EVALUATION CRITERIA FOR SCHOLARLY RESEARCH OFFERED BY ART MUSEUM LIBRARY WEBSITES

by Rinalducci, Jennifer L.

The purpose of this research is to consider how useful web-based resources are to art history scholars. The study examines the usefulness of online resources of museum libraries and research centers, institutions created to provide relevant information, in meeting scholars™ needs online. These web resources need to be evaluated for the scholar, and the discipline of art history has unique considerations within the humanities.

The survey developed evaluates websites associated with art museum libraries. Museum libraries included in this study are the Getty Research Institute, Tate Research Center, Frick Art Reference Library, National Art Library, and Smithsonian American Art Museum Information Resources. The survey is similar to those used in the humanities field, including the categories of relevance, navigability, and coverage. The questions also include an image category to address the unique needs of art historians.