In a museum or non-profit research center, an art librarian is in charge of managing, organizing, and updating a collection of art-related books. Art libraries are similar to regular libraries, except that all of the books in an art library are related to some aspect of art. Others are dedicated to art history, theory, or pragmatics, while others focus on artwork from a specific location or time period. The art librarian is a valuable resource for all of the library’s books. He or she usually devotes as much time to answering reference questions and directing patrons to the appropriate materials as he or she does to shelving and cataloging the works.
An art librarian’s job is primarily reference-based. The majority of the books in the librarian’s domain are complex, and only a select group of people are interested in them. People usually visit art libraries to conduct research or to find answers to specific questions. The primary guide is usually the librarian. It is his or her responsibility to assist patrons in locating the materials they seek, as well as to suggest resources that might otherwise go unnoticed.
The majority of art librarians are also heavily involved in the archiving activities of the library. The scope of this work is highly contextual, but most art book collections are far larger than can be displayed in reading rooms. Libraries frequently display their most popular resources to the public, but older, rarer, or more fragile items are kept in more secure locations. However, all items in the collection must be documented and retrievable. Sorting, caring for, and cataloging the works is usually the responsibility of librarians.
A lot of art history and art-related research is also frequently digitized. Many of the world’s most prestigious art libraries have massive online catalogs and databases that allow visitors and authorized members to virtually peruse selected works from anywhere with an Internet connection. Art librarians must be familiar enough with this technology to teach patrons how to use it and to assist researchers in finding information that isn’t readily available in print.
An art librarian might also organize and sort donations, give tours to important visitors or benefactors, and teach research seminars to art history students and scholars, depending on the situation. Many art librarian jobs can be found in large libraries and academic settings, where professionals with varying levels of expertise collaborate on a team. Smaller collections, on the other hand, frequently hire only one or two professionals to handle all of their needs.
Art librarians need to have a basic understanding of art in order to succeed. Librarians are not required to be artists or scholars, but they do typically require some formal training in the field. A bachelor’s degree in art history or a related field is always advantageous. In most cases, art librarian training also necessitates a library science degree.