Special Collections

Cardiff Metropolitan University Library Services’ collection of over 600 artists’ books may be viewed and handled in Llandaff Library by arrangement, every Thursday during term time between the hours of 9am and 2pm. Artists’ books may be loaned on a short-term basis to teaching staff* of the Cardiff School of Art and Design, for defined teaching purposes and with prior agreement. The loan is conditional on teaching staff accepting responsibility for the artists’ books when away from the Library, ensuring they are either in the provided transportation box in a secure staff area or attended in person, and is further conditional on the following handling guidelines being followed by teaching staff and students throughout the loan period.

How to Borrow Artists' Books:

• Academic to email specialcollections@cardiffmet.ac.uk to request this service – please give as much notice as possible.
• Artists' Books Collection Handling Guidelines will be emailed, and must confirm agreement.
• We will then confirm they are able to request 20 items via MetSearch (guidelines will be provided) and for a period of 7 days.
• We will retrieve the items and let the staff member know that they are available for collection from Llandaff Library.
• Staff member will return the items to Llandaff Library.
• On return, the items will be inspected to ensure that they have been used appropriately.

*Please note we will ONLY allow Cardiff Met academics – those that are on the payroll - access to borrow this material. No researchers / no other people affiliated to the School / visitors etc.

The handling guidelines will protect the artists’ books for future use.

• Ensure your hands are clean and dry.
• Do not use hand lotion or hand sanitiser, which can stain.
• Unless specifically instructed otherwise by the Library, do not use gloves to handle the artists’ books.
• Ensure you place the artists’ books on surfaces which are flat, clean, free of dust and dry.
• Do not allow any food or drink, including water, near the artists’ books.
• Open objects and turn book pages slowly. Where the book allows, turn pages using two hands, guiding the page across. Do not flick through a book, unless it has been designed for this specific purpose. Do not lick your fingers before turning pages.
• Do not fold or mark the artists’ books in any way, including using any sticky notes.
• Try to avoid touching illustrations or photographs within the artists’ books.
• Return Library labels to the correct artist’s book immediately after handling.
• Only pencils, as writing/drawing implements, may be used near the artists’ books.
• Do not rest on a book. Do not place anything on top of a book.
• The use of any device to photograph artists’ books must not affect the condition of the book, so avoid flash photography. Any such copying must comply with copyright legislation.

SpecialCollections@cardiffmet.ac.uk / SN JN / 23rd January 2025