Art in a medium size university library: Acquisition, cataloging and access issues, challenges and opportunities

UNCW Author/Contributor (non-UNCW co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Susannah J. Benedetti, Associate Director Library Technical and Collection Management (Creator)
Sherman Hayes, University Librarian (Creator)
Annie Wu (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW )
Web Site: http://library.uncw.edu/

Abstract: ABSTRACT. In 2001 the William Madison Randall Library at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington found itself with a substantial collection of art, acquired through gifts and purchases to augment existing collections of faculty scholarship and regional materials. What had been tracked in a simple administrative database had become a collection deserving improved access. This paper outlines the acquisition, cataloging and access issues that shaped the evolution of the art works from their status first as decoration on the library walls, then as fully cataloged library materials in the online catalog, then as digitized images available in a searchable Web tour. Explored are the reasons behind the collection development push and the methods of acquisition, how and why the collection outgrew its original inventory database, and why the University Librarian turned to catalog librarians for solutions to improve access by utilizing and linking data existing in separate databases. The paper offers implications and lessons learned that could assist other libraries that may face such a challenge, as well as a literature review of the issues faced in art documentation. Randall Library’s experience illustrates how a decision to invest in cataloging an unusual medium can go beyond the basics of author and subject access to create an unusually valuable foundation for promotional, curricular, and Web-based ventures.

Additional Information

Publication
Benedetti, S., Wu, A. & Hayes, S. (2004). Art in a medium-sized university library: Acquisition, cataloging, and access issues, challenges and opportunities. Library Resources and Technical Services, 48 (2), 144-154.
Language: English
Date: 2008
Keywords
Academic libraries, Acquisition of art catalogs, Cataloging, Documentation, Information storage and retrieval systems
Subjects
Academic libraries
Cataloging
Acquisition of art catalogs
Documentation
Information storage and retrieval systems

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This item contains the following parts:

TitleLocation & LinkType of Relationship
Figure 1. Randall Treasures MS Access database recordhttp://libres.uncg.edu/ir/uncw/f/benedettis2003-2.pdfThe described resource includes the related resource either physically or logically.
Figure 2. Online public catalog recordhttp://libres.uncg.edu/ir/uncw/f/benedettis2003-3.pdfThe described resource includes the related resource either physically or logically.
Figure 3. PastPerfect internal recordhttp://libres.uncg.edu/ir/uncw/f/benedettis2003-4.pdfThe described resource includes the related resource either physically or logically.
Figure 5. PastPerfect Web tour enlarged imagehttp://libres.uncg.edu/ir/uncw/f/benedettis2003-5.pdfThe described resource includes the related resource either physically or logically.
Figure 4. PastPerfect Web tour recordhttp://libres.uncg.edu/ir/uncw/f/benedettis2003-9.pdfThe described resource includes the related resource either physically or logically.
Figure 6. OCLC MARC record in CatMehttp://libres.uncg.edu/ir/uncw/f/benedettis2003-6.pdfThe described resource includes the related resource either physically or logically.
Figure 7. OCLC WorldCat recordhttp://libres.uncg.edu/ir/uncw/f/benedettis2003-7.pdfThe described resource includes the related resource either physically or logically.
List of captions for figureshttp://libres.uncg.edu/ir/uncw/f/benedettis2003-8.pdfThe described resource includes the related resource either physically or logically.