The library is a specialist research level collection of printed material on Western art covering most of the major European schools of painting from the early Renaissance to twenty-first century, the history of collecting, and some Byzantine art. We have important collections of exhibition and auction catalogues. We are part of the University of Birmingham’s Special Collections department which comprises three distinct research libraries: the Barber Fine Art Library, the Cadbury Research Library, and the Shakespeare Institute Library.
The Barber Fine Art Library has been growing since the opening of the Barber Institute in the 1930s, and many of the books in the collection are much older. Such a collection is unique in the way it closely reflects how art history and curating have been taught and practiced at the University of Birmingham as well. It is also a rich resource for future study and interpretation.
Our small reading room is a place for quiet study. A large part of the library’s collections is housed in the Research Reserve and must be requested in advance of your visit.
The Barber Coin Study Room is not part of the Barber Fine Art Library but its books are listed on FindIt@Bham.
Making our service inclusive
We are committed to making our service inclusive, and respectful to all. We are aware that there is much work to do to make sure that our catalogues and other research tools reflect this commitment. We are working to improve our knowledge and understanding so that we can revise the language used in our catalogues and other finding aids that are already in use, and write for the future in a way that is relevant, helpful, does not make anyone feel excluded or unwelcome, or use prejudicial language.
Library staff work closely with academic and museum staff, researchers, and students to develop a diverse and inclusive collection by using a wide range of publishers and incorporating previously under-represented voices. If you have any suggestions or comments, please email fine-arts-library@contacts.bham.ac.uk. Students are also encouraged to recommend new books which diversify our library collections by using MoreBooks@Bham.
Collection policy: types of materials
We aim to collect the following types of resources:
- Printed books and pamphlets
- Exhibition catalogues and catalogues of permanent collections
- Sales (Auction) catalogues
- Catalogues raisonnées
- Periodicals
- Electronic publications, databases, and other resources
- Microforms to support staff and student research
Collection policy: subjects covered
The remit for our collections is art history curating and visual studies, with a predominant focus on Western arts of painting, sculpture, drawing and engraving. This means we have a special responsibility for collecting the following material:
- General and specialist research-level texts particularly relating to the artists whose work is represented in The Barber Institute collection
- The study of art history, visual studies, and the history of collecting
- The study of curating and the history of curating
- The history of art related travel
- The socio-historical background to art history, curating and visual studies
- The history of printing and editing of illustrated books