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Art and libraries in Iceland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 June 2016

Arndis S. Arnadottir*
Affiliation:
Icelandic College of Art and Crafts, Reykjavík, Iceland
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Abstract

Iceland’s cultural heritage dates back to the Vikings. While crafts have always been important to the Icelandic way of life, the country has become much more art and design conscious with the development of educational and cultural institutions in the last hundred years. The National Library receives copies of all Icelandic publications and publishes the Icelandic national bibliography (which includes art but omits some exhibition catalogues); in addition the Library of the National Gallery collects all published literature on Icelandic art. There is a major art collection in the University Library and a specialist art library at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts. The Nordic House at Reykjavίk accommodates an artotek. Because of its isolation, Iceland is unusually dependent on libraries for knowledge of world art, and much work remains to be done on the bibliography of Icelandic art. However, art librarianship has made substantial progress since the 1970s, and training in art librarianship is available.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Art Libraries Society 1987

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References

1. Ingólfsson, Aðalsteinn. ‘Myndlistaraldan í rénum: myndlistarannáll ársins 1986’. DV, 12. janúar 1987. (‘The receding art wave: review of the visual arts in 1986’).Google Scholar
2. Centenary of the National Gallery of Iceland. A short history of the Gallery. Listasafn Íslands, 1986. (A reprint from Listasafn Íslands 1884-1984. Listasafn Íslands, 1985.)Google Scholar