Search

Museum Studies

This guide is intended for beginning and intermediate researchers in museum studies and related fields. Museum studies is interdisciplinary. For this reason, in addition to the resources listed below, the researcher is advised to consult other, subject-specific bibliographies and indexes. Subject-specific indexes in the sciences, for example, will provide many additional sources of information on science museums, observatories, planetaria, etc. Certain subject-specific indexes that include a great deal of museum-related content (e.g., ERIC for museum education) are included in this research guide.

If you have questions or comments, please contact Tom McNulty or Ask-A-Librarian.

Librarian for Museum Studies

Tom McNulty
Librarian for Art, Architecture, Design, and Museum Studies
New York University
Bobst Library, Mezzanine
70 Washington Square South
New York, NY 10012
Phone: (212) 998-2519
E-mail: tom.mcnulty@nyu.edu

NYU Links

Related Subject Guides

Internet Links

  • Bibliographies for Museum Studies
    (A Pilot Project Developed in Partnership with Prof. J. Lynne Teather, Museum Studies Program, University of Toronto)
    Searchable bibliographies of research material on new media, museums, visitor studies, etc. Includes a searchable index of Museum Journal for the years 1890-1982.
  • Conservation Online (CoOL)
    A project of the Preservation Department of Stanford University Libraries, CoOL is "a full text library of conservation information, covering a wide spectrum of topics to those involved with the conservation of library, archives, and museum materials."
  • Museum Studies: A Guide to Internet Resources
    Well maintained meta site (University of Delaware) offers links to Internet resources in museum studies, arts management, and more.
  • Museum Studies & Arts Management
    Maintained by Vassar College, this site includes links to Arts Management Resources, Ethics, Laws & Mandates, Bibliographic Resources, Professional Education, and more.
  • Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies
    The Smithsonian Center provides access to a number of valuable resources, including the Museum Studies Database, an ongoing bibliographic research tool offering electronic access to information about the theory and operations of museums.

Consortium and Other Art Libraries

As members of the NYU community, you can use the following art/architecture/design libraries; their holdings are included in BobCat:

Other New York City Art, Architecture and Design Libraries Available to NYU Researchers:

NYU is a member of the METRO, a consortium of 270 local and regional libraries. Researchers may consult the holdings of METRO libraries by requesting a METRO Referral Card at any Bobst Library Reference Desk (1st, 6th, 9th floors). Consult METRO’s Directory for a complete list of participating libraries.

Finding Books - Subject Headings

The following subject headings may be used in BobCat to locate books on various aspects of museum studies and curatorship; for a complete list of subject headings, consult the latest edition of Library of Congress Subject Headings, available in each of the Reference Centers.

Subject Heading (LCSH):
Museums -- (location) e.g., Museums -- United States
Museums -- Directories
Museums -- Educational aspects
Museums -- History
Museums -- Law and Legislation
Museums -- Management
Museums -- Philosophy
Museums -- Social aspects
Museums -- Technique

Bibliographies

  • A Bibliography of Museum Studies. Compiled and edited by Simon J. Knell. Brookfield, VT: Ashgate, 1994.
    Bobst REF1 Z5052 .K64 1994
    An excellent bibliography including references to published works in Museum Context; Collection Stuides & Museum History; Material Culture; Collection Management; Research; Communications and Exhibitions; Museum Education; Museum Services - Provision and Development; Professional and Institutional Context; Museum Management; Museum Buildings; Information Sources (Abstracts, Indexes, etc.).
  • Keyguide to Information Sources in Museum Studies. Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn, 1994. 2nd ed.
    Bobst REF1 AM5 .W66
    Includes bibliographical references and index. Integrated guide to the documentation, reference aids, and key organizational sources of information about museums and museum studies worldwide. Part I is an overview of museums and the literature of museuology. Part II is an annotated bibliography of reference sources. Part III is a selected list of museum organizations.
  • The Museum: A Reference Guide. Michael Steven Shapiro, ed. New York: Greenwood Press, 1990.
    Bobst REF1 Z5052.M93 1990
    Now somewhat dated, this reference work remains valuable for its bibliographic essays on various types of museums and museum studies topics (e.g., natural history museums, museum education). Each essay includes extensive bibliography.

Indexes

  • Art Full Text. 1984-Present
    Electronic Access (http://library.nyu.edu/collections/find_articles_title.html)
  • Art Index Retrospective. 1929-1984
    Electronic Access (http://library.nyu.edu/collections/find_articles_title.html)
    Provides subject and author access to periodicals in the fine and decorative arts, as well as selected major museum studies journals.
  • Arts and Humanities Citation Index. 1975 to present (updated weekly).
    Electronic Access (http://library.nyu.edu/collections/find_articles_title.html)
    Indexes articles in the arts and humanities by source (the author), by cited author (showing who cites a given author or text), by title or subject keywords, and by reproduction of fine art used as illustration. Useful for tracing the works and influence (or lack thereof) of an author, text, or artwork.

    Companion indexes are Social Sciences Citation Index and Science Citation Index, also available via the Internet.

  • ERIC. 1966 - present.
    Electronic Access (http://library.nyu.edu/collections/find_articles_title.html)
    Computerized version of RIE (Resources in Education) and CIJE (Current Index to Journal in Education). Provides access to periodical literature and educational documents on all aspects of museums and education.
  • Museum Abstracts. 9 1993/1994
    Bobst AM1. M83
    Provides abstracts of articles from museum journals. Classified arrangement, no indexes.
  • Humanities Index. 1 (1974/75)-- Present. Quartely.
    Bobst REF1 AI3 .H85n
  • Humanities Full Text (1984 - Present)
    Electronic Access (http://library.nyu.edu/collections/find_articles_title.html)
  • Humanities and Social Sciences Retrospective Index (1907 - 1984)
    Electronic Access (http://library.nyu.edu/collections/find_articles_title.html)
    Covers the major journals in history and area studies, as well as other fields. A companion index, Social Sciences Index (Bobst REF1 AI3 .S63n), covers major journals in anthropology and other branches of the social sciences.
  • Periodical Abstracts. 1986--.
    Electronic Access (http://library.nyu.edu/collections/find_articles_title.html)
    A computer file covering more than 1,000 academic journals in the humanities and social sciences.
  • Anthropological Literature. 1-5 1979-1983.
    Bobst REF 1 Z5112 .A43x
    Electronic Access (http://library.nyu.edu/collections/find_articles_title.html)
  • Bibliography of the History of Art: BHA
    Electronic Access (http://library.nyu.edu/collections/find_articles_title.html)
    Continues RILA: Répertoire International de la Litérature de l'Art, 1 (1975)-15 (1989). Classified arrangement. Section on "General Works: Museums and Museology."
  • Business Periodicals Index. 1 (1958)-- quarterly with annual cumulation.
    Bobst REF6 Z7164 .C81 B983
    Provides author and subject access to periodical literature in business and management of both commercial and non-profit institutions.
  • ABI Inform.
    Electronic Access (http://library.nyu.edu/collections/find_articles_title.html)
    Covers journals in management and other aspects of business and non-profit organizations, including museums. Provides full text of many references.
  • International Folklore and Folklife Bibliography. 1961/62--.
    Bobst REF1 Z5982 .I523
    Section 1B3: "Museums, Collections, Exhibitions."
  • America: History and Life
    Electronic Access (http://library.nyu.edu/collections/find_articles_title.html)
    A companion index, Historical Abstracts, covers modern history outside of North America from 1450.
  • Isis Cumulative Bibliography . . . of the History of Science.
    Bobst Offsite Z7405 .H6 I2
    Covers 1907-1985. Continued annually by Isis Current Bibliography, in Isis Bobst Q1 .I7 and Bobst Microform).
    Electronic Access, Backfiles
    (http://library.nyu.edu/collections/find_ejournals.html)

Directories

  • Museums of the World. 6th ed. 1997 Bobst REF1 AM1 .M76 1997
  • The Directory of Museums and Living Displays. 3rd ed. 1985. Bobst REF1 AM1 .H78 1985
    Comprehensive international directory of museums and living displays. Arranged alphabetically by name of country.
  • The World of Learning. Latest Edition Only. Bobst REF9 AS2 .W6
  • The Official Museum Directory. Latest Edition Only. Bobst REF1 AM10.A204
    Lists and describes museums, aquariums, historic sites, and other institutions in the United States.
  • Corporate Museums, Galleries, and Visitor Centers: A Directory. 1991. Bobst REF1 AM5.D36 1991
    Includes profiles of institutions in the United States, Canada, and Western Europe.
  • Directory of Historical Organizations in the United States and Canada. 14th ed. 1990. Cooper Reference E172.A5 1990

Handbooks

  • The Handbook for Museums. 1996. Bobst REF1 AM5 .E37 1996
  • Manual of Curatorship. 2nd ed. 1992 Bobst REF1 AM151 .M32 1992
  • Museum Careers and Training: A Professional Guide. 1994 Bobst REF1 Career AM7 .D34 1994
  • A Museum Guide to Copyright and Trademark. 1999. Bobst REF1 KF2996 .S53 1999.
Log In to OmniUpdate