Cardiff Metropolitan University Library Services’ collection of over 600 artists’ books may be viewed and handled in the Llandaff Library by arrangement. 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.
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
