What we do
The Professional Development Committee’s objectives are to provide information, guidance, training and networking opportunities to art librarians and information professionals, and those considering or training for a career in the sector. We do this by:
- Organising events on behalf of ARLIS.
- Co-ordinating with other committees to promote their events.
Events
The Professional Development Committee organises popular annual events for ARLIS:
An Introduction to Art & Design Reference Resources introduces delegates to the varied art-specific resources available to them and offers a practical workshop in which to try them out.
Taking the Plunge: art librarianship as a career option aims to give anyone interested in art librarianship a taste of the diverse roles within the sector, including presentations from professionals and CV advice. Read some reviews of a past event here, here and here.
These events are always fun and informal opportunities to meet and talk with other students, trainees and professionals.
Who we are
Chair | Tavian Hunter | Library and Archive Manager, iniva
Tavian is Library and Archive Manager of the Stuart Hall Library at Iniva (Institute of International Visual Arts). She is responsible for developing resources on contemporary visual art and artists of African, Asian and Latin American descent born or based in the UK, alongside running a programme of talks and reading groups in Iniva’s Research Network. Tavian has a keen interest in developing diverse library collections, reframing identity and gender in cataloguing subject headings and archival approaches to social justice. She has worked in art libraries, museums, societies, higher education institutions and received her MA in Library and Information Studies from University College London (2015). Her article on ‘South Asian collection development at the British Museum’ was published in the Art Libraries Journal (2019) and she was recently a speaker at ARLIS conference (2021) and CILIP conference (2019). Tavian is also a member of ARLIS Equity Steering Group (2021) and member of Academic Achievement Committee at The Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers.
Committee Member | Hayley Webb | Liaison Librarian, Tate
Hayley Webb is a Liaison Librarian for Tate Modern and Tate Liverpool with a subject specialisation of international art. Her role involves developing Tate’s international book collection including zines and artist books. She has a background in film and art libraries and has worked for Sotheby’s Institute of Art and BFI Reuben Library. Hayley completed a post-graduate diploma in Information Studies at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand and has an academic background in fine arts, art history and English literature.
Committee Member | Antonia Lewis | Liaison Librarian, UCA
Antonia graduated with a BA in Sculpture from Bretton Hall College, part of Leeds University in 2000. After several years working in community arts projects and Teaching English as a Foreign Language she decided to pursue a career as a librarian. She began working as a Library Assistant at Kings College London in the medical libraries based at Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospital. In 2006 she moved to work at the Royal College of Art as a Library Assistant and studied part time for an MSc in Information Management in the Cultural Sector at City University. In 2009 she started as the Subject Librarian for Art, Design and Visual Cultures at Goldsmiths, University of London and in 2020 moved to work as a Liaison Librarian at UCA (University for the Creative Arts) at the Rochester and Farnham campuses.
Committee Member | Alexander Bell | Liaison Librarian, UCA
Alex is a Liaison Librarian at University for the Creative Arts. His role involves delivering information literacy workshops, research tutorials and collection development for the university’s School of Fashion & Textiles and Business School for the Creative Industries. Previously, he worked in further education libraries in both library and learning technology roles. He has an interest in emerging technologies and implications for visual literacy, colour and material resources, and practice-based research methods. He completed his MSc in Library Science at City, University of London in 2020 and holds a degree in Fine Art from Bath School of Art & Design.
Committee Member | Elizabeth Oliver | Reader Services Manager, RCA
Elizabeth Oliver is Reader Services Manager at the Royal College of Art where she leads on student engagement, academic liaison, membership and customer service. As part of the senior management team she contributes to strategy, policy and procedure for the library service. Before taking up her current role she supported the Schools of Design, Architecture and Fine Art as Liaison Librarian. Elizabeth has 17 years of experience of working with students in HE libraries including supporting Fashion programmes at Central Saint Martins (UAL).
Committee Member | Richard Bapty | Arts Liaison Librarian, Glasgow University
Richard Bapty is an Arts Liaison Librarian at Glasgow University Library. He co-ordinates academic relationship management for students and staff in the College of Arts developing the library collections to support teaching and research activity in seven Arts Subject Units: Archaeology; Classics; History; History of Art; Information & Museum Studies; Philosophy; and Theology. He is particularly interested in subject-specific information skills support for graduate students in the Arts disciplines. His MA in Library and Information Studies was completed at Loughborough University in 1989 and he has an MA in Latin and Ancient History from St. Andrews University.