ABSTRACT
Art librarianship is a profession that unites academic backgrounds in the visual arts, art history, architecture, and allied fields together with an advanced degree in library science and information management. The collections art librarians manage continue to be mostly comprised of print resources although technological advances over the past 10–20 years, such as digitization of images and the creation of online databases and catalogs, have significantly impacted art research methodology. Art librarians work in several library settings such as academic, museum, public, and visual resources. Depending on the size and scope of the collection, responsibilities can include management, collection development, reference, bibliographic instruction, research, and cataloging. Art librarians work closely together through worldwide professional organizations, contribute to the literature through articles and book reviews, and write essential reference works and standards for the field.
