Fine Arts Librarianship
Fine Arts Librarianship may be for YOU, if you are interested in:
- Directing an art library in an academic, art museum, or research
institution
- Working in an art or arts division of a public library
- Providing visual arts reference services
- Organizing and managing visual arts collections, e.g., slides and
photographs, or visual arts documentation
SLIS offers a dual degree and a specialization
option in this field.
Job Outlook for this field:
- Nearly all the SLIS students specializing in art librarianship have found
relevant positions.
- Recent IU-SLIS graduates have been placed as art or visual resources
librarians at Arizona State University, Art Institute of Chicago Ryerson &
Burnham Libraries, Chicago Public Library, Herron School of Art Library,
Indianapolis Museum of Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art and other art museums,
academic and public library institutions across the nation.
- Typical job titles include: Head Librarian, Reference Librarian, Catalog
Librarian, Head of Public Services, Slide Librarian/Visual Resources
Curator.
- Graduates with geographic mobility increase their chances of obtaining a
position in the contemporary world of art and visual reference
librarianship.
Employers seek:
- Strong art history background
- Knowledge of library automation and electronic resources in the art
field
- Knowledge of one or more foreign languages
- Academic, art museum, research art libraries and public library art
divisions normally seek applicants who hold a graduate degree in art history
and a Master's degree from a school accredited by the American Library
Association.
Opportunities to gain experience in this field:
Professional Associations:
Interested in knowing more? Contact:
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