A report on the Second International Conference on the Automatic Processing of Art History Data and Documents, held in Pisa in September 1984, which identifies some of the major themes and projects represented at this meeting of art historians, librarians, bibliographers and curators.

The history of the development of art libraries in the FDR is outlined, and their problems and unique characteristics analysed Matters such as co-operation, networks and the impact of information technology are dealt with. Particular attention is given to the Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Kunstbibliotheken, established in 1964.

This paper was originally delivered to the Section of Art Libraries at the 1983 IFLA Council.

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:

• о Development

  • – selection of art and architectural microform software programs and the technology appropriate for their viewing, projecting and copying

• о Management

  • – administration of a microforms collection including staffing patterns and bibliographic instruction

  • – bibliographic control methods and projects

  • – circulation

• о Preservation

  • – facilities planning covering the issues of centralisation versus decentralisation and environmental factors

The 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.

The Centre de Création Industrielle of the Centre Georges Pompidou has created and made accessible a bibliographic research tool covering the fields of design, architecture and other elements of the everyday environment in the form of a database, CéCILE, which may be accessed through Telesystemes-Questel.

The article describes the background and setting-up of the database, along with details of its scope, and the structure of its entries and information retrieval elements.

This paper was originally delivered to the Section of Art Libraries at the 1983 IFLA Council. The English summary is abstracted from the translation by Ian Sheridan.

Falmouth School of Art Library converted to computer generated cataloguing in 1979, using BLAISE through Cornwall County Library. This article describes the procedures involved, some problems and solutions. The Broxis classification for the arts, already employed by Falmouth, proved very adaptable to the computerised system.

The problems of tracing and acquiring exhibition catalogues are described and some practical solutions suggested. Further areas requiring action are identified. This article is a revised version of a paper delivered to the 1984 ARLIS/UK Conference in Oxford.