ABSTRACT
Artists and photographers throughout history have searched for references in libraries, museums and archives. Libraries are extraordinary places; they have many different types of resources, from books to databases, slide libraries, digital archives, sound archives, special collections, journals and magazines. Some art museums boast wonderful photography collections, such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York, which has been collecting photography since 1930. Museums dedicated to photography, such as the Winterthur Museum of Photography in Switzerland, are committed to education and collecting significant work. Galleries exhibit photographic work that is considered to have artistic and/or historical merit and, in the case of commercial galleries, commercial value as well. The Internet has revolutionized the distribution and access of information and services to varying degrees across the globe. For a photographer, the Internet can provide vital information in the initial stages of formulating and developing an idea.
