The University of British Columbia

The origins of the Art + Architecture + Planning Library (AArP) at UBC can be traced back to the 1940s with the establishment of the “Fine Arts Room” in old Main Library. Building upon the vision of the Fine Arts  Room, our primary goal is to create and cultivate a strong and vital collection that supports the research needs of faculty and students in the Department of Art History, Visual Art and Theory, the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, and the School of Community and Regional Planning. 

Our collection, the bulk of which can be found on levels three and four of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre (IKBLC), currently numbers over 220,000 print volumes, approximately 200 active journal subscriptions, and access to several hundred online journals. The collection also includes reference materials (dictionaries, encyclopedias, handbooks, etc.), catalogue raisonnés, ephemera, online article and image databases, e-books, and more. 

AArP resources are rich in Canadian content, as well as visual art in all media, scholarly works covering art, architecture and planning from ancient through contemporary times, and volumes treating a multitude of cultures from regions all over the world (North America, South America, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, etc.).

Ultimately, the AArP collection is shaped by your research, teaching, and learning needs. If you would like to suggest an item for addition to our collection, please use this online form.

Special Collections at AArP

AArP has a large collection of exhibition catalogues located in the open stacks, the vertical files, and the ASRS. For exhibition catalogues received at UBC before 1985 consult the Exhibition Card Catalogue, located above the vertical file cabinets on level 3 of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre. Access is by artist or subject. For exhibition catalogues received at UBC after 1985 consult the UBC Library Online Catalogue.

Canadian Exhibition Catalogues
In addition to those located in the IKBLC stacks and ASRS, numerous Canadian exhibition catalogues are housed in filing cabinets on the third floor of the IKBLC. The catalogues in the cabinets reflect both solo and group exhibitions, are arranged in call number order, and are library use only (non-circulating). Although the collection covers exhibitions taking place throughout Canada, it is particularly strong in exhibitions taking place in British Columbia.

To access exhibition catalogues with the location I.K. Barber Learning Centre AArP Canadian Exhibitions, patrons must make an in person request to the staff at the Reference/Information Desk on level three of the book stacks during Reference Hours. Requests are filled immediately.

Located on the third floor of the IKBLC, this extensive filing system provides a wealth of information in the areas of art, architecture, and community and regional planning dating from the 1950s. The files are arranged alphabetically and include pamphlets, exhibition announcements and reviews, newspaper clippings, planning reports, unpublished manuscripts, biographical information, correspondence, memorabilia, etc. Not all of the items in the vertical file have records in the UBC Library Catalogue, so consulting the vertical file is recommended.

To access AArP vertical files, patrons must make an in person request to the staff at the Reference/Information Desk on level three of the book stacks during Reference Hours. Requests are filled immediately.

Please note: Due to limited resources, Art + Architecture + Planning staff members are unable to photocopy, scan, fax, mail, or email the contents of the vertical files to users who do not consult the files in person.  We thank you in advance for your understanding.