Fine Arts Librarianship
Fine Arts Librarianship may be for YOU, if you are interested in:
- Directing an art library in an academic, art museum, or research institution
- Working in an art or arts division of a public library
- Providing visual arts reference services
- Organizing and managing visual arts collections, e.g., slides and photographs, or visual arts documentation
Coursework for specialization in Fine Arts Librarianship:
SLIS and the School of Fine
Arts/Art History offer a combined Master of Library Science/Master of Arts in Art
History degree. This program is designed to prepare students for
professional library and information specialist positions in fine arts and
related libraries and information centers. Students who already have a strong
academic background in art and/or art history, but who don't want to pursue a
Master's Degree in this area, may enroll in the courses providing a
specialization in fine arts librarianship. Along with the MLS core courses, your
elective courses must include:
- A575: Research Sources in Art History
- Historiography of Western Art
- S605 (L596) - Internship in Library and Information Science (in a Fine Arts related area)
- S651 (L630) - Art Librarianship
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Job Outlook for this field:
- Nearly all the SLIS students specializing in art librarianship have found relevant positions.
- Recent IU-SLIS graduates have been placed as art or visual resources librarians at Arizona State University, Art Institute of Chicago Ryerson & Burnham Libraries, Chicago Public Library, Herron School of Art Library, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art and other art museums, academic and public library institutions across the nation.
- Typical job titles include: Head Librarian, Reference Librarian, Catalog Librarian, Head of Public Services, Slide Librarian/Visual Resources Curator.
- Graduates with geographic mobility increase their chances of obtaining a position in the contemporary world of art and visual reference librarianship.
Qualities employers seek:
- Strong art history background
- Knowledge of library automation and electronic resources in the art field
- Knowledge of one or more foreign languages
- Academic, art museum, research art libraries and public library art divisions normally seek applicants who hold a graduate degree in art history and a Master's degree from a school accredited by the American Library Association.
Opportunities to gain experience in this field:
- Internship in the IU Fine Arts Library and Visual Resources Center
Professional Associations:
Interested in knowing more? Contact:
On campus:
- Dr. B. J. Irvine, Fine Arts Librarian, IUB Fine Arts Library
812-855-5743 or email: irvine@indiana.edu
Employers:
- information to come
Alumni:
- Jane Ferger, Slide Collection, Indianapolis Museum of Art, jferger.inmu@incolsa.palni.edu
- Carol LeBras, Art Information, Chicago Public Library
- Shawn Steidinger, Thomas J. Watson Library, Metropolitan Museum of Art
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