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Cathy Billings presentation for the "Survival Techniques for Art Librarians at Public Libraries" session at the VRA + ARLIS/NA 2nd Joint Conference in Minneapolis, MN.
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Indispensable: How to Buck the Generalization Trend
and Keep Doing What you Love
Cathy BillingsBrand Library & Art Center
ARLIS/NA – MinneapolisSurvival Techniques for Art Librarians at Public Libraries
Sunday, March 27, 2011Sponsored by the Public Librarians SIG
INDISPENSABLE
1: not subject to being set aside or neglected
2: absolutely necessary : essential
WHAT ARE OUR SPECIAL SKILLS?
1: we know how to describe images2: we understand the principles and
aesthetics of design 3: we know technology4: we comprehend copyright
Reach Out & Collaborate whenever “art” is involved
Images documenting the How I See It – My Place documentary writing and photography project for teens, an IMLS funded grant project developed by the California Council for the Humanities.
Photos clockwise from top left: Nikki Restrepo trying different angles (photo by Isabella Restrepo); Rita Hovsepian playing with light and shadow (photo by Annie Orudzhyan); Jasmine Uniza and Jackie Uniza in window self-portrait (photo by Jasmine Uniza).
Images documenting the How I See It – My Place documentary writing and photography project for teens, an IMLS funded grant project developed by the California Council for the Humanities.
Photos clockwise from top left: Nikki Restrepo trying different angles (photo by Isabella Restrepo); Rita Hovsepian playing with light and shadow (photo by Annie Orudzhyan); Jasmine Uniza and Jackie Uniza in window self-portrait (photo by Jasmine Uniza).
Unique Collections make users clamor
Pattern BooksVisual Resources
DVDs
Pattern Books
Books that include CDs of (for the most part) copyright restriction free JPG and TIF files
Genre subject heading “pattern books” so that they can be easily searched in the catalog
Popular with just about everybody
Relatively inexpensive
Brand Library has 75 titles:Started collecting in mid-2008
Circulations to-date for all titles: 1,081
Victoria & Albert (UK)
BNN (Japan)
Dover (USA)
Pepin Press (Netherlands)
Rockport (USA)
Visual ResourcesSlides
Berkeley Public Library
Slides
2009•103 circulation transactions•3,137 slides circulated•Average of 11 unique patrons per quarter
2010•76 circulation transactions•2,693 slides circulated•Average of 5 unique patrons per quarter
Visual ResourcesCirculating Collections of Original Artwork
Iowa City Public Library
Art-to-Go Collection•began in 1979•approximately 150 works of art available to borrow•6-10 new works purchased each year•selections by local art professionals via the Iowa City Public Library Purchase Prize event
•searchable in library catalog
DVDs
Quality Information Publishers (quirky vintage/historical films)A.R.T.CO (glass art)Copernicus Films (Russian avant-garde)Viz Pictures (contemporary Japanese artists)Gnomon Workshop (animation/illustration instruction)L&S Video (American artists)Illuminations (modern/contemporary UK artists)Direct Cinema Limited (contemporary art – independent filmmakers)Aspect (new digital media)Vilppu Studio (drawing instruction)
DVDs
Programs & Services that cultivate advocates
Art ExhibitionsLocal Artist Files
Embedded LibrariansStudio Arts in the Library
Brand Library Art Galleries
Art Exhibitions
Local Artist InformationArtist Files – Paper
Washington D.C. Public Library
Supplemental and ephemeral material about artists of the Metropolitan Washington area, especially those associated in some way with the District of Columbia. The association
may consist of some period of residence in the District, teaching or going to school here, owning a studio or business in the District, or being born in the area.
The file consists of exhibition catalogs, pamphlets, gallery announcements, and newspaper clippings. It is continuously updated through our own efforts and through the network that we
have created with a number of the commercial galleries that share copies of local artists information, biographies or resumes.
The collection is constantly growing, and as of July 2007 includes 1,803 artists.
Artist Files for the 21st Century
Allen County Public Library (Fort Wayne, Indiana)
Fort Wayne Area Artists website includes
•artist contact info
•artist statement
•artist website
•images of artwork
•artist gallery affiliation
Targeted Outreach & Embedded Librarians
“we try to cultivate and augment our patron base…with membership in local arts organizations (attending meetings and talking about what we offer)”
“outreach to schools, graduate programs, social networks”
“we took tables at local summer festivals” / “circulation modules at fairs”
“outreach to specific groups (students, creative professionals, etc.) including increased programming”
“speaking engagements”
“making liaisons w/other non-profits”
“author book signings at independent bookstores”
Studio Arts in the Library
“hands-on craft programs”
“starting a craft/art program at the library Saturday afternoons…to teach costume and jewelry design”
The Library & Art Center Model
Greensborough Public Library (North Carolina)
Hemphill Branch Library + Green Hill Center for NC Art•opened in 2004 / began through a Leadership Grant from the
Institute of Museum and Library Services•Green Hill selects rotating art exhibits and artist-in-residency programs•ArtQuest program – local artist designed hands-on studio stations such
as Fiber Space, Zoetrope: Animation and the Drawing Station.
