The Northport Public Library was originally designated as a repository for art resources in 1961 in a cooperative project with Suffolk Libraries. Northport's outstanding collection, now 10,000 volumes, continues to extend its scope to include an increasingly wider range of media and materials.

Our Librarians select a wide spectrum of materials suitable for the art scholar as well as the craftsman and collector. Included in the collection today are books, journals, databases, Internet resources, auction house catalogs, career and employment guides, and the newly inaugurated George E. Beatty, Jr. Architecture Collection.

Books

The Library's art reference book collection includes the respected thirty-four volume Dictionary of Art published by Grove as well as Mayer International Auction Records and the Dictionnaire Critique et Documentaire des Peintres, Sculpteurs, Dessinateurs et Graveurs by Benezit.

The circulating collection encompasses a vast selection of topics and time periods of art and artistry and continues to grow as new titles on art history, schools of art, individual artists, commercial art, photography, sculpture, and antiques are added.

The George E. Beatty, Jr. Architecture Collection

A memorial collection named for Library architect George E. Beatty, Jr., this comprehensive collection of architectural works enhances our strong collection of resources in this field. The collection features books on American architecture, notable architects, professional standards, dictionaries, and encyclopedias. The Library's commitment toward building The George E. Beatty, Jr. Architecture Collection is facilitated with generous contributions from individuals as well as The Friends of the Northport-East Northport Public Library's pledge to donate funds toward this initiative.

The Art of Craft

Art takes many forms. What might be considered ordinary by some-glass, pottery, porcelain, yard, fabric, willow, wicker, and wood-presents a palette of possibilities for the artisan. The Library's collection includes books on the history, methodology, and exhibition of crafts as well as basic "how to" guides for the hobbyist. Buyers' guides and handbooks on collectibles are also available.

The Technique

Every accomplished artist begins with the basics. The Library's art collection includes beginner guidebooks on the basics of watercolor, photography, painting, drawing, design, craft, and more. Wood Carving Made Easy; Taking up Sculpture; Complete Guide to Drawing and Painting; Stencilling for the First Time; Learn to Draw 3-D; and The Snapshot Book are just some of the many titles that you will find to help you begin on your road toward mastering art and craft.

Online Resources

Art Online Artfact Professional, an online resource of art, antiques, collectibles, and jewelry sales records, includes over 4 million public auction sales results written by auction house experts. A full-text index allows researchers to search for subtle combinations of features and decorative details. This database, with 4,000 images displayed in 16 million colors, is available only at the Northport and East Northport Libraries.

Grove Dictionary of Art Online, part of the Virtual Reference Collection, is one of the most comprehensive online reference resources for all aspects of visual arts, from prehistory to the present day. With links to interesting websites and up-to-date news and views, this database allows patrons to go beyond the articles on the printed page.
To search for articles that appeared just a few years ago or decades past, use the Wilson Art Index and Abstracts, 1984+ and the Wilson Art Index Retrospective 1929-1984, accessible via the Virtual Reference Collection.

Find your place in the art world with ArtJob, an online source for professional opportunities and key information in all areas of the arts. National and international listings include prospects for careers in performing arts, visual arts, and academia, as well as internships, fellowships, conferences, and commissions.

Magazines and Journals

Current as well as retrospective information is important when tracking trends, locating exhibits and shows, finding auction prices, discovering emerging genius, and more. The Library retains current subscriptions as well as extensive back files for many art magazines in original print format to retain the integrity of their images. Our collection of more than 70 titles includes:

Auction Catalogs

Sotheby's and Christie's, invaluable for the high-quality color reproductions in their auction catalogs, can be searched through the Library's Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC). The Northport Library's art catalog collection focuses on auctions of American paintings, Impressionist paintings, and contemporary art. The ArtFact database can locate the sale date and sale number which quickly enables the patron to connect to the auction information they are seeking.