This library holds one of the major international research collections of art history books, periodicals and exhibition catalogues in the UK. It is a very beautiful space (situated as it is in the former wine cellar of Somerset House) with red brick vaulted ceilings, full length windows and spiral stair cases: the students, décor and architecture were, to my mind, perfectly suited to an art library.
We began our tour (lead by Boris Knezevic, Graduate Library Trainee, and Vicky Kontou, the Deputy Librarian) on the top mezzanine level and were shown around the service counter, staff offices and card catalogues (which are still in constant use). We were then brought to the Lower mezzanine level and shown around the book, periodical and exhibition catalogue collection. Boris and Vicky mentioned that their exhibition catalogue collection is particularly extensive and sought after. The library holds approximately 180,000 volumes. Also held in the same building, though separately run, are the Conway and the Witt Libraries. The Conway collection is an image library and the Witt is collection of reproductions after paintings, drawings and prints.
We were then treated to a talk by Erica Foden-Lenahan, the Special Collections Librarian, and Deborah Lee, the head Cataloguer. Erica had pulled out some very interesting pieces from her collection to demonstrate the variety of books and objects stored in the Courtauld. Deborah then spoke about the processes and challenges involved in cataloguing art books and in particular exhibition catalogues.
We finished with tea and cakes in the library office, where Vicky, Erica and Deborah spoke to us about their own study and career paths. It was a truly enjoyable and interesting visit and I think it gave us trainees a great insight into the workings of an academic art library.