The Art Librarian Wears Many Hats

Abstract

In the twenty-first century, art librarians wear many hats: they are collectors, curators, hardware specialists, programmers, researchers, social media managers, social workers, teachers, technology experts, and writers. As collection and staff budgets dwindle, the skill set of art librarians is rapidly expanding. New tools are needed to keep up with the field as it moves away from traditional priorities—subject knowledge, foreign language proficiency, and professional tasks such as cataloging, indexing, abstracting, and collecting—and toward new ways of connecting with patrons and communities. This article examines the current skills needed by art librarians, with an emphasis on academic librarianship, and offers insights for individuals pursuing careers in art librarianship.