Library Collections

Circulating Books

The circulation books can be checked out of the library for 2 weeks, with one 2-week renewal allowed. You can renew your books at the circulation desk, on the library website, or by calling the library at 415-618-3842. Overdue fines for circulation books are 25 cents per day. Books are organized alphabetically by call number. Using a computer, you can search the library’s online catalog (on the library website) for books on your topic, and find their call numbers and locations. If you cannot find the book you are looking for, please ask for assistance at the circulation desk. We may be able to locate the book for you. Please do not reshelve books when you are browsing - place them on a book cart or table instead.

Reference Books

The reference books can only be used inside the library. Books are organized alphabetically by call number. Using a computer, you can search the library’s online catalog (on the library website) for books on your topic, and find their call numbers and locations. If you cannot find the book you are looking for, please ask for assistance at the circulation desk. We may be able to locate the book for you. Please do not reshelve books when you are browsing - place them on a book cart or table instead.

Desk Reference

Desk reference materials are similar to books in the reference section, as they can only be used in the library, but they are kept behind the circulation desk. These materials are generally rare or unusual in some way. Bring your student ID card to the circulation desk in order to use desk reference materials.

Course Reserves

Required textbooks for many classes are available for use in the library. Inquire at the circulation desk or visit the “course reserve” page on the library website to see items your instructor may have on reserve for your class.

Magazines

The Library’s magazine collection contains over 300 current subscriptions. Magazines can only be used inside the library, and cannot be checked out. You can view the complete list of magazines, or view the magazines by department/major, on the Library website. The most current magazine issues are located on display shelving and are organized in alphabetical order. Back issues of magazines are kept in bound book volumes and are organized in alphabetical order on shelving adjacent to the current issues display.

Exhibition Catalogs

An Exhibition catalog is a printed publication that documents an art exhibit from a museum or gallery. Our collection spans most of the 20th century and the 21st century.

National Geographic

The collection of National Geographic magazines that are located in the Special Collections area of the library are the only magazines that can be checked out of the library. The collection spans the years between 1923 and 2003.

MFA Thesis Projects

The Slide/Video Desk, located in the quiet study area, is where you go to check out movies (DVD & VHS), slides, and MFA thesis projects. (An MFA thesis is a project that a graduate student must complete before graduating.) You will not be able to browse these materials on the shelves, so use a computer to access the Library website and search for movies and MFA projects. MFA thesis projects can be viewed in the Library only.

Company Annual Reports

These materials can only be used in the library, and they are located in filing cabinets in the quiet study area of the Library. Annual reports contain a variety of information about different companies.

Faculty Development Books

The Faculty Development books are a collection of teaching reference resources that are geared towards faculty members. Faculty can check these books out of the library for 2 weeks, and students can use the books in the library only.

Auction Catalogs

Auction Catalogs are from Sotheby's and Christie's. They contain images of decorative arts, furniture, paintings, and more. They can be checked out of the library for 2 weeks.

Screenplays

The screenplay collection is located along the back wall of the Library. They can be checked out of the Library for 2 weeks.

Fashion Files

These materials can only be used in the library, and they are located in filing cabinets in the quiet study area of the Library. Fashion files contain images, press kits, and look books from designers and runway shows.

Videos

The Slide/Video Desk, located in the quiet study area, is where you go to check out movies (DVD & VHS), slides, and MFA thesis projects. You will not be able to browse these materials on the shelves, so use a computer to access the Library website and search for movies and MFA projects. Movies can be checked out of the Library for one day, but remember to return the movie the next day to avoid the $3.00 per day overdue fines for movies. Students have access to televisions, DVD players, VHS players, remote contols, and headphones to watch videos in the Library. If a video is on course reserve, it cannot be checked out of the Library, but it can be viewed at these viewing stations. The Theater Room seats 15-20 people and can be reserved for watching movies. Ask at the Circulation Desk about availability and scheduling.

Online Article & Reference Databases

The library website offers access to full-text magazine articles and reference databases. These resources can also be accessed outside of the library by entering your name as the username and your student ID number as the password, when prompted.

Online Image Collections

The library website offers access to high-resolution digital images collections. These resources can also be accessed outside of the library by entering your name as the username and your student ID number as the password, when prompted. Images can be viewed, downloaded, and manipulated in Photoshop or another image editor.

Online Course CDs

Online course CDs provide supplementary information for Academy of Art University courses. Students must be currently enrolled in the course in order to check out the course CDs. They can be checked out of the library for 1 week, with one 1-week renewal allowed. You can search for course CDs in the online library catalog, and they are located at the circulation desk.

Picture Files

The picture files contain a wide variety of printed images, organized into categories, and stored in file folders in file cabinets. Use the binder above the cabinets or the online library catalog to search for images on your topic. You can scan them, copy them, or check them out of the library (2 week checkout, with one 2-week renewal allowed – overdue fine is 25 cents per day).

Slides

The slide library collection has been shaped by the needs of the various departments of the Academy. As a result we have over 112,000 slides in 100 different categories that support the lectures and presentations of the instructors and the students. Slides are mainly housed in cabinets, which combine slide trays with light tables facilitating selection, and in some cases presenting the wide chronological view of artists' work. Slides are arranged by media: painting, sculpture, architecture, etc. and then by period. There are also slides that relate to specific art history texts for use by instructors only. Slides are checked out to instructors for one week and can be renewed. The limit of the slides is 160, enough for 2 carousels. Slides are checked out to students for 2 days and the limit is 10 slides.

Digital Stock Images, Sound Effects, Motion Clips on CD-ROM

The library offers stock photography, sound effects, and motion clips on CD-ROM. Lists of these resources can be found in ringed binders in the reference section of the library, or you can search for them in the library catalog online. The CD-ROMs are available at the circulation desk. Three CDs can be checked out at once, and they are due back at closing time (overdue fine is $1 per day).