NOBLE:
North of Boston Library Exchange

Art and Architecture

Description

Art and Architecture covers the description, critical appraisal, techniques, procedures, apparatus, equipment and materials of the fine arts, crafts and decoration. The Division covers the philosophy and theory of art; civic and landscape art; architecture (excluding landscape architecture which is included under Agriculture); plastic arts-including sculpture, numismatics and jewelry design; drawing; decorative and minor arts; painters and painting; graphic arts; printmaking; photography and museology

Target Users

This division is used by a wide variety of public and college library patrons, including professional and student artists and craftspeople, teachers, hobbyists, art collectors and others who appreciate art or are engaged in artistic endeavors of any kind. The art collection of college libraries directly supports major programs and is tangentially related to many other course offerings.

Collection Statement

NOBLE public and college libraries all collect heavily is this area. Salem State College, Gordon College, and Montserrat College of Art all offer major programs in the Art and in Art Education; Endicott College offers a Fine Arts degree with concentrations in Creative Arts Therapy and Visual Communication.

Public library collections are also very strong in this area, reflecting the North Shore's long history as a center for artists and the arts. Public library collections are strong in books on learning and improving art techniques, especially painting, as well as books on art history, criticism and collecting.

Because of the nature of the topic, this is an area where libraries tend to retain large collections of material in the area of art and architectural history, as works of individual artists and architects. Several of our libraries have been collecting heavily in this area for many years, and have collections of impressive depth and breadth.

Reference Collections

Both public and college libraries have substantial reference collections in the area of art. Especially important in this area are specialized dictionaries and encyclopedias, biographical works, reference works on symbols and motifs, and reference works designed to to aid in the identification of artworks and antiques. Reference works needed by artists include current editions of books listing markets for artwork, shows, exhibitions and galleries, and reference works on art supplies and material, including ones covering health and safety issues.

Electronic Resources

All NOBLE libraries have access to EBSCO's MasterFile Premier or Academic Search Fulltext Elite, which include many titles in the area of art and architecture. These databases are available to patrons accessing NOBLE from home, school or office as well as from library workstations. Libraries also have access to the Searchbank General Reference Center and Expanded Academic ASAP databases, which include some art titles.

Through the World Wide Web, all libraries have access to some excellent art resources, including many extensive collections of reproductions of works of art from museums and other art collections. The Web sites of art galleries and individual artists are an excellent resource for newer artists, styles and trends. NOBLE Web includes an Art and Architecture page, which provides links to some important art Web sites and Web guides.

Audiovisual Material

Since art and architecture are such visual subjects, most of our libraries have developed substantial collections of videorecordings in this area. Many include tours of famous museums, buildings, etc., and are excellent, visual supplements to the print collection. Libraries also have collections of instructional videorecordings showing different art techniques.

Other Collections

Conspectus Levels

NOBLE libraries generally collect at the 2b (Basic Information, Advanced) or 3a (Basic Study) level, depending on the college curriculum.

Several libraries have subject strengths in particular areas of Art and Architecture:

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North of Boston Library Exchange, Inc.
File Updated: March 24, 1999
http://www.noblenet.org/collman/art.htm