This group realized that to fulfill the need among art librarians for better communication and cooperation, and to provide a forum for ideas, projects, and programs, an entirely new and separate organization was required. The membership includes architecture and art librarians, visual resources professionals, artists, curators, educators, publishers, and others interested in visual arts information. To serve this diverse constituency, the Society provides a wide range of programs and services within an organizational structure that promotes participation at all levels. The interests of the membership are also expressed in less formal groups organized by types of library and special interests. The twelve Sections and Round Tables identify more focused interests, including Architecture, Serials, Women and Art, Computers.
All groups sponsor a variety of conference programs, projects, and publications.
At the grass-roots level, nineteen chapters flourish throughout North America. Local or regional projects are encouraged and have taken a variety of forms, such as workshops and meetings, regional directories, union lists, and cooperative acquisitions programs. Electronic communications play an increasingly important role in Society affairs. Other activities of the Society include the encouragement of cooperative acquisitions and cataloging programs, the improvement of education for art librarianship, and annual awards for outstanding service, research, and publications. Affiliated associations include the International Federation of Library Associations, the American Library Association, the Visual Resources Association, and the College Art Association.