The Hirsch Library of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, has entered into a partnership with the Gulbenkian Foundation Library in Lisbon, Portugal.
Close ties between the directors of the two libraries developed over the past year through IFLA Section of Art Library activities. Both libraries are very similar in mission, type of collection, and size. Ana Paula Gordo visited the Hirsch Library in March, prior to participating in the ARLIS/NA conference in Vancouver. She and Jeannette Dixon each made a presentation at the Ask ARLIS session on international librarianship.
Then, in April, the art reference librarian of the Gulbenkian, Ana Cristina Barata, worked at the Hirsch Library for two weeks. By setting achievable goals for the visit, much was accomplished and the weeks were eventful and productive for all involved. Ana developed a searching aid for curatorial staff to consult when using Grove's Dictionary of Art Online and assisted staff and public with daily reference requests. Ana conveniently served as our own "International Librarian" during a meeting we hosted for the Houston Area Special Libraries Association. By coincidence, the meeting topic was International Librarianship! The Hirsch staff wanted to expose Ana to the vast research resources in the area, so tours were booked at local libraries. Thanks to Margaret Culbertson, we visited four of University of Houston's subject libraries, and saw the Opera House in the Moores Music Building. Ana also visited Phil Heagy at the Menil Collection Library and the Electronic-Text Center at Rice University. Night-time entertainment included dinner with filmmaker, Mwerze Nagangura and photographer, George Krause. She was also here for our famous, Art Car Parade. As you can see, it was a very full two weeks! Through staff exchanges and on-line communication, we hope to learn much from each other.
Jeannette Dixon and Jacqui Allen