National Art Library

The National Art Library (NAL) is a major reference library, situated in the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), a museum of decorative arts in London. Being a reference library, the NAL does not circulate its materials—all items must be accessed and consulted within the library. It is freely accessible to the public from Tuesday to Saturday, and specialises in material about fine and decorative arts of many countries and eras. The NAL also contains substantial sources for information about artists. In the past, the NAL operated a restrictive admissions policy and was known as a library of last resort, but that has since changed, and today, all—from students to those with a curiosity about the arts—are welcome to use the library and its collections.[1]

The first room of the library, from the entrance

The NAL is located on the first floor of the museum, overlooking the John Madejski Garden. The library's subject coverage includes those central to the work of the V&A and its collections, including prints, drawings, and paintings; furniture and woodwork; textiles, dress and fashion; ceramics and glass; metalwork; sculpture; and art and design of the Far East, India and South East Asia. The library also functions as the V&A's curatorial department for the art, craft, and design of the book; to that end, the NAL maintains a collection of artists' books.

Collection highlights
The library's unique manuscript of Li tre libri dell'arte del vasajo by Cipriano Piccolpasso (c. 1547), "widely accepted as the first comprehensive account of the manufacture of any kind of pottery ever produced in Europe".[2]

The main strength of the NAL lies in the range and depth of its documentary material on the fine and decorative arts. The library's collections focus on the following areas:

Artists' books

The NAL artists' book collection is one of its greatest strengths, and includes the first artists' book Ambroise Vollard ever published.[3] The collection also contains books created by artists such as Sol Lewitt, Ed Ruscha, Édouard Manet, and David Hockney. Former Chief Librarian Jan van der Wateren joined the NAL in 1988, bringing with him a deep interest and passion for artists' books. The NAL collection was among his favorite areas of focus, and during his tenure, not only did the artists' book collection grow, but the library began collecting artist ephemera and information pertaining to artists and their book art.[3] These valuable additions to the NAL collection mean that even if the library doesn't own a book crafted by a particular artist, it can still point patrons toward valuable and unique information and/or objects.

To accompany the NAL's artists' book holdings, the V&A has an abridged Artists' Book Visual Database. This valuable online resource allows any patron to view a portion of the NAL's artists' books, which they otherwise wouldn't see: Due to the books' rare nature the artists' book collection is physically handled only by NAL staff and is available for patron perusal only by request.

The NAL's collection also includes:

Visitor access

Getting a library card

A National Art Library card is needed to place requests for library materials and access study rooms at the V&A. To get a library card, users must create an NAL account, which can be done online or in person at the Library.

Accessibility for patrons with disabilities

The National Art Library offers the following services for patrons with disabilities:

  • Materials delivery options
  • Text magnification technology
  • Advance book ordering
  • Hearing induction loops for the hearing impaired
  • Accessible restrooms on all levels of the V&A
  • Copying services
  • Seeing-eye dogs welcomed

In addition to the above, accessible parking and entry is available at the V&A, in which the NAL is housed. The V&A continues to improve accessibility on its premises, though until these improvements are fully completed, wheelchair-bound patrons will find themselves having to use alternative entrances to the building. Due to the historic nature of the buildings in which the study rooms are housed (some of the V&A study rooms are not inside the South Kensington V&A building), accessibility to them is more variable. However, wheelchair access is available to the Prints & Drawings Study Room, which is housed in the V&A. The museum's digital map offers further information.

Patron Services

The NAL is a reference library, meaning that readers may not check out materials. Rather, readers may view materials in one of the library's public reading rooms. Some reference books are out on open shelves and can be perused by patrons, but otherwise, materials have to be requested via staff at the counter. However, the library's catalogue is available on the web, and materials can be requested in advance of a visit.

References
  1. Lambert, Susan (4 January 2002). "The National Art Library Repositioned". Art Libraries Journal. 27: 5–11 – via Library Literature & Information Science Full Text (H.W. Wilson).
  2. Wharton, Stephen, "Ordinary Pots: The Inventory of Francesco di Luca, Orciolaio, and Cipriano Piccolpasso’s Three Books of the Art of the Potter", Ch. 8 in Everyday Objects: Medieval and Early Modern Material Culture and Its Meanings, eds. Tara Hamling, Catherine Richardson, p. 119 quoted, 2010, Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., ISBN 0754666379, ISBN 9780754666370, google books; "Piccolpasso's treatise on maiolica", Victoria and Albert Museum (includes link to PDF on the manuscript)
  3. Farmer, Jennie (2007). "Artists' books in the National Art Library, Victoria and Albert Museum". Art Libraries Journal. 32: 27–31 – via Library Literature & Information Science Full Text (H.W. Wilson).

Sources

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