Opportunities for specialized education for art librarians and visual resource (VR) professionals are more prevalent in the United States today than in past years. In 1995 the Art Libraries Society/North America (ARLIS/NA) published staffing standards for art librarians that address educational qualifications for art librarians and VR professionals in the United States and Canada. In addition, the Joint Task Force on Professional Issues recently published "Criteria for the Hiring and Retention of Visual Resources Professionals," which addresses and recommends educational preparation for careers in this field.
Beyond having a formal, advanced education in librarianship, being knowledgeable about the principles and practices of the field, and having training in the visual arts, art librarians and VR professionals are expected to be proficient in administration, strategic planning, electronic technologies, preservation, conservation, and other pertinent aspects of collection management. In an age of rapid technological advancements and therefore rapid technological obsolescence, even recent academic degrees quickly become outdated or inadequate. Further, many art librarians practicing today attended library school before automation of collections and electronic access were standard elements in the curriculum. Maintaining an up-to-date awareness of emerging technologies, management techniques, preservation of materials, and other topics is of utmost importance and is achieved through a growing number of continuing education opportunities in the U.S. professional societies such as ARLIS/NA and the Visual Resources Association (VRA), which cater to the needs of art information professionals, have taken a significant leadership role in providing continuing education to their members. These professional societies, as well as professional literature, specialized workshops, and electronic bulletin boards play an important role in providing continuing education opportunities for American art information professionals. This article provides an overview of the current status of continuing education for art information professionals in the U.S. and describes a number of specific opportunities currently available.
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