AFA LIBRARY
COLLECTIONS

INTRODUCTION Top of Page
 
--- The collections of the Architecture and Fine Arts Library primarily support academic programs associated with the College of Design, Construction, and Planning, and the School of Art and Art History.   AFA Library holds the largest collection of visual arts and architecture holdings in Florida and is among the top collections in the Southeast.

In addition to AFA's over 115,000 bound volumes, the library houses over 1000 videotape titles; 1,400 architectural drawings and photographs; 20,000 microform units; and 6,000 art/architecture postcards. The Library holds about 2,700 periodical titles including approximately 450 current subscriptions. AFA's special collections consist of approximately 2,800 titles, and over 1,000 historic preservation documents and projects created by the College of Design, Construction & Planning.

Support for art and building programs is also provided by other UF Library collections.  The Marston Science Library (MSL) holds important resources and reference tools relevant to building technologies, engineering, geography, and the environment. The Map & Imagery Library, located in MSL, is heavily used by architecture, planning, and constgruction researchers.   Also located in MSL is the Government Documents Department, which holds a vast collection of resources especially pertinent to research in architecture, planning, and construction. Housed here is a large collection of documents dealing with Florida's comprehensive planning efforts.The Legal Information Center has holdings in growth management, codes, and other planning resources.  The Latin American Collection has significant holdings in Latin American art and architecture.  Materials relevant to archaeology, classical studies, planning, aesthetics, etc., will be found in Library West, location of most humanities and social sciences materials.

The Library's collections are developed by bibliographers who work in consultation with faculty to develop specific subject areas. Recommendations about what to add to the library collections are welcomed from all library users. Suggest titles to Ann Lindell or Tom Caswell.

OPEN STACKS  Top of Page
 
--- Most of AFA Library's collections are shelved in the open stacks on the first and second floors. The first floor open stack area holds call numbers A - NA (Library of Congress) classification. The second floor open stacks hold the Dewey Decimal classified items (000-999) and the  Library of Congress classified materials NB -- Z.
Located on both floors of the library are orange shelves designated as 'To Be Shelved' areas. This is where books awaiting shelving go. They are arranged in call number areas to make finding books easier.



SPECIAL AREAS OF THE AFA LIBRARY  Top of Page
 
--- Periodicals
Periodicals and serials  (journals, magazines, newsletters, etc.) are located in the following locations in AFA Library:
  • Unbound periodicals. Periodicals which are currently received but not yet bound are largely located at the Circulation Desk unless they are among the 180 titles (out of 600) whose most recent issue is put on the Display shelves in the Reading Room. A valid Gator1 i.d. is required to check out these issues. The "Current Issues" statement on the Catalog record for an AFA periodical indicates what issues are kept at the Circulation Desk.
  • Bound periodicals. When a periodical is bound, it goes to the Open Stacks and is intershelved by call number with books. The "Library has" statement on the LUIS record for an AFA periodical indicates what bound volumes are in the stacks.
  • Other formats.  Check the Catalog record to see if the periodical is also available in another format, such as microform, disk, or internet accessible.
- Reference Section (1st Floor).   Top of Page
The Reference Collection of AFA Library exists physically in the Reference Section as well as 'virtually' by way of library workstations which access electronic resources.
  • The Reference Section. This area holds about 2,000 titles consisting of dictionaries and encyclopedias, indexes, selected handbooks and manuals, directories, codes and standards, and other sources of value to architectural, construction, and visual arts researchers. Most bibliographies are housed in the stacks.
  • There are numerous handouts and guides available which describe AFA's reference sources and resources throughout the library system. Many are located in the Reference area and at the Service Desk; some are available on the web as PDF files.
  • Electronic Formats

  • More and more reference sources are becoming available in electronic format, either as networked databases, cd-roms, internet resources.
    • The Library website also enables access to approximately over 100 databases.  Many are  important for AFA's clientele: the Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals, Art Index, BHA: Bibliography of the History of Art, the Engineering Index, and the Business Index among them.
    • AFA's cd-rom titles, Sweet's Catalog, Architectural Graphics Standards, and the National Fire Codes.
    • Art and architectural reference resources available by way of the World Wide Web are numerous. This web site's Subject Guides identifies some of the most important internet resources.
- -
- Oversize Section (2nd Floor)  Top of Page
    The Oversize Section holds approximately 1,800 volumes too large to fit on regular shelving. These volumes include books and periodicals in both Library of Congress and Dewey Decimal classifications.
- Special Collections (Circulation Desk)  Top of Page
    Enclosed in a secure area of the first floor is a large collection of books and periodicals and other special materials whose format or cost requires special attention.  In Smathers Libraries, Special Collections department, are house approximately 2,500 rare art and architecture  titles including  imprints dating from the 16th century as well as more contemporary treasures such as as first edition of Frank Lloyd Wright's 'Wasmuth portfolio'.
- Drawings and Photographs (1st and 2nd Floors)  Top of Page
    AFA Library holds several thousand drawings and photographs. Prominent among these is the Historic American Building Survey (HABS) collection of about 1,400 drawings and photographs. Most of these drawings and photos are located in office areas on the Library's main floor and require staff and assistance for use. Another set of drawings is on the second floor. The Library also holds about 6,000 postcards dealing with art and architectural subjects.
- Theses and Projects (Open Stacks, 1st and 2nd Floors) Top of Page
    Dissertations, theses, and selected projects in lieu of thesis created by students in the departments of Architecture, Art, Building Construction, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, and Urban and Regional Planning are located in AFA Library. They can be identified by searchig the library catalog  and are shelved by call number in the open stacks.
- Videorecordings, CD-ROMs, Nonbook Formats (Circulation Desk) Top of Page
    AFA  holds over 1000 cataloged videotape titles, laserdisc recordings, and a growing number of cd-rom titles. These are shelved at the Service  Desk and a valid Gator1 card is required to retrieve them.   The Library also many uncataloged videotapes of talks by visiting lecturers.  Consult desk staff for a list of these holdings.
- Microform Collections  Top of Page
Numerous microform holdings include collections such as the National Register of Historic Places, the Historic American Buildings Survey, the Furniture Library Collection, and the History of Photography Collection of Books and Periodicals. AFA's microform collection is housed in cabinets between the double-decker carrels in the Reading Room. Ask staff for assistance in retrieving what is desired.

 

University of Florida | UF Libraries
© 1999-2003 University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries
Acceptable Use, Copyright, and Disclaimer Statement
Send comments: AFA Library webmaster | Last Updated 26 September 2003