Frequently Asked Questions

Why are some art books non-circulating?
Why can't I find art books and journals?
Why can't I eat or drink in the Art Collection?
How can I request books the Art Collection doesn't own?
The book I want is listed in NUcat as "received," but it has no call number. How do I find it?
Who can reserve a study carrel in the Art Research Center?
Where can I find or make slides of art works and buildings?
Why are the Art Collection's hours limited?
How can I learn more about art research?
How can I find information on a specific artist?
How can I find a specific image in the Art Collection?
How can I purchase a reproduction of a specific art work?
What sources do you recommend for acquiring art and architecture books?
Why can't the Art Collection subscribe to every new journal that researchers are interested in?
How can I determine the value of an art work?
Where can I find videos on art and artists?
How can I do research at the Ryerson & Burnham Libraries at the Art Institute of Chicago?


Why are some art books non-circulating?

Certain types of items in the art collection have non-circulating status to preserve them and to keep them available for use in the reading rooms by any patron of the library. These include serials (journals and periodicals), multi-volume sets and catalogues raisonnés (catalogues of an artist’s entire body of work), reference books (marked ART REF), folio-sized books (these are 35 cm and larger and marked F before the call number), large photography books (call numbers L770-L779), and books that are very fragile or published before 1930.

Art books are often difficult and expensive to replace; original art journals are mostly irreplaceable. Art books go out of print quickly, usually within one year, and their value inflates as soon as they are out of print. Circulation significantly adds to the risk of damage and loss.

For more details, read the Art Collection Circulation Policy or pick up a brochure in the reading room.

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Why can't I find art books and journals?

Good question. Those who work in Art are as frustrated as you are when you (and we) can't locate material on the shelf. There may be several explanations.

First, art books are classified and shelved according to size into one of three sequences: Regular, Large, and Folio. Sometimes books are mistakenly shelved in the wrong size sequence. See Locations and Call Numbers for more information.

Books on art may be held in several locations, including Art Reference, Main Reference, Main Core, Africana, Reserve, and Special Collections. Books may also be charged to study carrels. If you encounter an unfamiliar location on NUcat, please ask for help.

We also request your cooperation, patience, and assistance. Please return books used in the Reading Room to the front table instead of reshelving them or leaving them in the stacks, on tables, or on the floor. When you can't locate an item, ask for assistance at the Desk to submit a "Missing Art Books" form. If you fill out the form, we'll check for the book several times and notify you when it's found. If it can't be found, we'll order a replacement copy.

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Why can't I eat or drink in the Art Collection?

It's bad for books, which can be seriously damaged by spills and stains, and Art materials are often very difficult to replace. Crumbs in a library are a welcome mat for vermin of various disgusting species. Please eat only in the Plaza Cafe or the student lounge.

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How can I request books the Art Collection doesn't own?

Please help us build the collection by alerting faculty members or the Art Collection staff about important research titles we lack. Please provide as much information as possible. Northwestern University Library Order Suggestion forms are available at the Art Desk and online. On the form, let us know if you'd like to be notified when the item is ready for use.
If you need the item immediately, please request it through Interlibrary Loan.

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The book I want is listed in NUcat as "received," but it has no call number. How do I find it?

Complete the Request Uncatalogued Materials form, available on the Circulation homepage.

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Who can reserve a study carrel in the Art Research Center?

Art study carrels are assigned to Northwestern University faculty and graduate students. Carrel space is limited, and we regret not being able to accommodate everyone who asks. Graduate students, especially those writing dissertations over the course of several years, simply cannot do without assigned carrel space.

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Where can I find or make slides or digital scans of art works and buildings?

Contact the Visual Media Collection for borrowing, slide-making, and purchasing information. A scanning station is available in the Art Collection.

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Why are the Art Collection's hours limited?

During the regular academic year, the Art Collection's reading rooms are open 80 hours per week, including evening hours until 10 pm five nights per week. Art relies heavily on student assistants to be open this many hours.

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How can I learn more about art research?

First, consult the Art Collection homepage and Research in Print and Online to learn how to more effectively search NUcat, the library's online catalogue, and how to use online art databases. For more NUcat help, click to go to the library's NUcat instruction page.
Next, hit the books: Lois Swan Jones has written two recommended art research guides entitled Art Information and the Internet (Art Reference/025.067 J77a and Main Reference/025.067 J77a) and Art Information: Research Methods and Resources (Art Reference/L707.2 J77a 1990). Art Information and the Internet is also available online Northwestern Community Only (Restricted Access Resource). Individual and group instruction may be arranged with the Head of the Art Collection, who is available for assistance on a daily basis.

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How can I find information on a specific artist?

First, check NUcat, the Library's online catalogue. Enter the name of the artist as a subject heading, author, or keyword search. You may find it necessary to perform all three searches for any one artist. Second, consult printed art encyclopedias and biographical dictionaries located in Art and in Main Reference.
To find articles about an artist, check art databases such as Art Abstracts, Art Index Retrospective, BHA, and ARTbibliographies Modern. Enter the name of the artist as both a subject and a keyword search. These databases are accessible in various ways. From the library's homepage, click on "Electronic Resources" and then pull down "Art and Art History," or search articles and databases by title in the search box. To search multiple databases at once, use the CrossSearch feature in Einstein and select "Art and Architecture," then choose the databases to include in your search.

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How can I find a specific image in the Art Collection?

If you know the name of the artist who created the art work, follow the steps outlined above for locating information on a specific artist. If you locate books or articles about the artist, you can then check to see if the art work that you are interested in is illustrated or discussed in these sources.

For online image databases, check out ARTstor Northwestern Community Only (Restricted Access Resource) and other recommended sites on the Art Collection Resources Online page.

Another method is to check World Painting Index (Art Reference/750.16 H388w and supplements). This index references reproductions found in over 1,700 books. You may search the index by title of the painting or by the name of the artist. If you find a citation of interest, check NUcat to learn if we own the book cited and to find its call number.

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How can I purchase a reproduction of a specific art work?

Art museums' shops often sell reproductions of works in their and other museum collections. If you know which museum owns the original work of art in which you're interested, contact that museum to learn if you can purchase a reproduction. You can also consult commercial websites which sell reproductions from a variety of publishers' catalogues.

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What sources do you recommend for acquiring art and architecture books?

Beyond Evanston and Chicagoland bookstores, commercial sites on the Internet often provide good coverage. Among others, try Abbeville Press, AIA Bookstore, Ars Libri, Books for Arts, Guild.com, Hacker Art Books, and Ursus Art Books.

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Why can't the Art Collection subscribe to every new journal that researchers are interested in?

Unlike books, a new journal title represents an ongoing commitment. Northwestern University Library's journals budget does not grow annually to permit routine subscriptions to new titles. Given our commitment to building exemplary research collections, we are always hesitant to cancel existing subscriptions to free up funds for new ones. This philosophy holds even when interest in or curricular demand for a particular journal may be low. If we responded to vacillations in interest and curriculum by canceling journal subscriptions accordingly, we would soon have a haphazard and incomplete collection of journal "runs" which is ultimately self-defeating. As funds are available, Art will judiciously subscribe to new titles as well as fill in gaps in existing runs. We give particular consideration to user requests. Please discuss your needs with the Head of the Art Collection.

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How can I determine the value of an art work?

The Art Collection does not appraise or identify works of art. For this service, you should contract with a certified art appraiser, located in the Yellow Pages of the telephone directory under "Appraisers." We have a very limited number of sources to investigate prices of major art works sold at auction and recommend that you begin with Mayer (formerly International Auction Records), which is housed in Special Collections (708 I595), and Sotheby's Art at Auction (L708.2 A784), housed in the Art Collection. Each annual volume indexes art works sold at auction during the previous calendar year.

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Where can I find videos on art and artists?

Art and architecture videos and films are catalogued in NUcat and available for viewing in the Main Library's Mitchell Multimedia Center. Please refer to the Center's printed Guide to the Art & Architecture Video Collection.

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How can I do research at the Ryerson & Burnham Libraries at the Art Institute of Chicago?

Chicago-area students, staff and faculty are eligible to use the Ryerson & Burnham Libraries, a closed stack, non-circulating research collection located within the Art Institute of Chicago. Please review the Libraries' access policies for more information.

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Last reviewed: August 28, 2007