The development, management and preservation of art and architectural microform collections

Abstract

Anticipated educational changes and their effects on libraries include increased emphasis upon independent study and consideration of economic priorities. These changes taking place in the eighties will force the issue of cost effective information systems for teaching and research. Economical advantages of the microformat include: compact storage, lower operational costs and economical text or image transfer onto paper or videodisc. Without overcoming the following impediments, however, microforms will not reach their full and remarkable potential as a research tool in the art and architectural reference library, 1) Lack of a systems approach, especially regarding technical standards; 2) Insufficient education of micrographics specialists, and; 3) Inadequate legal and copyright procedures.This paper addresses the lack of a systems approach in the body of this paper and provides specific recommendations for establishment and maintenance of art and architectural microform collections with emphasis placed upon three key issues: оDevelopment–selection of art and architectural microform software programs and the technology appropriate for their viewing, projecting and copyingоManagement–administration of a microforms collection including staffing patterns and bibliographic instruction–bibliographic control methods and projects–circulationоPreservation–facilities planning covering the issues of centralisation versus decentralisation and environmental factorsThe use of microforms represents a critical link in the information transfer chain in art and architectural libraries. Promotional attitudes on the part of librarians as well as technical standards generated from the profession insures the success of a microform collection development program utilising the systems approach.This paper was originally delivered to the section of Art Libraries at the 1983 IFLA Council.