Library

The Library of the National University of Arts in Bucharest is the University’s primary information and documentation service, supporting teaching, research and artistic practice.

The library operates an open-stack system, with holdings arranged across three levels (ground floor, first floor and second floor/attic) according to shelfmarks.

The library holdings comprise:

Document category – Number

• Total inventoried items: 64,686
• Current inventory number: 17,647
• Titles in the online catalogue: 22,000
• Doctoral theses: 321
• Periodical titles: 859
• Slides (slide collection): approximately 88,800

The library collections specialise in:

• visual arts;
• art history and theory;
• conservation and restoration;
• cultural heritage;
• design;
• photography;
• architecture;
• aesthetics;
• philosophy;
• history;
• literature;
• art education;
• related humanities disciplines.

The holdings are catalogued and managed through NECLIB, the computerised system used for cataloguing, classification and circulation.

The collections are continually updated through acquisitions, donations and documentary transfers, in line with the needs of the University’s study programmes and research activities.

Collection development at the Library of the National University of Arts in Bucharest supports teaching and research in the visual arts and related disciplines.

During 2025–2026, 406 volumes were added to the library holdings, comprising:

• 392 books;
• 14 volumes of journals and serial publications.

By source, the new items were added to the collections as follows:

Source – Number of volumes

• Institutionally funded acquisitions: 205
• Donations: 201
• Total: 406

Of the publications added during the period under review, 395 are in foreign languages.

The Library regularly receives donations from cultural institutions, international organisations, foundations and individuals, helping to diversify and update its collections.

Among the most significant donations received over time are documentary collections from France, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and the United States.

The periodical holdings, updated through subscriptions and donations, include specialist journals in:

• contemporary art;
• art history;
• architecture;
• design;
• photography;
• conservation and restoration;
• cultural heritage.

The Library continually develops its collections by acquiring titles recommended in course reading lists and requested by academic staff, researchers and students.

The Library of the National University of Arts in Bucharest provides users with access to electronic resources and research tools supporting teaching and research.

Collection management and bibliographic records are handled through NECLIB, the integrated library system used by the University since 2007.

The online catalogue allows users to search by:

• author;
• title;
• publisher;
• collection;
• keywords;
• subject;
• ISBN;
• ISSN.

The electronic catalogue contains approximately 22,000 bibliographic records and is continually updated as new items are added.

The Library provides access to:

• the online catalogue;
• databases and electronic resources available through the University;
• academic publications in electronic format;
• relevant open-access online resources;
• the University’s Wi-Fi network.

Access to electronic resources is provided exclusively for teaching, study and research purposes.

Library staff assist users in identifying and using the available information resources.

The Library of the National University of Arts in Bucharest maintains records of users and activities in accordance with its operating regulations and applicable personal data protection legislation.

Library users include:

• undergraduate, Master’s and doctoral students;
• academic staff;
• researchers;
• University administrative staff;
• external users, under the conditions set out in the library regulations.

User records are maintained through standard library documentation and the computerised collection management system.

Based on the available statistics, the Library compiles annual data on consultation in the reading rooms, home loans, bibliographic research and access to special collections.

Reference figures:

Indicator – Number

• Registered users: 16
• Annual library visits: 203
• Items consulted annually: 143

The use of the Library reflects the nature of art education, which often requires users to consult a large number of albums, monographs, journals and visual resources simultaneously.

In addition to the print collections, users have access to the online catalogue, online resources and bibliographic support provided by library staff.

The Library periodically compiles statistics on user visits, document circulation and collection use in order to improve the services provided to the academic community.

The Library of the National University of Arts in Bucharest provides information, documentation and collection access services to students, academic staff and researchers.

Opening hours

The Library’s opening hours are set annually and displayed at the entrance to the Library and on the University’s official website.

Opening hours may be adjusted according to the academic calendar, examination periods, institutional activities or other special circumstances.

Services

The Library provides the following services:

Access to collections

• open-stack access to most collections;
• consultation of publications in the reading rooms;
• access to the periodical holdings;
• consultation of doctoral theses;
• access to the slide collection.

Loans

• home loans for internal users, in accordance with the regulations;
• loan renewals under the conditions set out in the regulations;
• reservations for frequently requested publications.

Information and research support

• guidance in using the collections;
• bibliographic assistance;
• identification of resources required for teaching and research;
• support in using the online catalogue.

Access to electronic resources

• access to the Library’s online catalogue;
• access to databases and electronic resources provided through the University;
• access to the Wi-Fi network.

Study spaces

• use of the two reading rooms;
• spaces for individual study and research;
• open-stack access to collections arranged across three levels.

Through these services, the Library supports teaching, artistic practice and research across the National University of Arts in Bucharest.

The Library of the National University of Arts in Bucharest operates a modern open-stack system, allowing users to browse and consult the collections directly.

Spatial organisation

The Library is arranged across four levels:

• basement;
• ground floor;
• first floor;
• second floor/attic.

The collections are organised systematically by shelfmark throughout the Library, from the ground floor to the second floor/attic.

This arrangement provides quick access to materials and enables users to consult the holdings directly.

Reading rooms

The Library has two reading rooms for study and research.

The reading rooms provide suitable conditions for:

• individual study;
• consultation of specialist publications;
• research and documentation;
• use of personal devices for academic purposes.

The spaces are designed to support intellectual and artistic work.

Facilities

The Library is equipped with:

• the NECLIB computerised collection management system;
• a continually updated online catalogue;
• internet access through the University’s Wi-Fi network;
• spaces for the storage and preservation of collections;
• dedicated furniture for consulting publications and individual study.

Bibliographic processing and collection management are carried out using the IT infrastructure available to library staff.

Special collections

The Library also manages special documentary collections, including:

• the doctoral thesis collection;
• the specialist periodicals collection;
• the slide collection, comprising approximately 88,800 slides used in teaching and research.

Through the organisation of its spaces and collections, the Library provides information resources aligned with the University’s study programmes and research activities.

The Library of the National University of Arts in Bucharest supports teaching and research by continually developing and updating its collections in line with the reading lists included in course descriptions across the University’s study programmes.

The library holdings include specialist publications in:

• visual arts;
• painting;
• sculpture;
• graphic arts;
• photography and moving image;
• design;
• decorative arts;
• conservation and restoration;
• art history and theory;
• cultural heritage;
• aesthetics;
• philosophy;
• related humanities disciplines.

Course reading lists are reviewed periodically against course descriptions and in collaboration with course coordinators.

The library holdings comprise 64,686 items, with approximately 22,000 titles listed in the online catalogue, covering the main areas of study and research set out in the curricula.

Reading lists are updated through:

• acquisitions of new publications;
• donations;
• proposals submitted by academic staff and academic departments;
• analysis of collection use.

The Library provides students and academic staff with publications in both Romanian and foreign languages, relevant to the University’s fields of study.

Reading lists for each study programme are available in the course descriptions and are aligned with the resources held in the Library collections.