Collection Development Policy Statement for Slides

Schools/colleges/departments/programs covered:

The Syracuse University Slide Collection is part of the Fine Arts Department and is the largest such collection in the region, numbering over 360,000 images. While based in the arts, the Slide Collection serves the needs of the entire University community for visual images. Faculty members in any University department may request additional images for the collection for instruction related purposes. A recent policy change enables both graduate and undergraduate students to borrow a limited number of slides for up to 48 hours for classroom presentations.

General collection statement:

Many slide collections are administered by the academic departments which they support. As such, their collections, policies and organization reflect the needs of that user community.

As a library supported collection, the Syracuse University Slide Collection must support the instructional needs of the entire University community. The wide range of images available is reflected in multiple methods of access. Textbook sets, corresponding with the major art history titles, authored by H.W. Janson, Helen Gardner, William Fleming and H. Harvard Arnason, etc. are arranged by plate number and serve the needs of introductory courses in the Fine Arts Department. The classified collection, based on the Fogg cataloging system, organizes images first by general type: two-dimensional art, three-dimensional art, architecture, or decorative art; then by country. This is the most in-depth section of the collection and serves the needs of most art and architecture related courses. Subject sets allow for ease of access to topics like Art Nouveau, grouping the different arts together. Chronological and geographical sets provide introductions to a variety of cultures. Especially important are the three history sets: World History, Western Civilization, and American History. which serve both specialists and generalists looking for images of key events. Non-art subjects are becoming increasingly important elements of the Collection, enabling the Slide Collection to fulfill its mission of serving the entire University community.

Chronological guidelines:

The depth of chronological coverage is determined by the instructional programs supported by the Collection. However, at least minimal coverage exists for all periods from prehistoric to contemporary times. A chronological series covers topics like Etruscan art and The Year 1200.

Geographical guidelines:

The depth of geographical coverage is determined by the instructional programs supported by the Collection. There is a Western bias as reflected in the teaching curricula of the major departments using the Collection. However, at least minimal coverage exists for most regions of the world. A geographical series supports non-Western themes. Especially important is the Countries and People section, which provides an overview of landscapes, peoples, and rituals for most countries. Asian and African countries have been especially well documented.

Subject guidelines:

While the Slide Collection is based in the arts, non-art topics are also covered, as determined by Collection use. Especially important are the three history subject sets: World History, Western Civilization and American History, consulted by both historians and non-historians alike for background/ context for lectures. Other non-art subjects include Mystery Religions, Theater, Dance, Movie Stills, Historic Advertisements and Pop Culture.

Format of materials:

The present Slide Collection consists of 2x2 images. Future considerations must include image banks and other types of new technology.

Collection management issues:

A number of challenges face the Slide Collection: older, "pink" slides for which an exact replacement cannot be located; the need for duplication of certain heavily used items; collection development in key, untapped areas; additional storage, and staffing for processing as well as ongoing collection maintenance.
To these routine collection management issues should be added more complicated issues such as bibliographic control and new technology. Bibliographic control in the Slide Collection now exists only through the shelf list, cataloging sheets and an artist's and architect's "authority" file. The need for a database increases daily as the Collection continues to attract more student borrowers and a more diverse patron group. Staffing as well as the size of the Collection are key issues here. New kinds of technology, like image banks, must also be investigated.

Subjects covered and collecting levels:

Approximately two-thirds of the images in the Slide Collection are strictly art and architecture. However, a diversifying patron group requires increased attention to images outside of the arts. All three history sets are heavily used. Requests from science-based patrons have been made. The Slide Collection is quite strong in most traditional art and architecture areas and must meet these new demands for images like multicultural images.

Again, Patrons from all departments in the University are encouraged to use the Collection and make requests for material in their fields.