Visual Resources Facility (VRF)

Overview

Visual Resources Facility
Department of Art and Art History

Welcome to the Visual Resources Facility (also known as the VRF). The VRF is here to help instructors and students find, create and display images. We offer image, video and reference collections, a computer lab and a nice, quiet place to read and work. Our primary mission is to support teaching and research for the Department of Art & Art History but we maintain a policy of open access to the collection by any current member of the faculty, staff and student body here at UC Davis.

Contact:
Leah Theis, Librarian, lctheis@ucdavis.edu
Lisa Zdybel, Assistant Librarian, lazdybel@ucdavis.edu
530-752-3138

Hours and Location:
M-Th: 7:30-12:00; 1:00-3:30
163/165 Everson

Please contact staff by email to schedule an appointment.

Finding and Using Images

The VRF has a collection of art and architecture-related digital images and a legacy collection of 35mm slides. We strive to facilitate access to the collection, as well as supplement the collection with new materials when possible. We are happy to help — drop by the VRF and talk to us about what you need and what we can do to help. 

Our image collection is being made available in Jstor and Artstor, campus licensed image and research tools available to anyone on campus or to users with valid kerberos accounts. If you are having difficulty accessing these databases, please contact VRF staff. Please note that Jstor is replacing Artstor in the near future but at this time, both resources are avavilable to UC Davis users.

There are other image and art related resources available to UC Davis student and instructors. We recommend reviewing the UC Davis Library Subject Guide for art and art history and digital images licensed by UC Davis.

In addition to images, the VRF also has art related videos, DVDs, and maintains an archive of the Art History Program’s M.A. Theses and Art Studio’s graduating M.F.A. exhibition catalogs. Please contact VRF staff for access to these materials.

Course and Classroom Support

We will digitize on request for Art and Art History Department faculty and instructors.  Please provide the book or print source along with a list of pages and/or figures and discuss scheduling with VRF staff in advance. Depending on the request and our availability, we make every effort to provide this support to the general campus community as well.

The VRF staff also provide support and training for image scanning and image presentation software, advice on image storage and production, Canvas,  training and support of AV equipment, and equipment training and scheduling of classrooms administered by the Art History Program. If you need assistance with any of these, please call or email us. 

Creating Images

If you prefer to do it yourself, you are welcome to come over and use our scanner. We are happy to show you how to use our scanner and can provide advice on best practices for making, archiving and publishing your images.

We have a large format Epson 10000XL Graphic Arts flatbed scanner (with Adobe Creative Suite apps installed) and a 35 mm film scanner (VRF staff use only). We are happy to help students and faculty produce images for research or instructional use. If you need VRF staff to provide this service for you, please bring the book or print source along with a list of pages and/or figures to the VRF and discuss scheduling with VRF staff in advance.  

Visual Resources Association Best Practices and Procedures Guidelines

Copyright

While the VRF staff can not provide copyright research, we will provide guidance and information to assist you through this confusing process.

The Visual Resources Association’s Resources Providing Guidance on Academic Use of Images

Career in the Arts: Brown Bag Lunch Series

VRF staff developed and facilitate these casual meet-and-greet sessions which attempt to provide some answers to the question: “What can I do with a major in Art History or Art Studio”? Join us for lunch and a conversation with professionals working in a number of visual arts-related fields as we discuss a variety of career paths open to Art and Art History students. 

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