A study of the perceptions and attitudes of staff and users in academic fine arts slide libraries.

Abstract

Data were gathered from the curators, staff and users of 34 academic fine arts slide libraries in the 48 contiguous United States. Staffing patterns, collection size, sUbject specialties, services offered and user needs were investigated. The staff and user responses were studied to test the hypothesis that perceptions and attitudes held by these two respondent populations differ concerning the purpose of the fine arts slide collection, the services that are or should be provided, and the ways in which users approach the accessing of visual images for use. Suggestions are made for the improvement of academic fine arts slide library functioning and to increase the success rate of service to users. An assessment of user needs, along with the establishment of an information transfer based system of communication between curators and his/her users will develop the already excellent services provided by academic art slide collections in the United States.