ABSTRACT
Visual resources collections play a vital, yet virtually invisible, role in the life of a museum. They exist to support the mission of their institution through dissemination of the accurate reproduction of works in the collection as well as being the central repository for a wide range of image collections from program documentation to reference images for teaching. This entry will primarily discuss the history, collections, organization, and professional protocols of art museum visual resources collections in the United States, realizing that the scope of collections and activities of those entrusted with them can be generalized to any cultural institution’s needs. It seeks to highlight how collections are built from various sources and the skills and knowledge a manager of those collections must possess to effectively carry out their duties. An extensive recommended reading list is included to point the reader to standard literature for a deeper understanding of important aspects of managing visual collections. An emphasis is placed on understanding issues with digital formats, since most collections are dealing with those formats, as well as film, on a regular basis.
