Making the vision work

Abstract

How has the vision of the pioneers of ARLIS translated into the activities and achievements of the Society and its members in the present? The relationship of ARLIS and the National Art Library at the Victoria and Albert Museum has radically improved; collaborative projects in the areas of periodicals, slides and exhibition catalogues have yielded fruits in the form of union lists, surveys and directories; the longstanding Directory of members has been joined by a new directory documenting art, design and architecture resources in the UK and Ireland. However, as the Follett Report shows, the demands on libraries in the UK are heavier than ever before and will continue to increase, meaning that libraries will have to find new strategies to keep abreast of demand and take advantage of the new technologies. ARLIS should broaden its membership and may be able to achieve some of its long-term goals through the Visual Arts Library and Information Plan.This article is a revised version of a paper delivered to the 25th Anniversary Conference of ARLIS/UK & Ireland, London, 7th-10th April 1994.