Bloomsbury Architecture Library

CONTENT Bloomsbury Architecture Library consists of two collections: the Core Collection, and Architecture Design & Practice Online. The Core Collection includes the latest edition of Sir Banister Fletcher’s seminal two-volume work Global History of Architecture, which is the cornerstone of the collection and is regarded as the most important and influential work in the field of architecture history. The Core Collection also includes 113 architecture ebooks; 2200 images and building plans; an interactive timeline of movements, themes, and periods from 3500 BCE to the current day; an interactive architectural world map; and a glossary of 900 architectural terms. Architecture Design & Practice Online features more than 200 ebooks on studio design, technical drawings, case studies, and professional practice, with extensive coverage of historical preservation, sustainability, and urban design topics.

USABILITY Consistent with other Bloomsbury databases, the landing page is logically organized with attractive visuals. The tabs at the top of the page are extremely functional, with six navigational options. Content is accessible in four primary ways from the navigational bar. First, terms can be entered in the large search box just below the navigation tools, with advanced-search options for title, author/creator, abstract, category, identifier, year, and content type. Second, the “Explore” tab has a drop-down menu for searching by place, period, subjects and styles, peoples, cultures and religions, materials, and architects. Third, the “Browse Contents” facet allows searching by eight different formats, such as ebooks and learning resources. Fourth, the “Collections” option supplies direct links to holdings in the two primary collections. Below the search bar is an image carousel of recently added and featured content. Featured content highlights one relevant theme with links to key terms in the overview; links for previously featured content are also preserved. As an example, during the period of LJ’s review there were modules on “Modernism in Indian Architecture” and “Effects of Climate Change on Architecture.” Scrolling further down the page, the user will find colorful images with links to the database’s key contents. The resource has an abundance of usable features. For example, content for a specific location can be discovered quickly by using the world map. In order to retrieve images of Jefferson’s Monticello and the Washington Monument, a user would first click on a map of North America and then the American South region. Furthermore, articles, images, and designs can be saved, printed, shared, and cited. Counter 4 and Counter 5 usage statistics, MARC records, and promotional materials are available for downloading.

PRICING Bloomsbury Architecture Library is available for purchase by perpetual access ($10,563 to $35,129), which includes four years of updates, with an optional annual content update fee of between $600 to $1,000 beginning five years after purchase. It is also available by subscription ($1,761 to $5,855), with pricing based on the size and type of institution; discounts may be available from consortia. Bloomsbury Architecture Library is a modular resource, with Architecture Design and Practice Online having its own, separate pricing.

VERDICT Bloomsbury Architecture Library’s exceptional navigation tools, options for access, and enhanced features make the database an outstanding research tool for anyone interested in historical and modern architecture. ProQuest’s Art, Design, and Architecture Collection and EBSCO’s Art & Architecture Source are also excellent resources, although both are more generalized than Bloomsbury Architecture Library. New collections are scheduled to be added to this database; stay tuned for more information, as these collections will make an already first-rate resource even more appealing.