Subject Librarian: Mary Kandiuk
Programmes Supported
The Libraries' collections support undergraduate and graduate courses at the Masters level in Design. The undergraduate program is a four-year University degree delivered jointly by York University and Sheridan College with a curriculum that focuses upon the practicum areas of visual communication, information design, and interactive multimedia supported by design studies. The Master of Design program is a two-year, practice based program that investigates cultural, social, cognitive, and technological dimensions of communication design, information design, interaction design, motion graphics and design studies within the parameters of Visual Communication/Graphic Design.
Description of Current Collection
Materials of both research and instructional value are purchased to support the theory and history of design as well as professional practice in the areas of focus of the undergraduate and graduate programmes. Selected materials are generally classed under NC (Drawing and Illustration), NK (Decoration and Ornament - Design), Z (Printing and Typography), of the L.C. schedule. Divergent approaches to design are represented. While scholarly treatments are emphasized over more popular works, the value of all kinds and levels of publications for the study, teaching, and research in Design are recognized and acquired. The Libraries support undergraduate and graduate programmes in a broad range of disciplines and acquire materials in a wide range of subject areas. Related and visual source material is found throughout the collection.
Languages, Geographical and Chronological Coverage, and Date of Publication
Materials are primarily collected in English and French (for Canadian titles) although the importance of illustrations or graphic content alone sometimes mandates the purchase of an item, regardless of language. Materials where the primary purpose of the material is as a visual resource or where the visual content has value independent from the text are acquired. English-language materials are acquired from North America, Europe, Japan and occasionally from other countries. The emphasis is on the 20 th and 21 st centuries. Retrospective purchase are made in order to fill gaps and add depth to areas where needed and to support new areas of teaching and research. Older, out of print materials, particularly as they relate to typographic design and graphic design continue to be purchased when they serve our special strengths. The emphasis however is on current materials.
Gifts
Because the budget allows for limited duplication, and for almost no purchasing of luxury publications or limited edition portfolios, gifts can be an important source of acquisitions in these categories. Gifts that are not of use to the libraries can usually be sold to antiquarian book dealers or donated to the National Library of Canada.
Types of Materials
- Monographs - The collection includes both scholarly and trade monographs. All titles listed as prescribed or recommended reading for courses are routinely purchased. Electronic versions of texts are also provided where possible so that access is more readily available.
- Periodicals - The collection includes a core collection of scholarly and trade periodicals. Full-text periodicals are increasingly available through electronic databases.
- Theses & Dissertations - Aside from dissertations available through Proquest Digital Dissertations only Canadian theses and dissertations are acquired.
- Electronic Databases - Numerous electronic databases relating to art, architecture and design are available. Numerous multidisciplinary databases with value for design are also available.
- Multimedia - CD-ROMS are often included with monographs and periodicals and are located in the Sound and Moving Image Library.
- Special Collections - Rare books and periodicals are acquired when they relate to our areas of strength such as typographic design and graphic design.
- Films & Videos - Films and videos relating to Design are collected by the Film and Video Librarian and are located in the Sound and Moving Image Library.
- Exclusions - Collections of reproductions, illustrations, artist's files, and collections of original artists' works are not maintained. Textbooks are also excluded.
Resources Elsewhere in the Toronto Region
Students and faculty have access to several libraries in the Toronto area including the libraries at the Ontario College of Art and Design, Ryerson University , the University of Toronto , the Metro Toronto Reference Library, the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Royal Ontario Museum .
Last updated 2006