The glossary contains information about each of the headings that appear on the pages for each work included in the archive.
aesthetic profile: This section provides basic information about the aesthetic tradition that the works fall in. This includes any artistic or literary movements, prominent themes in the work, publication traditions, inspirations, etc.
agent type: Next to "type" under each agent will appear either the text "initiating" or "other." If an agent is designated as "initiating," it means that they were one of the people or institutions that initiated the creation of the work. If the agent is designated as "other," it means that while the agent did not initiate the work, they did still play an important role in it in some way.
agents: The "agents" section appears for every work. This section includes information about each of the key people and institutions that played a role in the creation of the work. When there are agents specific to the production of a certain edition or object, their information may appear on the "edition" and "object" pages, but not the "work" page. If you are looking for information about any of the subheadings for agents ("agent type," "role," "nationality," "location," or "dates") see those terms in the glossary.
appearance: The appearance section includes information about the physical appearance of an edition. This includes a general description; information about the format, cover, and any enclosures; and descriptions of the cover and any devices.
binding: The type of binding used in the creation of the edition. For examle, coptic, comb, loose leaf, etc. If there is an (AAT) next to the binding type, it is a term from the Getty Art & Architecture Thesaurus; if there is a (local) next to the term, it means that it is an un-official artists' book term being used by Artists' Books Online; and if there is no parenthetical note next to the binding type, it means that the binding type written specifically by the person entering in the information about the edition.
collection: The collection that the object resides in, if any.
colophon: The full text of the colophon should be typed in, just for information, without format or markup inside the text.
color: In addition to specifying whether the edition has color or is black and white, this section includes description, if appropriate, of any dominant or interesting color schemes.
community: Provides information about the community in which the work was conceived and produced, if any. The purpose of this is to help trace influences and connections among artists' book producers and/or groups of artists and poets, through workshops, contact etc. The author of this information will be specified in brackets at the end of the comment.
conceptual: Comments on any significant conceptual features. Information about who authored this information is located at the top of the section (critical analysis).
condition: The condition that the object is in. The levels of measurement are: very fine, fine, very good, good, fair, poor. There may also be additional information regarding the condition of the object.
conservation treatment: If any conservation treatment has been done to the work, it would be listed here.
content: This section includes information about the number of pages in an edition and whether it has page numbers, whether the edition was numbered or not, and whether the edition was signed or not.
content form: Describes any kind of content that appear in the work. For example, fiction, poetry, alphabet book, etc. If there is an (AAT) next to the form, it is a term from the Getty Art & Architecture Thesaurus; if there is a (local) next to the form, it means that it is an un-official artists' book term being used by Artists' Books Online; and if there is no parenthetical note next to the content form, it means that the form has been written specifically by the person entering in the information about the edition.
copy number: If specified, the copy number of the object (ex: 5 of 100).
cover: Description of cover, including stock and materials.
critical analysis: This section contains subjective, analytical discussion of the edition. This should be a focused interpretation rather than a gloss. These fields will not be constrained by enumerated lists or other pre-determined vocabulary or concepts. These fields are meant to provide an impetus for critical and scholarly discussion of books. This section should be repeated for each individual entering author. The by line for the section refers to the person who wrote all of the critical analysis that follows in the section (design features, critical discussion, detailed analysis, etc.).
critical discussion: Critical discussion of themes, issues, political and philosophical, artistic and literary, subject matter and treatment: any critical issue at all that isn't strictly limited to structural analysis. The detailed analysis sections can be used to demonstrate and focus on either structural features, critical issues, or other aspects of the book worthy of close attention. Information about who authored this information is located at the top of the section (critical analysis).
design features: This section contains information about the design features in the edition. Each of the headings within this section is meant to provoke critical discussion or analytic description. Information about who authored the information in this section is located at the top of the section (critical analysis).
dates: Important date information. In the case of the agent, birth and death dates for the agent. In the case of publication information: publication, production, and conception dates. In the case of provenance, acquisition date information. A date can either be a single or span date--a single if it is one specific date, a span if it is a range of dates.
detailed analysis: This is the place for any indepth discussion of the edition, including close-readings of pages, or specific features of the edition as a whole. Information about who authored this information is located at the top of the section (critical analysis).
development: Comments on the way development occurs. Information about who authored this information is located at the top of the section (critical analysis).
devices: Description of boxes, stands, other elements that are part of the edition but not precisely part of the book, supplementary but essential elements of any kind.
edition: In this project, each artist's book is divided into three levels of information: work, edition, and object. The editions section wraps information about each individual edition (although there can be multiple editions, in most cases, there will likely be only one). The edition section contains more specific publication information and physical description. It also contains critical analysis sections that allow the entering author to respond critically to the edition. When you go to the edition(s) page, it will automatically display an image and the information only for the first edition. If there are multiple editions, a tab will appear at the top of the right hand column allowing you to look at the information for other editions.
edition size: If known, the number of total copies produced in the edition.
edition type: The edition type is either "unique" or "editioned." Unique means that the edition was created as only one unique object. Editioned means that multiple copies of the edition exist.
enclosures: If there are any items enclosed within the edition, they would be listed here, item by item.
exhibition history: Any available information regarding the exhibition of the work, edition, or specific object.
exhibition information: If exhibition information exists about a work, edition, or object, this section will appear. It includes any exhibition requirements, any known exhibition history, and any known reception history.
exhibition requirements: Any specific requirements for exhibiting this object: white gloves, in display case, to be handled, low light, etc.
location: Information regarding the location of an agent (if the agent is an institution--nationality is used if the agent is a person).
format: The format, or formats of the edition. For examle, accordian, carousel, scroll, pop-up, etc. If there is an (AAT) next to the format, it is a term from the Getty Art & Architecture Thesaurus; if there is a (local) next to the term, it means that it is an un-official artists' book term being used by Artists' Books Online; and if there is no parenthetical note next to the format type, it means that it is a format type written specifically by the person entering in the information about the edition.
general comment: The general commentary section allows for any discussion, information, or critical analysis that may not have been accounted ofr in other areas. The author of this information will be specified in brackets at the end of the comment.
general description: A descriptive overview of the edition, or commentary that cannot be accommodated by the other fields in the "appearance" section.
graphical: Comments on graphic design and approach: conventional layout, radical experimentation, layering effects, transparencies, etc. Information about who authored this information is located at the top of the section (critical analysis).
imagery: Comments on visual images and their approach: silhouettes, as well as the image program or use of images, etc. Information about who authored this information is located at the top of the section (critical analysis).
images: The images page contains available thumbnail and display size images for all available editions and objects. A toolbar on the left allows the viewer to select the specific object he or she would like to see. The default value on this page is images from the first object of the first edition. Thumbnails can be scrolled through for each object; to see the display size of each image, you just click on it and the display image will change.
inscription: Any inscriptions that have been written in the object.
inspiration: A description of sources for the images or texts or any other aspect of the work, inspirations for their production, as appropriate (for example: based on a reinterpretation of Matthew Brady). The author of this information will be specified in brackets at the end of the comment.
institution: The institution that owns or houses the object, if any.
intratextual: Comments on the relation among various elements in the edition. Information about who authored this information is located at the top of the section (critical analysis).
location: Specifies the location where the object or manuscripts can be found.
manuscript type: This specifies the type of related documents that are being described. For example: texts, mockups, correspondence, financial, legal, etc.
measurements: This section includes any measurements that were taken of the edition: width, height, weight, etc. For each measurement, the type of measurement should be specified (horitontal, depth, etc.), the state that the edition was in for the measurement should be specified (closed, open, etc.), the unit of measurement should be specified (inches, meters, etc.), and the actual measurement itself should be specified. A sample measurement would read: horizontal: 2 inches closed.
media: The types of media used in the creation of the edition. For examle, collage, digital, wood, etc. If there is an (AAT) next to the media type, it is a term from the Getty Art & Architecture Thesaurus; if there is a (local) next to the term, it means that it is an un-official artists' book term being used by Artists' Books Online; and if there is no parenthetical note next to the media type, it means that the media type has been written specifically by the person entering in the information about the edition.
movement: Any artistic or literary movements that the work seems to be involved in. For example, funk, dada, feminism, etc. If there is an (AAT) next to the movement, it is a term from the Getty Art & Architecture Thesaurus; if there is a (local) next to the term, it means that it is an un-official artists' book term being used by Artists' Books Online; and if there is no parenthetical note next to the movement, it means that the movement has been written specifically by the person entering in the information about the edition.
nationality: Information regarding the nationality of an agent (if the agent is a person--location is used if the agent is an institution). There are three kinds of nationality that can be given: birth, referring to the agent's place of birth; active, referring to the nation in which the agent mainly lives or works; and citizenship, referring specifically to the agent's nation of citizenship.
notes: Notes can be used to add any additional, clarifying or qualifying information. This field appears throughout the pages for various purposes. The author of note information will be specified in brackets at the end of the comment.
numbered: Each edition is either "unnumbered" or "numbered." This refers to whether each copy of the edition was marked as being a a certain number out of a total number produced or not. (for example, #67 of 100 total copies made).
object: In this project, each artist's book is divided into three levels of information: work, edition, and object. The object level is the most specific of the three. It gives informaion about the specific book object that is being used to enter the informaion; this includes specifics regarding inscriptions, condition, location, etc. When you are at the object(s) page, information about every available object in the archive will appear one after the other. For each object, there will be an image with information appearing to the right of the image.
openings: Comments on any significant use of openings. Information about who authored this information is located at the top of the section (critical analysis).
other features: Comments on any other book specific features: folds, cuts, use of margins. Information about who authored this information is located at the top of the section (critical analysis).
other influences: Any other influences on this work not already described in other parts of the aesthetic profile. These could be people, reading, political events, drugs, physical condition, emotional condition, anything relevant. The author of this information will be specified in brackets at the end of the comment.
other materials: Information about any other materials that were used in the production of the edition that were not already described in other areas of the production information.
ownership: This section includes information about who owns the object, if it is housed in a specific collection, who owns the rights to the object, and the provenance of the object, if known.
pagination: The pagination section will specify whether the edition has page numbers (is "paginated" or "unpaginated") and, if known, how many total pages are in the edition.
particulars: Description of anything specific or particular to this object that came about as part of its production: typos, mis-collation, upside down pages, images, signatures, smudging etc.
place: If known, the place that location of the publisher of the edition (ex: New York, NY).
production information: This section gives information about how the production of the edition, including how it was produced, and what types of media and materials were used.
production means: A description of the print technology, actual presses, and tools of production used in the creation of the edition. For examle, letterpress, inkjet, painting, etc. If there is an (AAT) next to the production means, it is a term from the Getty Art & Architecture Thesaurus; if there is a (local) next to the term, it means that it is an un-official artists' book term being used by Artists' Books Online; and if there is no parenthetical note next to the production means, it means that the production means has been written specifically by the person entering in the information about the edition.
production narrative: The production narrative allows a longer, more detailed history of the narrative of production of the edition. Information about who authored this information is located at the top of the section (critical analysis).
project statement: A general statement about the project. For artists, critics, etc., this is a place to give the reader an introduction into the influences and ideas behind the work, or any other informaiton that seems like it would be interesting or relevant. This section appears on the "work" page.
provenance: A history of the ownership of the object. If the most current acquisition date is known, it would be listed here. The author of this information will be specified in brackets at the end of the comment.
publication history: If needed, brief information about the history of the publication may be given. If so, the author of this history will be specified in brackets at the end of the comment.
publication information: This section contains information regarding the publishing of the work or edition. On the work page, this section includes only basic information, while on the edition page there is more detailed publication information.
publication tradition: The aesthetic traditions in which the work was conceives. For example, type specimen, fine press, comics, etc. If there is an (AAT) next to the publication tradition, it is a term from the Getty Art & Architecture Thesaurus; if there is a (local) next to the term, it means that it is an un-official artists' book term being used by Artists' Books Online; and if there is no parenthetical note next to the publication tradition, it means that the tradition has been written specifically by the person entering in the information about the edition.
publisher: The publisher of the edition. In many cases, the publisher will be "self-published."
reception history: Any available information regarding the reception that the work, edition, or specific object received. This may includes, reviews of the work or any exhibitions that it was in.
related documents: Information regarding any documents (manuscript materials like early proofs or sketches of the work, financial statements, etc.) related to the work, or the specific edition or object.
related works: Other works by this artist or others that might be usefully compared to this or discussed/studied in combination with this work.
rights: If information is known about who owns the rights over a specific object, it would be displayed here.
role: A listing of the roles that the specified agent played in the creation of the work.
sculptural features: Comments on any significant sculptural features. Information about who authored this information is located at the top of the section (critical analysis).
sequence: Comments on any significant use of sequences or not. Information about who authored this information is located at the top of the section (critical analysis).
signed: This refers to whether or not the artist signed each copy in the edition or not.
specifics: This section includes information that is specific to a single object. This includes information such as the copy number of the object, any printing particulars, any inscriptions, the condition that it is in, and any conservation treatment that it has undergone.
subject: This refers to standard subject headings, which conform to Library of Congress guidelines or other conventions. If there is a (LCSH) next to the subject, it is a Library of Congress subject heading; if there is an (AAT) next to the heading, it is a term from the Getty Art & Architecture Thesaurus; if there is a (local) next to the term, it means that it is an un-official artists' book term being used by Artists' Books Online; and if there is no parenthetical note next to the subject, it means that the subject has been written specifically by the person entering in the information about the edition.
structure: Comments on any significant structural features. Information about who authored this information is located at the top of the section (critical analysis).
substrate: A description of the types of substrate (ex: paper, papyrus, vellum) used in the production of the edition. This will include specification of what part of the edition is being described (the endsheets, book block, or other), and the type of paper or other material used.
temporal features: Comments on any any significant temporal features. Information about who authored this information is located at the top of the section (critical analysis).
textual: Comments on any significant textual features. Information about who authored this information is located at the top of the section (critical analysis).
themes: Description of the thematic contents of the work. The author of this information will be specified in brackets at the end of the comment.
turnings: Comments on any significant use of turnings. Information about who authored this information is located at the top of the section (critical analysis).
typographic: Comments on typography and approach: mixed fonts, ransom-note, inter-linear texts, anything at all distinctive, remarkable, or worthy of comment with respect to the typography. Information about who authored this information is located at the top of the section (critical analysis).
work: In this project, each artist's book is divided into three levels of information: work, edition, and object. Work is the highest, and most general, level of information. The work should be thought of in the broadest possible terms, as including all the elements pertaining to conception, production, editions, reception history, and so on. The next level, the edition, contains more specific publication information and physical description. Each work can contain multiple editions. In many cases, however, there will only be one edition. The next level is the object level. This is the most specific, and gives information only about the particular book object that is being used to enter the information; this includes specifics regarding inscriptions, condition, location, etc.