The Temple University Libraries were notified today that the Getty Research Institute has discontinued publication of the Bibliography of the History of Art (BHA), a critical database in the field of art history. Furthermore, we regret to report that the Getty will switch off all access to the BHA at the end of March 2010. Proquest, the distributor through which Temple has had access to the BHA, confirmed in writing to us that the Getty had been looking for a buyer for the database but that as of last week, no other publisher was willing to buy and continue the database. So Getty is pulling the plug. ProQuest maintains that no extension of access for any customers will be possible after March 31.

Alternatives:

• The Bibliography of the History of Art is a superior database and its coverage has not been duplicated in any single database available to us, but the Temple University Libraries can offer you some alternative databases that provide some overlap of BHA content.
• ARTbibliographies Modern: Covers around 150 of the journals on BHA’s list, with unsurpassed strengths in areas such as modernism, contemporary global art and photography
• British Humanities Index: Covers around 80 BHA journals, covering subjects such as fine art, antiques, museums, classical studies, European studies and interdisciplinary studies
• Design and Applied Arts Index (DAAI): Covers 40 BHA journals, with overlapping subject strengths in costume and dress, decorative arts and interiors

Again, all access to the Bibliography of the History of Art (BHA) will cease on Wednesday, March 31, 2010. Please continue to use this resource until then.

— by Jill E. Luedke, Reference & Instruction Librarian / Art Subject Specialist