documentation in the exhibition catalogues before 920, the Dutch art libraries for the first Netherlands. The society also defends prints, drawings, maps, photographs, time described in a systematic man- the interests of the art history libraries stereoscopic plates and manuscripts ner by ten fascinating contributions. and librarians in the case of threats. (around 200 000 views already The publication was presented to Very successful was the interference digitized), belonging to the Library Prof dr. Rudi Ekkart, director of of the society with the impending clo- Jacques Doucet, the Central Library of the RKD (Netherlands Institute for sure of the library of the Nederlands the National Museums, the Library of Art History). Openlucht Museum (Dutch Open-air the School of Beaux-Arts. OKBN has a long and varied history. Museum) in 2002. Many smaller scaled specialized Already in 949 Dutch art librarians An important objective of the programs are of course being devel- met to share their concern about the society is to cooperate with national oped all over in France, and the Minis- availability of art historical publica- library institutions and organisations try of Culture makes an important tions in post-war Netherlands. From and it has maintained international work in inventorying such programs 982 onwards their successors organ- relations since its infancy. At the first on its website, in parallel with the ised regular meetings and visits to the European conference of the IFLA “associated poles” network piloted various participating institutions. In Section of Art Libraries in Geneva in by the BnF. Nevertheless, a complete 995 it was decided to transform this 984 it was decided that OKBN would cartography of such projects would informal consortium into an official, organize the next conference. This be desirable for the future, in order to registered association, which came conference was dedicated to art peri- create the conditions of emergence into being in February 996. The odicals and OKBN managed to publish of a coordinated “gateway”. Such a first general meeting took place a year its proceedings. In connection with gateway would not only facilitate the later in the Amsterdam Historical this conference OKBN was invited work for art historians and librarians, Museum. Presently, the society has by Art Libraries Journal to provide but also the exchange of information close to 70 members. The characters of copy for a special issue on Dutch with foreign partners, who are liable the participating institutions diverge art libraries, which appeared in the to digitize their own French, or other widely. They include purely academic spring of 987. Maggy Wishaupt historically relevant, collections. and research libraries, museum librar- (librarian at the Royal Library) was a ies of various sizes and specialization, member of the standing committee the libraries of some academies of of the IFLA Section of Art Libraries art and schools of architecture and (987–995). Between 989–993 she design, and those of some other insti- was the president of the committee. ifla art libraries section newsletter • 62/2008 9
From left to right: Maggy Wishaupt, Geert-Jan Koot, Kees Kok, Members of OKBN during the tour through the port of Rotterdam. Rudi Ekkart and Michiel Nijhoff. Photos: Chris Smeenk and Martien Versteeg
She was succeeded by Geert-Jan Koot Many non-members also attended by limited personnel and space. In (head of the Rijksmuseum Research these symposiums. Naturally the her contribution Maggy Wishaupt Library) who became secretary of 2007 seminar was focused on the 0th shared her memories of the early days the committee and editor of the and 25th anniversary of OKBN. In the of OKBN. Geert-Jan Koot pleaded Newsletter. The current chairman morning four speakers talked about for more (international) exposure of of OKBN, Michiel Nijhoff (head of the past, present and future of the OKBN and cooperation with com- the library of the Stedelijk Museum OKBN and the Dutch art libraries. The parable organizations. The only non Amsterdam and chairman of OKBN first contribution was made by Rudi art librarian, Kees Kok, described since 2000), was a member of the Art Ekkart. He sketched the multifaceted the problems that the association of Section of IFLA. In 998 IFLA held and qualitatively rich landscape of art educational media centres LWSVO its annual congress in Amsterdam. history libraries in the Netherlands. had experienced as an independent OKBN organised a special programme Altogether, the Netherlands has association. Just after its 25th anniver- for and in cooperation with the Art more than 50 specialised art (history) sary Kok was involved in the merger Libraries Section of IFLA, which libraries, varying from large institu- of this professional association with included a reception, an open session tions such as the RKD (Netherlands the Dutch Association for Library, and a workshop in the Rijksmuseum. Institute for Art History) and the Information and Knowledge Profes- The trip to Amsterdam and The Hague Rijksmuseum Research Library to sionals (NVB). was also prepared and supervised small, specialised ones like those at. Michiel Nijhoff introduced the by members of OKBN. In addition, The the Princessehof, the National speakers with great humour and Art Libraries Journal devoted almost Museum of Ceramics in Leeuwarden placed their contributions in a a whole issue to the situation in the or the Nederlands Fotomuseum larger context. But at the sametime he Netherlands. (Dutch Museum for Photography) stressed that visibility and legitimacy Once a year the OKBN organizes in Rotterdam. All these libraries of its members are major concerns a seminar on current topics related to have their regular visitors, but are of OKBN. Modesty of OKBN’s mem- the field of art libraries. The sym- often unknown to the public at large bers is apparent in the virtual lack of posium in 2005 about art historical ambition of most librarians to at- recorded histories of these institu- digital images and the one in 2006, tract more visitors is modest, for they tions. Aside from a significant number on marketing, were very successful. often find themselves constrained of smaller occasional publications, 10 ifla art libraries section newsletter • 62/2008
Goos Dullaart), Van Abbe museum (Dutch Museum for Photography) (Diana Franssen), Stedelijk Museum in the renovated Las Palmas building. Amsterdam (Michiel Nijhoff), Boek- We visited the library, the exhibition man Foundation (Saskia Leefsma), room and the storage spaces for the Van Gogh Museum (Anita Vriend) photographic negatives. Although and the Netherlands Architectural it was rather cold in these depots, it Institute Nai (Petra van der Ree). The didn’t reduce our ambition to enter authors outline the often complex the next 25 years with a broader vi- history of their libraries and some sion, which Geert-Jan Koot advocated unique and some still undiscovered, in his presentation. After all, many collections. They treat a wide variety of the new developments are taking of subjects, such as the library’s policy, place in sectors other than that of art collection, housing, personnel and history libraries. persons of particular importance, the role of the library within the organisa- Kunstbibliotheken in Nederland. tion, the library users, digitalisation Tien korte schetsen Frontcover of Kunstbibliotheken in and automation, future plans, etc. Editors: Roman Koot, Michiel Nederland : Tien korte schetsen. By limiting the number to ten, Nijhoff and Saskia Scheltjens more than forty art libraries fell by Publisher: Primavera Pers, Leiden the bibliography on the history of art the wayside. Unfortunately, vari- ISBN: 978-90-5997-055-7, € 7,50 librarianship in the Netherlands that ous important as well as historically The book can be ordered from: Prima- the OKBN began compiling a few years interesting libraries, for instance that vere Pers (http://www.primaverapress. ago includes only a few substantial of Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, nl/) and from: Erasmus (http://www. publications. For many libraries, little are missing. Hopefully, this book will erasmusbooks.nl/) more is known than what the present stimulate additional research and or previous librarian can still recall. more publications on art libraries. As Website OKBN: www.okbn.nl, To change this situation the OKBN it postulates, art historical research photos of OKBN activities: decided to compile Kunstbibliotheken and museum practices in the Nether- http://picasaweb.google.nl/OKBN. in Nederland. Tien korte schetsen. lands would never have reached ARLIS.NL/ and http://www.flickr.com/ This richly illustrated publication their present high level without photos/okbnarlis/ highlights the history of several im- these libraries, their collections and portant art libraries. The editors, Ro- their librarians. The ten portraits are Roman Koot, Michiel Nijhoff man Koot, Michiel Nijhoff and Saskia preceded by a concise description of and Martien Versteeg. Scheltjens, tried to arrive at a repre- the society’s history and activities. sentative selection of articles covering From this description it appears that equally: types of institution, collecting in the past the OKBN kept to itself area and size. Kunstbibliotheken in despite initiatives to attract data Nederland comprises portraits of the processors from a field wider than libraries of the following institutes: that of art historical libraries colla- the Rijksakademie van beeldende boration with registrars in museums, kunsten (Mariëtta Dirker), Rijks- united in the SIMIN, has always museum (Geert-Jan Koot), Art remained limited. History Institute of Utrecht University In the afternoon we enjoyed a trip (Roman Koot), Amsterdam Univer- through the port of Rotterdam, one sity Art History Institute (Martien of the largest ports in the world. After Versteeg), RKD (Netherlands Institute the lunch we visited the new home for Art History) (Rudi Ekkart and of the Nederlands Fotomuseum ifla art libraries section newsletter • 62/2008 11 National Report
Russia after”, “Art libraries in plans of the The training organized by the Section Ada Kolganova region cultural development”, “Media has a goal to broaden professional art objects in libraries” (Vologda), outlook and gain a new practice. For About the work of the Art Library “Art editions of the 20th c. as a compo- example, the following meetings of Section of the Russian Library nent of the cultural heritage in the very different subjects were held: Association stocks of the 2st c.” (Smolensk). “Peculiarities of the work of the State The structure of the Section increases The work of the Section in the form Tretjakov gallery research library”, both quantitatively and by types of of the meetings of the International “Presentation of the electronic libraries. For the last two years, new Crimea conferences held under the catalogue and the stock history of forms of the work and interaction, sign of IFLA stimulates the develop- the research library of the All-Rus- competitions, training, work joined ment of libraries of Russia. In addition sian museum of decorative arts”, with other sections, were approved. to the general theme “Libraries and “Problems of the Historical and Art The intersectional standing Round museums in the common space museum-reserve “Talashkino”. Table on the problem “Libraries- of information and culture” the There were seminars on upgrad- museums and museums of libraries” meetings of the current year included ing professional skills in I.Turgenev setting up together with the RLA the Round Table “Joint projects of library, St.Petersburg theatre library, Section of library history became a libraries and archives. Potentialities Yaroslavl museum-reserve, Smolensk new form of our activity. The first and prospects” and the guest meeting Art museum, the State historical experience of this unification (in in the town of Old Crimea (in the museum restoration department and February 2007) was the seminar museums and Crimean Tartar library. “Libraries in museum dimension: lyceum). The seminar on the problem The Section celebrates “The Day of problems of document registration”. “Art-line: Mediateka or electronic Russian libraries” vividly and origi- The northern town of Olenegorsk was resources” held in the format of nally. Every year in May, the exhibi- selected for work, where the partici- “discussion ground” revealed the tion “Art creative work of librarians” pants had an opportunity to acquaint experience of Russian libraries both is held. It draws a wide response themselves with the culture of the in the creation of the collections of thanks to the skill and enthusiasm of people of Sámi. electronic art editions and in practice librarians-participants and librarians- At the special meeting O. Sinitsina of working with them. The authors of organizers. In 2007, 68 authors from as the chair of the IFLA Art Library the reports analyzed today’s market 5 towns of our country presented Section had a speech. A plan of and considered the aspect “Art in 230 works. Thirty-four libraries took interaction with the IFLA was worked libraries, library art”, the library being part in the exhibition. The partici- out with the aim of increasing the analyzed as the author of CD editions. pants get Diplomas of the Section and international activity of our Section Professional meetings at the All- the Russian Ministry of culture and (February 2007). Russian seminar of museum libraries presents. The exhibition is highly ap- In the connection with the RLA organized by the Kremlin library and preciated in press. tenth anniversary, the Section Council All-Russian State library of foreign generalized the results of the All- literature became traditional for the From 2005, the Section announced Russian and international conferences community of specialized libraries. a Competition for the best report and seminars. The most important The Section members take an active prepared for the RLA Conference. of them are the following: “Stocks of part in these seminars and in the The winners were awarded a training photo documents: organization of following international conferences: course in Moscow art libraries, souve- storage, tasks of registration, safety” “Museums and information space: nirs and Diplomas. (Moscow), “The library as a cultural problems of informatization and cul- The round table “Traditional and center” (Suzdal), “The stock of graphic tural heritage” and”Electronic images innovative forms of bibliographical materials: peculiarities of forming, and visual arts”. service in art libraries” was held in conservation and safety” and the St.Petersburg state theatre library Round Table “Restoration: before and (St. Petersburg, April 9–3, 2007). 12 ifla art libraries section newsletter • 62/2008
Mariinsky theatre library, library of libraries and museum libraries, Sec- M.Glinka State central museum of tion of music libraries and Section of music culture. manuscripts and rare books. We shall They discussed problems of refer- name several reports to illustrate a ence and bibliographic service of diversity of the line of development readers in art libraries, application of of the cultural heritage subject in the new technologies for readers’ service, present situation: the music docu- formation of DB in special libraries. ment: in the context of its existence The report on methods of working at and use; the Reader’s museum: the the selection of illustrated materials artist in library; research information aroused keen interest in all the partici- and publishing projects of the Russian pants of the Round Table. national library in the field of music The participants became acquainted heritage conservation; S.Mokulsky’s with Vyborg municipal universal book collection in the Russian state library, a classical example of con- art library; new accession of printed structivism in library architecture. It graphic works to the engraving stock was built by A. Aalto, the well-known of the graphic edition department of Finnish architect, in 935. the Russian state library; the experi- From 2006, the Section started ence of registration of “Gogol House” discussing bibliographical entry of museum rarities; reference editions Exerostrud magna consent ut deliquisi bla graphic editions in computer-read- in the subsidiary stock of the art litera- commodio etuerilisl do consequis able formats. When creating elec- ture complex department of the tronic catalogues of graphic editions, Rudomino All-Russian State library of The organizers selected the subject specialists meet with difficulties of foreign literature. of the Round Table not at random: methodological, organizational and A competition for the best report the problems of service in special- technological character. At the end of was announced. The winner became ized libraries were not considered 2006, the RSAL held the Round Table, E. Ivanova, head of the art department for a long time. For the last years where the specialists of the Section li- of Bryansk library. new developments and supplemen- braries discussed the problems, using In fact, the Section works as a tary services appeared, therefore different library information systems. methodical centre for libraries and the Section members decided to The main discussion was carried on complex departments of art literature. consider the problems of combin- by means of entries of graphic editions The main form of the work is semi- ing traditional and innovative in RUSMARC format. nars and participation in conferences. forms of service. The work at theRLA 2th Confer- The range of problems reflects both The main organizers of the Round ence (Bryansk, May 2007) was organ- peculiarities of the work of libraries Table were two major specialized ized in a new way. The subject “The of the given type and the direction of libraries: the RSAL and St.Petersburg ‘lost’ heritage – its conservation or res- the activity of any library. Exchange of state theatre library. The representa- cue from obscurity?” was announced. information and methods has broad- tives of the leading libraries of the ThreeRLA sections united to discuss ened and joint projects have sprung branch from St.Petersburg, Moscow, the mechanism of returning the “lost” up. The financial problems of human Vladimir took part in it, among events, documents, personalia in the resources offer difficulty for the Sec- them the Russian National library, Russian cultural space. Information, tion activization as before. State public historical library, State research and publishing projects Hermitage library, Peterhof library, in this field and ways of rescue of “the Russian Art history Institute library, lost” heritage were also considered. St.Petersburg conservatoire library, The participants of the joint meet- A. Akhmatova museum library, ing represented the Section of art ifla art libraries section newsletter • 62/2008 13 New Publications
Art Libraries Journal David Buckman’s Artists in Britain and Marilyn Russell and Thomas E. Gillian Varley, Editor since 945, and in the second Karen Young discuss selected resources in Attar, Rare Books Librarian at the the United States for information on There have been two issues ofARLIS/ University of London’s Senate House Native American art. UK & Ireland’s international quarterly Library, reviews the recently revised As usual in the second issue of since the last Section of Art Libraries and greatly expanded edition of Class the year there is a Bibliographies Newsletter. The first,vol.33 no. 2008, W of the Bliss Bibliographic Classifi- update, this one for 2008; compiled contains a miscellany of items and cation, dealing with the arts. by Barbara Polowy, this is an an- begins with Erica Foden-Lenahan’s Vol.33 no.2 2008 is a special issue notated selection of bibliographies Viewpoint – a heartfelt plea for mu- on documenting indigenous and on art, design, film and architecture seum and art librarianship to have a minority art, reflecting the theme published in hard copy or on the web greater presence in courses offered of last year’s Section of Art Libraries during the past twelve months. by UK library schools, as it does in meeting. The Viewpoint comes from The issue concludes with three those abroad. Pat Hewitt, Librarian of the Sainsbury reviews: Beth Houghton discusses Bernard Berenson’s library at the Research Unit for the Arts of Africa, Art museum libraries and librarian- Villa I Tatti in Florence is described Oceania and the Americas at the Uni- ship, edited by Joan Benedetti and by Michael Rocke, the Nicky Mariano versity of East Anglia. She focuses on published by the Scarecrow Press and Librarian there, and following that, the difficulties of providing informa- ARLIS/NA in 2007. Victoria Worsley Patricia Barnett outlines the activities tion about indigenous arts outside the reviews the US Society of American of the Frick Art Reference Library and context of the culture in which they Archivists’ Photographs: archival care its plans for sharing a virtual future were made, and on the continuing and management, published in 2006. with other art libraries in the city in need for subject knowledge in special- And finally Sarah McCleskey assesses the New York Art Resources Consor- ised libraries, especially in the current The Grove encyclopedia of classical tium (NYARC). Vicki Humphrey’s ar- expanding virtual environment. art and architecture, edited by Gordon ticle celebrates the opening of the new The issue contains revised versions Campbell, and published by the Centre for Conservation at the British of three of the Durban papers: Ana Oxford University Press in 2007. Library in 2007 and this is followed Barata’s about the Gulbenkian Foun- by an article on the Barnes Founda- dation’s ArtAfrica project, Ching- tion Archives and Library in Merion, chih Chen’s on Global Memory Net Fornvännen – Journal of Swedish Pennsylvania, by Barbara Beaucar, and World Heritage Memory Net, Antiquarian Research goes digital Adrienne Pruitt and Katy Rawdon. and Anne Ihalmo’s on digitising and Lynda McLeod tells the history archiving the virtual cultural herit- Fornvännen – Journal of Swedish of James Christie and his auction age of Lapland. Complementing this Antiquarian Research celebrated its house in her amusing contribution, is Maud Roberts’ article focussing on 00th anniversary in 2005. As part of highlighting several fascinating sales Swedish internet resources for the the celebrations it was decided to scan and the characters behind them. study of the Sámi people in the north the entire text of all 00 issues, 906 And finally there is a revised version of Sweden. – 2005, and make them available on the of Daniel Payne’s paper to the Art Sarah Frioux-Salgas and Fran- internet. In November 2007 the project Libraries Section in Durban last year, çoise Dalex write about archival of digitization was finished, and the describing a new method of teaching and electronic tools for studying the text is now available free of charge on art students to use libraries that has collections of non-Western art at the website http://fornvannen.se. been developed at the Ontario College the musée du quai Branly in Paris. of Art & Design in Toronto. Steven Miller tells the story of pre- what is fornvännen? Two reviews conclude this Journal: serving, copying and providing Fornvännen is the leading journal for in the first Krzysztof Cieszkowski, access to the important archival antiquarian research in Sweden. It is Acquisitions Librarian at Tate Britain, records of Papunya Tula Artists at also the oldest journal, and has the enthuses about the new edition of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, largest review section in the subject 14 ifla art libraries section newsletter • 62/2008
field in Scandinavia. The foremost have been scanned by the Swedish Kerstin Assarsson-Rizzi Scandinavian experts in archaeology National Archives, Media Konverte- National Heritage Board and Medieval studies are published rings Centrum (MKC). MKC has Box 5405 in Fornvännen. The articles are for also interpreted the pictures and SE-4 84 Stockholm the most part written in Swedish, but converted them into text which is Sweden also in Danish, Norwegian, English, searchable as articles in pdf-format. http://www.raa.se/bibliotek/ French and German. The articles are This means that the contents of the Email: [email protected] provided with an abstract in English, articles can be searched in full. The and the pictures usually has captions digitization of Fornvännen has been New visual arts issue of the His- in English. made possible by financial support panic Research Journal from the Royal Swedish Academy the digitization project of Letters, History and Antiquities, TheHispanic Research Journal has The project has been carried out at the publisher of the journal. published its first exciting new visual Vitterhetsakademiens bibliotek arts issue. A fifth issue of every year (the Library of the Royal Swedish the fornvännen website is now devoted to the visual arts, Academy of Letters, History and The pdf-files are published on the including painting, architecture, Antiquities) at the Swedish National website, http://fornvannen.se. Searches sculpture, film, photography, and Heritage Board. Project manager can be made either in chronological exhibition and book reviews. has been Kerstin Assarsson-Rizzi, order issue by issue, article by article, Chief Librarian. Gun Larsson, Infor- or by free text search in the entire key articles: mation Specialist, has led the work body of text. The site has user instruc- * “Imperial Designs: The Decora- and other staff members have par- tions in Swedish and English. tion of the Library of the Escorial”, ticipated. The printed volumes Suzanne L Stratton-Pruitt
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More information books@taik.fi or tel. +358 (0)9 756 30319 ifla art libraries section newsletter • 62/2008 15 General Announcements
* “Fray Juan Ricci, Mateo Cerezo National directories of art libraries the Younger, and the Commission At the IFLA conference in Durban last to Complete the Retrochoir of the year, members of the Art Libraries Cathedral of Burgos”, Ellen Prokop Section discussed the international * “Stirling, Ford, and Nineteenth- directory of art libraries. The directory Century Reception of Goya: The was maintained by Thomas Hill and Case of the Santa Justa and Santa colleagues at Vassar College for many Rufina: ‘Abomination’ or ‘Appro- years, and the Section is very grateful priate Composition’?”, Hilary to them for all their hard work. Now Macartney that the database is no longer being * “Shifting Ground: Elite Sponsor- updated, the Section has decided ship of the Cult of Christ of the to maintain a list of links to existing Earthquakes in Eighteenth-Cen- national directories of art libraries tury Cusco”, Maya Stanfield-Mazzi instead. TheIFLA website is due to * “At the Café de los Cachuchas: Frida be relaunched soon, but in the mean- Kahlo in the 920s”, James Oles time a list of national directories of * “Mexico City in Juan O’Gorman’s art libraries is being maintained on Imagination”, Adriana Zavala the arlis.net website at:
The issue is edited byJordana Men- http://www.arlis.net/links. delson, Department of Spanish and php#directories Portuguese at New York University, and Marjorie Trusted, Victoria & Feel free to link to this if you find it Albert Museum, London. Download useful, and do let me know of any the Editors’ Introduction free online other national directories of art librar- at www.ingentaconnect.com/content/ ies that should be included. maney/hrj/2007/00000008/00000005 The issue is available to individuals Douglas Dodds free as part of an annual membership [email protected] of the American Society for Hispanic Art Historical Studies (ASHAHS) or ARTES Iberian and Latin American Visual Culture Group. For details of how to become a member please visit www.maney.co.uk/journals/hrj/ visualarts. For institutions, the issue is available as part of a subscription to Hispanic Research Journal or as a single issue. The single issue price is 59.00/ US06.00. To order please visit www. maney.co.uk/journals/hrj/visualarts For more information contact Alison Holgate, Marketing & PR Assistant, Maney Publishing. Email: [email protected] als Standing Committee
Chair * Anastasiya Gay * Jan Simane * Olga Sinitsyna St Petersburg State Theatre Library Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz All-Russia State Library for Zodchy Rossy Street 2 (Max-Planck-Institut) Foreign Literature 9023 St. Petersburg Via Giuseppi Giusti 44 Nikolojamskaja Street Russian Federation i-502 Firenze 09 89 Moscow * Véronique Goncerut Estebe Italy Russian Federation Bibliothèque d’Art et d’Archéologie de simane@khi.fi.it olgas@libfl.ru Genève * Kate Sloss 5 promenade du Pin Tate Secretary and Information Officer 204 Geneva Millbank * Eila Rämö Switzerland London SWP 4RG University of Art [email protected] United Kingdom and Design Library * Rüdiger Hoyer [email protected] Hämeentie 35 C Zentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte * Edward Teague 00560 Helsinki Meiserstr. 0 University of Oregon Libraries Finland D-80333 München 205C Lawerence Hall eila.ramo@taik.fi Germany Eugene, OR 97403 [email protected] United States Treasurer * Maria Concepción Huidobro Salas [email protected] * Susan M. Allen Biblioteca Nacional * Lucile Trunel Getty Research Institute/ Paseo de Recoletos 20 Bibliothèque nationale de France Research Library 2807 Madrid Quai François Mauriac 200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 00 Spain 7503 Paris Los Angeles, CA 90049-688 [email protected] France United States * Isabelle le Masne de Chermont [email protected] [email protected] Service des bibliothèques, des archives * Inna Vaganova et de la documentation générale Russian State Art Library Committee Members 6, rue des Pyramides B. Dmitrovka, 8/ * Kerstin Assarsson-Rizzi 7509 Paris Cedex 0 0703 Moscow National Heritage Board France Russian Federation Box 5405 isabelle.le-masne-de-chermont@ [email protected] SE-484 Stockholm culture.gouv.fr * Joye Volker Sweden * Ana Cristina Martins Barata National Gallery of Australia [email protected] Gulbenkian Foundation GPO Box 50 * Jeanette M. Clough Av. de Berna 45 A Canberra ACT 260 Getty Research Institute Library/ 067-00 Lisboa Australia Research Library Portugal [email protected] 200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 00 [email protected] Los Angeles, CA 90049-688 * Martha McPhail Corresponding Members United States San Diego State University Library * Ryoji Murata [email protected] 5500 Campanile Drive Section of Informatics * Douglas Dodds San Diego, CA 9282-8050 Systems Management Victoria and Albert Museum United States Tokyo National Museum Cromwell Road [email protected] 3-9 Ueno Park, London SW7 2RL * Alicia Garcia Medina Taito-ku, Tokyo, 0-872 United Kingdom Instituto Patrimonio Histórico Espanol Japan [email protected] Calle el Greco No 4, Edificio Circular [email protected] * Martin Flynn 28040 Madrid * Renu Rabilall Victoria and Albert Museum Spain Central Reference Library Cromwell Road [email protected] eThekwini Municipal Libraries London SW7 2RL * Jo Nordley Beglo P.O Box 97 United Kingdom National gallery of Canada Library Durban m.fl[email protected] 380 Sussex Drive PO Box 427, Station A South Africa Ottawa, ON KN 9N4 [email protected] Canada [email protected]