At the end of October, I posted a query on the ARLIS-list
requesting information on programs, education, and training for a career in
visual resources librarianship, and several of the respondents requested that I
post a summary of the replies I received.
Although I thanked everyone individually for their
responses, posting the following summary allows me the opportunity to thank the
membership and list in general, not only for input on this particular query but
for years of terrific information and casual reading.
Here is that summary:
--Although already knew about the following program, I
appreciated hearing about it in more detail:
--others suggested looking at the Criteria for Hiring and
Retention of Visual Resources Professionals, at http://www.vraweb.org/criteria2.htm;
and at the ARLIS/VRA joint publication, Guidelines
for the Visual Resources Profession; and at the ARLIS/VRA Summer
Educational Institute for Visual Resources and Image Management, at http://www.vraweb.org/2005sei/index.html
--One person thought that a B.A./M.A. in art history and the
M.L.S. or an M.A. in art history with Library and Information Science courses
is a good combination. The
--A third dual degree program is offered by Pratt Institute;
see http://www.pratt.edu/sils.
--Further suggestions included:
--reviewing the Archive of Job Descriptions on both the VRA
and ARLIS/NA websites:
http://www.vraweb.org/jobopps.html
http://www.arlis.org/jobnet.html
--Checking out: Kim Kopatz (editor). Guidelines for the Visual Resources Profession.
the Art Libraries Society of
--ARLIS/NA Staffing Standards http://www.arlisna.org/staffing.html
--ARLIS/NA Core Competencies for Art Information
Professionals: http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/afa/pdc/core.htm
Dr. Jeffrey Weidman
Senior Librarian, Public Services & Collection
Development
Spencer Art Reference Library
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Tel: 816-751-1215
FAX: 816-561-1229