Thinking outside the drawers: closing the J. Paul Getty Museum's Slide Library

  • Tracey Schuster The Getty Research Institute

Abstract

For almost three decades, the Slide Library at the J. Paul Getty Museum served an audience that consisted of curatorial staff, Education Department staff, and local K-12 teachers. Without an active user base or a budget for staff or collection development, the J. Paul Getty Museum and the Research Library at the Getty Research Institute decided to close and dismantle the Slide Library in 2010. The article describes the decision-making process and outcomes.

Author Biography

Tracey Schuster, The Getty Research Institute

Tracey Schuster is the Head of Permissions and Photo Archive Services at the Getty Research Institute. She has been at the GRI since 1982, when she began work in the Photo Archive in the J. Paul Getty Museum in Malibu and has since held increasingly responsible positions in the provision and management of Special Collections & Photo Archive reference. Tracey also serves on the Board of Directors for the Los Angeles Police Historical Society.

Published
2020-02-09
Issue
Vol. 39 No. 3 (2012): Slide Libraries
Section
Perspectives

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