British art librarianship today and tomorrow
The National Art Library (NAL) has moved from its former isolation, through the developments of the last decade, to its present position as a focus for and active player in the art library and information community of the UK. The NAL has worked with ARLIS on some of the major co-operative ventures currently preoccupying the art library field. However, there is still a need for further clarification of, and support for, subject specialist services in the national arena, not least the relationship with the British Library. The potential of the proposed Library Commission and Visual Arts Library and Information Plan is still to be realised. Art librarians must work with their users in formulating a more radical and visionary view of their objectives, as they face the challenges of the future.This article is a revised version of a paper delivered to the 25th Anniversary Conference of ARLIS/UK & Ireland, London, 7th-10th April 1994.