Dual Master’s degree in art librarianship, Indiana University, USA

Abstract

In 1985 the dual master’s degree program in art librarianship was developed at Indiana University by the head of the Fine Arts Library, working with faculty members in the School of Fine Arts/Art History and the School of Library and Information Science. This program is designed to prepare students in the United States for professional library and information specialist positions in fine arts libraries and information centers. The student is offered a coordinated approach to achieving two masters degrees — one in art history and the other in library and information science — and must be admitted to both schools. For this program the course ‘Seminar in Art Librarianship’ was devised, covering topics such as administration, collection development, reference services, and visual resources management. Further requirements include a research bibliography course in art history and fieldwork experience in the Fine Arts and Slide libraries. This program seeks to meet the need for a marketable combination of subject–specific and library/information science education for art library and visual resources professionals.

Education for Librarianship: A Survey of the Literature, 1988-1995

“…The literature recommends that library science faculty teaching in this area hold the MA in art history (Robertson, 1991 ); that MLS graduates enroll in graduate courseworlc in art (Mahard, 1994 ), including dual master's degree programs in art and library science (Irvine, 1994 ); and that MLS graduates complete coursework and continuing education dealing with visual resources, slide librarianship, database creation, image technologies, and automation of art libraries and collections (Jacoby, 1992; Starn, 1993;Boaden, 1994; "Continuing ... ," 1994; Wil liamson, 1994). As with other specialties, it is also recommended that students complete internships in art libraries (Blank, 1992;Tucker, 1994).…”