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Introduction
Subject Access to Art Images
The Language of Images
It Begins with the Cataloguer
Plates
The Image User and the Search for Images
Annoted List of Tools
Glossary
Selected Bibliography
Contributors
Illustration Credits
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Introduction to Art Image Access


Annotated List of Tools


Art & Architecture Thesaurus (AAT)

<http://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabularies/aat/>

A structured vocabulary that contains terminology and other information related to art, architecture, and related disciplines. Updated monthly.

Categories for the Description of Works of Art (CDWA)

<http://www.getty.edu/research/publications/electronic_publications/cdwa>

A metadata schema that describes a set of categories and recommendations that may be used to design information systems and to catalogue art, architecture, and related materials, including archaeological and archival materials.

Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names (TGN)

<http://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabularies/tgn>

A structured vocabulary that contains names and other information about geographic places; it is focused on, but not limited to, places important to art, architecture, and related disciplines. Updated monthly.

Graphic Materials

Betz, Elisabeth W., comp. Graphic Materials: Rules for Describing Original Items and Historical Collections . Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, 1982.

A set of rules for the descriptive cataloguing of prints, photographs, and other graphic materials. Does not include rules for subject cataloguing and classification. Compatible with the second edition of the Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules (AACR2), which is widely used in libraries for the descriptive cataloguing of books and other materials.

ICONCLASS

<http://www.iconclass.nl>

Waal, Henri van de. ICONCLASS: An Iconographic Classification System . 9 vols. in 17. Completed and edited by L. D. Couprie with R. H. Fuchs, E. Tholen, G.

Vellekoop, and others. Amsterdam: North-Holland, 1973-83.

Straten, Roelof van. Iconography, Indexing, ICONCLASS: A Handbook . Leiden: Foleor, 1994.

A classification system for iconographic research and documentation of images; ICONCLASS offers ready-made definitions for objects, persons, events, situations, and abstract ideas that can be represented in the visual arts. The system is organized in ten broad divisions within which subjects are ordered hierarchically.

Library of Congress's Name Authorities

Library of Congress. Name Authorities . Cumulative microform ed. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, Cataloging Distribution Service.

Library of Congress. Name Authorities . Database ed. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, Cataloging Distribution Service.

A controlled vocabulary consisting of records for names and series established by the Library of Congress and cooperating libraries under the National Coordinated Cataloging Operations (NACO) program. Available as a computer file or in microfiche through the Library of Congress; also made available in electronic form by various vendors. When made available separately, it is sometimes called Library of Congress Name Authority File (LCNAF); when made available in conjunction with Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH), it is sometimes called Library of Congress Authority File (LCAF).

Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH)

Library of Congress. Cataloging Policy and Support Office. Library of Congress Subject Headings . Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, Cataloging Distribution Service.

Library of Congress. Cataloging Policy and Support Office. Subject Cataloging Manual: Subject Headings . 5th ed. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, Cataloging Distribution Service, 1996.

A structured vocabulary designed to represent the subject and form of the books, serials, and other materials in the Library of Congress collections, with the purpose of providing subject access points to the bibliographic records contained in the Library of Congress catalogues. More broadly, LCSH is used as a tool for subject indexing of library catalogues and other materials (including visual materials). Available in print (annual) and microfiche (updated quarterly). Also available on line from various vendors and bibliographic utilities, and as part of the Library of Congress CD-ROM product Classification Plus.

Subject Index for the Visual Arts

Glass, Elizabeth, comp. A Subject Index for the Visual Arts . London: H. M. Stationery Office, 1969.

A structured vocabulary used for subject access to materials in the Print Room of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

Thesaurus for Graphic Materials (TGM)

Library of Congress. Prints and Photographs Division. Thesaurus for Graphic Materials. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, Cataloging Distribution Service, 1995.

Thesaurus for Graphic Materials I: Subject Terms. <http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/tgm1>.

Thesaurus for Graphic Materials II: Genre and Physical Characteristic Terms.
<http://lcweb.loc.gov/rr/print/tgm2>.

A structured vocabulary containing terms that describe both the subjects and the object/work types of graphic materials. First issued in print as two separate works, LC Thesaurus for Graphic Materials (1987) and Descriptive Terms for Graphic Materials (1986). The online version continues to be separated into two parts, one containing subject terms (TGM I) and one containing object/work type terms (TGM II).

Thesaurus Iconographique

Garnier, François. Thesaurus iconographique: Système descriptif des représentations. Paris: Léopard d'Or, 1984.

A structured vocabulary for the subjects of images. In French.

Union List of Artist Names (ULAN)

<http://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabularies/ulan>

A structured vocabulary containing names and other information for artists, architects, and other creators of art and architecture. Updated monthly.

VRA Core Categories

<http://www.vraweb.org/vracore3.htm>

A metadata schema for describing visual documents depicting works of art, architecture, and artifacts or structures from material, popular, and folk culture. Based on Categories for the Description of Works of Art .