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Artifact – a subject guide for the arts and creative industries

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 June 2016

Julie Allinson*
Affiliation:
Artifact, Manchester Metropolitan University Library, Minshull House, 47-49 Chorlton Street, Manchester, M1 3EU
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Abstract

Artifact, which was officially launched in November 2003, is the arts and creative industries hub of the UK’s Resource Discovery Network. Variously described as a gateway, a hub and a subject guide, Artifact offers an alternative to commercial search engines, principally for those studying, teaching or researching arts, communications and other creative subjects within UK further and higher education, but also freely available to anyone seeking quality-assured resources online. With the support of a wide spectrum of professionals from both the educational and commercial arts sectors, Artifact is now developing into a comprehensive service that can help fulfil a wide array of information needs for potential customers from many spheres.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Art Libraries Society 2004

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References

2. For anyone interested in the technical infrastructure of Artifact: we use an SQL database with a PHP-driven front-end. The database and its content adhere to Dublin Core and the RDN/LTSN LOM application profile (based on the IEEE LOM, and compliant with the UK LOM core). For cataloguing, we use AACR2, particularly in the creation of name entries, and for authority control, we use Library of Congress Names Authority, the Getty Art and architecture thesaurus, the Getty Union list of artists’ names and the Getty Thesaurus of geographic names. Google Scholar
3. In 1999, the RDN engaged CALIM to undertake a consultancy into the need for a subject hub for the arts and creative industries. The full text of this report, produced by Georgina, Porter, is available at http://www.rdn.ac.uk/publications/acireport/acireport.pdf/. See also the article by Georgina Porter in Art libraries journal vol. 26 no. 3 2001, p.1417.Google Scholar
4. UCAS is the UK central organisation through which applications are processed for entry to higher education courses.Google Scholar
5. The Artifact collections policy is available from the Artifact web site: http://www.artifact.ac.uk/.Google Scholar
6. Further information about the eLib project can be found at http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/services/elib/.Google Scholar
7. See the article ‘Finding and preserving visual arts resources on the Internet’ by Gill, Tony and Catherine Grout in Art libraries journal vol. 22 no. 3 1997, p.1925.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8. See note 3, above.Google Scholar
9. Renamed The Design Archive at the University of Brighton in 2004. See article elsewhere in this issue of the Art libraries journal. Google Scholar
10. See the article by Nixon, Mary in Art libraries journal vol. 28 no. 4 2003, p.2730.Google Scholar
11. See the report ‘What subjects do dyslexic students study at university?’ at http://www.dyslexia.com/database/articles/subjectpreferencel.html.Google Scholar
12. The Artifact Virtual Consultancy Group (VCG) is a gathering of professionals from across the arts and creative industries. From time to time we draw on the expertise of these people, using e-mail postings to seek advice on specific issues and developments for Artifact. Anyone interested in taking part in future consultations should e-mail Artifact at artifact@mmu.ac.uk/.Google Scholar