Books
Most of the 60,000 books in the library are located in the Main Stacks (Circulating Books). Reference books, which contain concise, thorough information on a variety of subjects include: encyclopedias, dictionaries, handbooks, almanacs, bibliographies, and atlases.
Reserve Collection
Books on reserve are those assigned by instructors. Reserve books are kept at the circulation desk and must be requested by call number. Reserve photocopies are assigned readings that have been photocopied from books and other sources. Reserve books and photocopies must be used in the library.
DVD/Video
Now numbering over 2000 videos, the DVD/Video collection contains experimental and feature films, animation videos, documentaries about artists, filmed musical and theater performances, demonstrations of artistic techniques and examples of performance and video art. Circulating DVD/Viideos may be checked out of the library. Non-circulating DVD/Videos may only be viewed in the library. Viewing stations are available.
Audio CDs and Books on Tape
All CDs, cassettes and reserve LP records are kept at the circulation desk. Of the audio materials, only books on tape may be checked out of the library.
Exhibition Catalogs
The exhibition catalog collection consists of more than 2,000 exhibition catalogs, artists’ books, pamphlets and other specialized publications relating to the visual arts. This collection is an invaluable resource for researching contemporary and emerging artists about whom there is little or no other written or visual information available. It can also provide additional and alternative information about well-known, well-documented artists. Most exhibition catalogs may be borrowed from the library.
Comics
This collection of more than 1,600 comic books contains DC Comics, and an expanding collection of underground comics, foreign comics and graphic novels. Graphic novels are also found in the circulating book collection and can be searched in VISION.
Film Scripts
The library maintains a collection of over 700 film scripts, ranging from such classics as Rear Window and The Searchers to more recent films like Blue Velvet ,Short Cuts and Quiz Show . Film Scripts may be taken out of the Library.
Periodicals (Magazines and Newspapers)
The Visual Arts Library’s outstanding selection of periodicals , including both standards ( Art in America ,Print , etc.) and more specialized and unusual titles ( Eye ,Leonardo , etc.), provides regional, national and international coverage of all fields of art. The library also subscribes to many general-interest periodicals such as Entertainment Weekly ,New York ,Spin ,Sports Illustrated ,Time ,Vibe and Vogue , as well as The New York Times ,The Wall Street Journal and The Village Voice .
Rare Book Collection
This collection of rare, signed and out of print materials includes many important art and design book as well as artists' books. See the policy for more information on viewing these materials.
Link to policy
Alumni Collection
The Visual Arts Library is proud to have a growing collection of books illustrated and/or written by SVA alumni. This collection exemplifies the caliber of work done by SVA alumni in all fields and will be of special interest to those in the Illustration Department. These books are kept behind the circulation desk and may not be taken out of the library. The Visual Arts Library appreciates, and welcomes, all donations by alumni.
Thesis Collection
The library houses a selection of master’s theses from the Fine Arts, Photography and Computer Art departments. Theses may not be taken out of the library (for exceptions see the Policy section).
The Picture Collection contains more than 100,000 images clipped from magazines and other sources and filed alphabetically according to subject. Up to 50 pictures (10 per subject) may be checked out of the library.
Artists' Works File is a vertical file collection of reproductions of works by more than 300 artists.
Please be aware that pictures in the collection are for educational purposes only. The Visual Arts Library does not hold copyright permissions for any of the pictures; therefore they may not be used commercially.
The Visual Resource Center houses The Slide Library approximately 165,000 35mm transparencies as well as a growing collection of digital images. The Artist/Site Guide, a complete list of all the artists included in the slide library, is available both at the circulation desk and in the slide library. Please be aware that the slide library functions independently of the main library in terms of circulation and procedure. Before using the slide library, faculty and students should introduce themselves to the curator or assistant curator, who will explain the procedure for borrowing slides. The slide library is open to students weekdays between 3:00pm and 5:00pm.
Digital Image Databases (log in procedures)
Link to Visual Resource Center Policy.
