Section of Art Libraries

Annual Report 1996-1997

Scope

Membership

Jean Adelman

Svetlana Artamonova

Mary Ashe

Stephen Bloom

Jeannette Dixon

Ana Paula Gordo

Marie-Françoise Guillermin

Hiroyuki Hatano

Herlof Hatlebrekke

Catherine Heesterbeek-Bert

Beth Houghton

Ada Kolganova

Geert-Jan Koot

Francoise Lemelle

Anja Lollesgaard

Ulrike Michalowsky

Nicole Picot

Olga Sinitsyna

Miriam Tam

Marie-Claude Thompson

Jan van der Wateren

Corresponding Members, Observers, Special Advisers

Josephine Andersen

Veronica Lavin Isax

Elsa Barbarena

Javier Docampo

Margaret Shaw

Meetings

Chairman

Jeannette Dixon

Secretary

Geert-Jan Koot

Treasurer

Catherine Heesterbeek-Bert (As above)

Information Co-ordinator

Geert-Jan Koot (As above)

The meeting discussed planning for forthcoming conferences in Amsterdam 1998, Bangkok 1999, Jerusalem 2000 and Boston 2001. The Standing Committee (SC) agreed that greater use should be made of the annual conference to exchange information formally about developments in different regions of the world. The incoming Executive officers would address this issue and schedule such a session as part of the proceedings during the Amsterdam conference 1998. The SC further concluded that the format of a whole day SC meeting was very successful indeed compared to the two separate meetings traditionally allocated for SC meetings during the annual conference. Since the SC meeting was dependent on space made available by the central conference organising committee this was an issue which would need to be resolved in conjunction with IFLA Headquarters. When a location separate from the main conference venue was available, as in Copenhagen, there would be no space problem.

After reviewing the status of the Section's projects, the major item discussed at the meeting was the Medium-Term Programme 1997-2001. The Standing Committee debated and finalised the MTP and agreed goals for 1998-1999. The MTP follows below.

Medium Term Programme 1998-2001

Scope

Goals for 1998-2001

1. To share information and expertise on art libraries' collections, publications, databases, networks, union lists and activities.

2. To extend the reach of the Section's effectiveness as an international forum of information for art and visual librarians by means of publications, conferences and personal contacts.

3. To provide information about the work of the Section to those concerned with the documentation of art and so to promote membership in the Section in order to increase effectiveness.

Action plan 1998-1999

Goal 1: To share information and expertise on art libraries' collections, publications, databases, networks, union lists and activities.

1. Produce at least two Newsletters per year in a timely fashion to elicit the largest number of early registrations for the annual conference.

2. To organise a minimum of one Workshop and one Open Session for IFLA general conferences focussed on the general conference theme but applied to the specific realities of visual art librarianship (Amsterdam 1998, Bangkok 1999).

3. To investigate the possibility of a third meeting during the annual conference for the exchange of information from different countries (by Amsterdam 1998).

1. To publish the papers given at the IFLA conferences Amsterdam 1998 and Bangkok 1999 as speedily as possible in INSPEL and the Art Libraries Journal as agreed with both journals (within nine months of each conference). (See also 3.1.)

2. Investigate the possibility of making links between the entries for individual libraries in the electronic Directory and their Websites where they exist. Investigate making a link to national online directories which contain more information than that contained in the electronic Directory (preliminary report to Amsterdam 1998, if feasible initiated by Bangkok 1999).

3. Investigate the possibility of creating an online database containing biographical information on artists born after 1950.
   • Begin by conducting a survey of existing sources of biographical information on artists born after 1950. Find out scope, size and format (for example card file of Danish designers; database of Japanese architects born after 1950). Preliminary report to Amsterdam 1998.

4. Investigate the feasibility of creating a bibliography of thesauri used in art librarianship in as many languages as possible (by Amsterdam 1998). If feasible devise a questionnaire and mail to individual countries (by Bangkok 1999). Key-in data (by Jerusalem 2000).

1. To expand the Section of Art Libraries' presence on the Website. publish Newsletters on Website simultaneously with hardcopy publications (1998 and 1999).
   • Publish conference papers on the Website as soon as possible after receipt.
     
   • Appoint Working Group to look into what further information can be mounted on Web so that a proposal can be discussed at the Amsterdam 1998 conference.
     
   • Mount descriptive brochure on Website in all official IFLA languages. (See 3.2)

2. Revise and expand the descriptive Brochure in all official IFLA languages (by August 1998) ready for distribution at the Amsterdam conference.
   • Secure funding for design, printing and mailing of Brochure to all libraries present on electronic Directory (by March 1999).
   • Distribute Brochure to Chairs of all Art Libraries Societies.
     
   • Distribute brochure to a wide audience in the art publishing world, e.g. art journals.

Projects

International Directory of Art Libraries

The Editor, Thomas Hill, engaged the support of 53 Regional Co-ordinators covering most of the world. This dedicated team provided the Editor with a complete update of facts and he was able to produce camera-ready copy for K.G. Saur to publish the Directory in time for the Copenhagen conference. ARLIS/NA deserves our gratitude for undertaking the development of the Directory in electronic form, and especially Thomas Hill, staunchly supported by Vassar College, for single-mindedly pursuing the objective.

Future tasks will include not only keeping the data up-to-date but also gathering information on some countries for which no data is as yet available - North and South Korea, Georgia, the former Soviet states of Central Asia, Burma, Viet-Nam, Albania, Macedonia, Iraq, Iran and Cambodia.

Project leader:

Thomas Hill,

The Multilingual Glossary for art librarians

The SC discussed the desirability of making the Glossary available online and the new Executive officers were asked to pursue this with IFLA HQ. Portuguese and Japanese versions of the Glossary were presented during the SC meeting. It was agreed that given the problems associated with Japanese characters the Japanese could mount the Glossary on their closed museums network. A Russian version of the Glossary was planned to be available by December 1997.

Publications

-Promotional brochure

- Section of Art Libraries Newsletter. Edited by Hiroyuki Hatano, Japan. (No.39, 1996, No.2; No.40, 1997, No.1).
Also available electronically at http://www.ifla.org/VII/s30/pubs.htm

- Hill, Thomas (comp.). International Directory of Art Libraries. (KG Saur, 1997). 251 pages. ISBN 3-598-21807-9.
Also available electronically at http://iberia.vassar.edu/ifla-idal/

Beijing conference, 25 - 31 August 1996

- van der Wateren, Jan. Editorial. Art Libraries Journal, vol.22, no. 1, 1997.

- Busch, Joseph A. and Giral, Angela. Subsidising end-user access to research databases. Art Libraries Journal, vol.22.no.1, 1997.
Also available electronically at http://www.ifla.org/IV/ifla62/62-busj.htm

- Chin, Cecilia H. and DeAngelis, Ildiko P. Paying for services: experiences at the Smithsonian Institute. Art Libraries Journal, vol.22.no.1, 1997.
Also available electronically at http://www.ifla.org/IV/ifla62/62-chic.htm

- Docampo, Javier. Imágenes digitales y Valoración de costes: La Experiencia Española. Art Libraries Journal, vol.22.no.1, 1997. Also published in English as Cost Evaluation of Digital Images: the Spanish Experience. INSPEL, no.31 (1997) 2.
Also available electronically at http://www.ifla.org/IV/ifla62/62-docj.htm

- Latimer, Karen. Free to fee: the current account from an academic library. Art Libraries Journal, vol.22.no.1, 1997.
Also available electronically at http://www.ifla.org/IV/ifla62/62-latk.htm

- Shujuan, Dai. Towards the 21st century: the development of the Reference Library of the Chinese Academy of Arts. Art Libraries Journal, vol.22, no.1, 1997.
Also available electronically at http://www.ifla.org/IV/ifla62/62-shud.htm

- Sinitsyna, Olga. Paid services at the Library for Foreign Literature. Art Libraries Journal, vol.22.no.1, 1997. Also published as Paid Services at The Library for Foreign Literature: New Objectives, Experience, Perspectives. INSPEL, no.31 (1997) 2.
Also available electronically at http://www.ifla.org/IV/ifla62/papers96.htm

- Walravens, Hartmut. Copper-engraving in China. Art Libraries Journal, vol.22.no.1, 1997.
Also available electronically at http://www.ifla.org/IV/ifla62/62-walh2.htm

- Wood Lamont, Sally and Robu, Iona. Self-financing Services in Libraries: a Method of Increasing Limited Library Budgets in Post-communist Romania? INSPEL, no.31 (1997) 2.
Also available electronically at http://www.ifla.org/IV/ifla62/62-woos.htm

- Zheng, Haiyao. The provision and use of information on Chinese art in London libraries. Art Libraries Journal, vol.22.no.1, 1997.
Also available electronically at http://www.ifla.org/IV/ifla62/papers96.htm

Conference programme, Copenhagen, 30 August - 6 September 1997

Pre-Conference Workshop

The Workshop was attended by 120 to the Workshop people. There was no simultaneous interpretation but facilitators were available for French and Spanish during discussions. The following papers were presented.

1. Introduction Jan van der Wateren, Chairman, IFLA Section of Art Libraries, National Art Library, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, England.

2. Internet and copyright regarding pictorial art - seen in an international perspective
   Margrethe Tøttrup, Danish National Library Authority, Copenhagen, Denmark.
   Available electronically at http://www.ifla.org/IV/ifla63/63totm.htm
   ABSTRACT: Pictures travel all over the world via the Internet, and you never know which route they will take, because messages sent via the Internet always choose the route, which is open and not the shortest one. International conventions try to compose a set of rules which are acceptable world-wide, but traditions differ from country to country. The international society must endeavour to harmonize the rules, because the world needs to respect the artist and his work.

3. The Research Libraries Group and access to art information
   Katharine Martinez, Research Libraries Group, California, USA
   ABSTRACT: not available.

4. Le rôle des bibliothèques d'art dans la formation et l'information des jeunes artistes. Le traitement de l'actualité Jean-Paul Oddos, Musée national d'art moderne, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, France.
   Available electronically at http://www.ifla.org/IV/ifla63/63oddj.htm
   ABSTRACT: Le public des bibliothèques d'art est très largement un public étudiant et cela oriente fortement la politique documentaire de celles-ci. Sans renier ce rôle, ces bibliothèques devraient se soucier davantage des lieus qu'elles devraient entre tenir avec les artistes en activité. Ceci passe par une offre documentaire adaptée et des services, notamment autour de l'actualité de la vie artistique internationale. Ceci demande des compétences particuliers.

5. Art in the art library: small faces of 'Library Products'
   Kyoko Tomatsu, Library Point Co, Tokyo, Japan.
   Available electronically at http://www.ifla.org/IV/ifla63/63tomk.htm
   ABSTRACT: The author of this paper describes ways to create a library environment which will be especially suited to users who are knowledgeable about and affected by art and design. In a library which specialises in art, 'Library Products' can be used effectively, in a stimulating way, to complement the furnishings and equipment, and to create an ambience which will enhance its customers' enjoyment and the effectiveness of their studies.
   'Library Products' for use in the art library are discussed from the point of view of an art librarian, rather than that of an architect or designer. Their role and importance are investigated, and are illustrated by examples of the materials the products are made from, their colour and shape, and the way they are used in art libraries in Japan and other countries, notably in Scandinavia.

6. Redressing past cultural biases and imbalances
   Josephine Andersen, South African National Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa.
   Available electronically at http://www.ifla.org/IV/ifla63/63andj.htm
   ABSTRACT: The focus is on how an art library can help to redress past inequities. Legislation in South Africa now provides for the inclusion of arts and culture and adult literacy in the education system and it is within the capabilities of art libraries to promote the government initiative by distributing their resources widely. The arts are always concerned with expression and communication which takes place in many forms. The 'reading' of texts such as in mass media and visual art works forms part of the study of all literature and develops skills in all kinds of literacy. Language and visual literacy can be linked together in adult basic education and training as with the project in the South African National Gallery Library.

7. Memory of the world: preservation and access
   Abdelaziz Abid, UNESCO, Paris, France.
   Available electronically at http://www.ifla.org/IV/ifla63/63abia.htm
   ABSTRACT: The paper outlines the main features of 'Memory of the World', a UNESCO Programme to safeguard endangered documentary heritage, democratize access to it, increase awareness of its significance and distribute, on a large scale, products derived from it. Criteria to list documentary heritage on the 'Memory of the World' Register and to select projects are set out, together with a brief account of the Programme's technical, legal and financial framework.
   A number of pilot projects are briefly described. They consist mainly in digitization programmes and a CD-ROM series featuring a selection of manuscripts from the National Library in Prague, the Radzivill Chronicle in Saint Petersburg, medieval manuscripts concerning the symbolic figure Saint Sophia, patron saint of the capital of Bulgaria, a collection of Yemenite manuscripts including the Koranic fragments at Sana'a, a preservation project of astronomical manuscripts of Kandilli Observatory in Istanbul, a selection of manuscripts from the Egyptian National Library and another selection from Vilnius University Library reflecting in turn medieval Arab and European scientific advancement, a few thousand photographs from the nineteenth century illustrating the history of some ten countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, an inventory of nineteenth century Latin American newspapers and their state of preservation and an ambitious project called 'Memory of Russia'.

Open Session

There were 100+ attenders. There was no simultaneous interpretation but facilitators were available for French and Spanish during discussion. The following papers were presented.

1. Promoting Scandinavian design history
   Mirjam Gelfer-Jørgensen, The National Library for Art and Design, Danish Museum for Decorative Art, Copenhagen, Denmark.
   Available electronically at http://www.ifla.org/IV/ifla63/63gelm.htm
   ABSTRACT: Compared to the international interest in the phenomenon 'Scandinavian Design', it is surprising to find that the interest in studying Scandinavian decorative art and design on a scholarly level is not at all widespread in the Scandinavian countries. In order to further research in this field an effective means is to give scholars the possibility to publish in order that they get a response, first directly with an editor and translator, and further with colleagues. This made me start publishing Scandinavian Journal of Design History 7 years ago. It is published in English, once a year, and contains scholarly articles by Scandinavians on all topics, Scandinavian as well as non-Scandinavian. Another important instrument is documentation of the widespread field covered by the designation 'decorative art and design'. In Denmark this responsibility has for 100 years been placed at the Library of the Danish Museum of Decorative Art; the development within the last 10-15 years of design as well as design history has caused us to re-evaluate the criteria for information retrieval, both as to books and printed matter as to drafts and drawings.
   The problem of a proper terminology for this relatively new field is also dealt with - in Danish, but also in other Scandinavian languages - seeing that we cannot take over the English vocabulary without first making sure that the content of the two words are identical. These considerations are more important now, seeing that we are all able to search via the Internet.

2. Bibliografía sobre arte y artistas de los paises Nordicos a través de las monografías y catâlogos de exposiciones en España
   Alicia García Medina, Instituto Patrimonío Histórico Español, Madrid, Spain.
   Available electronically at http://www.ifla.org/IV/ifla63/63meda.htm
   ABSTRACT: The aim of this paper is to compile a bibliography of Nordic art and artists published in Spain as monographs and exhibition catalogues from the 1980s until now. It concentrates on the need for exhaustive bibliographic treatment, especially when converting library catalogues into a database providing concise and accurate information in line with the requirements of the changing information world.

3. The National Museum of Photography at The Royal Library, Copenhagen
   Ingrid Fischer Jonge, The Royal Library, Copenhagen, Denmark.
   Available electronically at http://www.ifla.org/IV/ifla63/63fisi.htm
   ABSTRACT: not available.

Relationships with other bodies

The International Council on Archives had requested IFLA to assist in their Committee on Literature and Art Archives (ICA/CLA) in the preparation of a world Directory of art and literature archives. The Standing Committee had nominated Jan van der Wateren during the Havana conference to undertake this task. During the past year the Secretary General of the ICA has appointed Jan van der Wateren for a four-year period on this Committee as from 1996. The Committee met in Beijing shortly after the conclusion of the IFLA general conference but it was not possible for Jan van der Wateren to attend. During the forthcoming year he will be attending the Committee during their annual deliberations, this year in Prague where the theme will specifically be the logistics of publishing the Directory.

During the year informal contacts with the major art library societies across the world were continued, keeping them up-to-date with the work of the Section of Art Libraries.

Jan van der Wateren
Chairman, IFLA Section of Art Libraries
September 1997