You are here:

Guidelines for Crafts

1. Purpose
2. General Collection Guidelines
    A. Language
    B. Chronology
    C. Geography
    D. Publication Date
    E. Treatment of Subject
    F. Types of Materials and Formats
3. Area Resources
4. Subjects and Collecting Levels
5. Methodology

1. Purpose.

To support research and teaching through the Master's level. Degrees awarded by the School of the Arts in Crafts include the Bachelor of Fine Arts and the Master of Fine Arts. The primary goal of the program is to provide the students with a foundation in techniques and creative concepts that will allow them to develop an individual artistic expression in the particular area of the discipline that they choose.

The Crafts Department offers opportunities for study and research in the following areas: at the Bachelor's level-ceramics, woodworking and furniture design, glassworking, metalsmithing/jewelry and fiberwork/fabric design; at the Master's level-ceramics, fibers, furniture design, glassworking, and jewelry/metalworking. The emphasis is on studio work and the expression of mature concepts in the chosen medium.

2. General Collection Guidelines.

A. Language.
Preference is given to English-language texts, especially for any discussion of technique. Where the principal value of the material lies in its illustrations, there are no restrictions on the language of the text.

B. Chronology.
No limitations.

C. Geography.
No limitations.

D. Publication Date.
No limitations.

E. Treatment of Subject.
Material providing historical, technical, or critical information on the disciplines are collected. Popularized, lower level "how to" books are not acquired.

F. Types of Materials and Formats.
Monographs and reference works, particularly dictionaries and encyclopedias, are collected, as are seminal serial titles (e.g. CRAFT HORIZONS). With regard to retrospective material, hard copy is preferred where color illustrations are of importance. Primary sources on film or fiche (e.g. INDEX OF AMERICAN DESIGN) are acquired, funds permitting. "How to" materials of a more sophisticated technical nature are also collected.

Electronic information resources (CD-ROMs, online resources, etc.) may also be acquired on a selective basis.

3. Area Resources.

Principal resources in the area are the School of the Arts Library with its large collection of slides, the Virginia Museum Library, and the Richmond Public Library.

4. Subjects and Collecting Levels.

Subject	Call Number Range	Present	Desired
Ceramics	NK3700-4695	C2	C1
Metalwork, Jewelry	TT205-267; NK6400-8459	C2	C1
Furniture Design	TT180-200	C2	C1
Glassworking	NK5100-5440	C2	C1
Textiles including: dyeing,	NK8800-9505; TP890-933;	C2	C1
printing, needlework	TT697-910
Arts and Crafts History & Movement	NK600-1133; NK1135-1149	C2	C1

5. Methodology.

Primary sources for assessment:

Books for College Libraries, 3rd ed., vol. 1. (Chicago: ALA, 1988).

Strong, Susan R. History of American Ceramics: an Annotated Bibliography. (Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1983).