Version 1.0 (July 2022)

Download dataset: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1uThgDcDjVm0-5a_eOoy9D3Y4PhGGImU1abOqC1CPoSI/edit?usp=sharing

Analysis sample: https://rpubs.com/yenlinchen7/929973

Introduction

The library catalogue provides classification of the content of the book, but sadly very little information is recorded about the books’ physical material, design elements, and quantitative characters (e.g. word length of articles).

This expanding dataset is initially built to respond to these queries, which would help address publication concerns, but it could also serves as:

  1. Reference for the publications department, e.g. to obtain physical samples of certain materials, to facilitate decision for length of article, to observe trends in printed art book

  2. Reference for designers, e.g. to browse through how different designs look on print, to gain inspiration on layout

  3. Reference for curators, e.g. to research how existing exhibitions had organized their sections, or how many objects were selected for a show

Guidelines

Most categorical variables should be selected from among the choices in the drop-down menu. Numerical variables should be directly typed in.

If none of the choices are applicable because the whole column does not apply, leave blank.

If none of the choices are applicable because the proper choice is missing, please contact the administrator!

Column Detail: general

call_no

Call number, as in the Clark library’s internal classification. I chose to input call number, a local assignment, rather than a universal assignment such as the ISBN, because the call number itself provides a lot of information about the book that the librarians have gleaned already, i.e. the art medium, the art movement, year of publication, etc., that might be relevant for conditional queries.

book_genre

The genre/occasion of the book.

  • exhibition_catalogue
  • archive: compilation of archival materials, by single or multiple artists (usually image-heavy)
  • coffee_table: coffee table book, usually compilation of photography
  • research: compilation of research articles (usually essay-heavy)

book_property

The property/content of the book.

  • single_artist: the whole book revolves around the work of one artist
  • by_artist: the book talks about a group of artists, and is separated into section by each artist
  • theme: the book centers around a theme (period, art movement, medium, etc.)

cover_color_1

The primary color of the book cover, i.e. occupies largest space.

  • red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, grey, white, beige, brown, black, pink, beige
  • multi: multicolor image

cover_color_2

The secondary color of the book cover, i.e.

  • choices same as color_cover_1
  • if inapplicable, leave blank

cover_bind

The binding of the book.

  • hardcover, softcover, flexiblound

endpage

The content on the (front) endpage.

  • none: no endpage
  • blank: just a piece(s) of blank paper
  • sketch: doodlings or sketches
  • image_single: full-page image(s)
  • image_collage: collage of multiple images
  • solid_color: fully colored paper

paper_coating

Paper coating of the majority of pages.

  • coated_glossy, coated_matte, uncoated
  • mix (a mix of different papers)

oversize

Whether the book is oversized or not, as classified by the Clark library.

  • yes, no

article_count

Total number of articles in the book, minus the Preface/Foreword, which may be unusually short, and include the Introduction

  • if inapplicable (e.g. archive), leave blank.

article_word_count_est

Estimate of the average word count per article.

  • if inapplicable (e.g. archive), leave blank.
  • if the word count among articles vary significantly, input 10^10.

article_creative

Whether the book includes creative essay(s) either by featured artist(s) or someone else, as opposed to research essays and catalogue entries.

  • yes, no

article_artist_statement

Whether the book includes essay(s) by the artist on themselves, non-creative.

  • yes, no

footnote_placement

The placement of the footnote of the articles.

  • on_page: footnote right on the page where it is mentioned
  • article_end: all footnotes of one article placed at the end of that article
  • book_end: all footnotes of all articles in the entire book placed at the end of the book

image_caption

Content of the image caption.

  • tombstone: only simplest information
  • entry: catalogue entries
  • mix: some only tombstone, some with entries

image_caption_placement

Placement of the image caption.

  • directly: caption can be found on the same spread as its corresponding image
  • gathered: captions are gathered to be displayed together, for one article or one section
  • listall: captions are only listed in entirety at the end
  • none: no caption

catalogue_image_placement

Applies only if book_form = exhibition_catalogue. Placement of the images of exhibited works.

  • dispersed: catalogue images dispersed throughout
  • beginning: catalogue images all at the beginning of the book
  • end: catalogue images all at the end of the book

exhibited_work_count

Total number of exhibited work (estimate when number unavailable).

retail_price

Intended retail price in USD.

region_artist

Artist by the continent they’re associated with. * international: if multiple continents

country_publisher

Follows the standardized alpha2 (two letter) country code

country_printer

Follows the standardized alpha2 (two letter) country code

timeline

Whether a timeline/chronology is present throughout the book. * yes, no

index

Whether an index is present. * yes, no

Column Detail: New York Times list

critic

Under which NYT critic’s recommendation