ARLIS/NA 53rd Annual Conference

This panel explores innovative strategies in art library instruction. Through inter-departmental collaboration, creative teaching tools, and inclusive pedagogical frameworks, these presentations highlight how re-imagining approaches to art library instruction can enhance resource access, research, and creative output.

The first presentation highlights the benefits of inter-departmental collaboration among librarians in instructional initiatives. The speakers will discuss a project where special collections and subject liaison librarians curated a collection of Artists’ Books specifically aligned with instruction, demonstrating how librarian collaboration can enhance exposure to both general and special library resources.

The second presentation focuses on specifics of how faculty-librarian collaboration in an academic library led to a creative re-contextualization of the familiar visual tool of concept mapping. By integrating concept mapping in a studio art setting, this approach sparked greater student engagement and creativity, helping to make abstract concepts more tangible. It also fostered connections between students through peer workshopping, contributing to a collaborative and supportive studio environment.

The third and final presentation turns to how implementing systemic changes in pedagogical frameworks can improve accessibility for students with invisible learning disabilities in art and design academic libraries. Speakers will examine the benefits and limits of the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in reducing reliance on self-reporting for accommodations and creating a more inclusive and accessible learning environment from the start.

Collectively, these presentations demonstrate how transforming traditional instructional strategies and fostering collaboration can redefine the library’s role in student learning. By increasing the visibility of resources, incorporating visual tools, and implementing inclusive frameworks for diverse learning needs, these efforts ensure that art students and faculty gain improved access to resources essential for their academic and creative pursuit

Increasing Access: Using Universal Design to Bridge Gaps in Library Instruction
Activating Community in the Studio: Teaching the Art of Concept Mapping
The Art of Collaboration: Special Collections and Liaison Librarian teamwork