The joint program in Art History and Museum Studies offered by Case Western Reserve University in association with the Cleveland Museum of Art offers students the opportunity to study the history of art and prepare themselves for careers in the museum field using the resources of a major research university, one of the country’s finest general art museums, and the Ingalls Library, the third largest art museum library in the country. Established in 1967, this unique program has proved to be of great value to the university in its efforts to attract and retain outstanding students in its graduate program in Art History and has enabled the museum to provide comprehensive training for several generations of museum professionals.

Research Consultation

Each graduate student is assigned to a member of the reference staff who is able to assist with long-term research needs. Appointments may be scheduled to discuss research methodologies, the use of specific reference sources, problems encountered in research projects, etc.

Answers to short, factual questions should be directed to the reference librarian on duty. The reference desk is staffed at the following times:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. and 2:00–5:00 p.m.
Wednesday 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. and 2:00–7:30 p.m.

On Mondays, when the museum is closed to the public, students must enter the building through the service entrance accessible via the parking garage. Buzz for entry, stop at the reception desk, and allow Security to check your name off their list. You will also be asked to sign in. You must sign out upon leaving the building. This is a matter of museum security.

Circulation Policies

Books may not be removed from the library. Anyone who removes books from the library without authorization will lose all library privileges.

Each student will be assigned a shelf to which books may be signed out for the semester. All books held on student shelves must be signed out. Each book must have a flag inserted with the student’s name on it, and books must be placed so that call numbers are easily visible. All signed-out books must be returned to the shelf by the end of each day. Books that are no longer needed should be returned to the circulation desk. Please do not reshelve library materials.

CWRU art history faculty and program PhD students are given stack access for one hour at a designated time each day. Times vary by semester and are announced by e-mail at the beginning of each semester.

Requests for library material are paged by the circulation staff at the posted times. A completed call slip for each item must be left at the circulation desk. Call slips may also be submitted electronically via the library’s web site. Items will be checked out and delivered to assigned library shelves.

Spouses, significant others, friends, etc., who may be engaged in research that requires use of the library collections must apply for access and register in accordance with general library access policies.

Please consult the 2011 Student Orientation Brochure [1] for additional information on hours, services, and policies for those in the joint program.