January 1998 Volume 20 Number 1

Access to Professional Resources at the Getty (or The Getty Center for Dummies)

It is hardly news that the Getty Center is now open. The publicity has been rather remarkable. (One wouldn't be surprised to learn that radio messages have been beamed into space in an alien outreach effort.) With this in mind The Newsletter presents the following information as briefly as possible. For the formal and complete version see the Getty website at http://www.getty.edu.

The conservation library has been subsumed by, and is now housed in, the Research Institute, with the exception of current journals (1 year) which are kept at GCI in the reading room.

One can access the catalog for all collections including conservation literature via Research Webstracts, or Knowledge Center.

If you find what you want you can make an appointment to see materials at the Research Library plaza level reading room by calling the Reference Desk (310) 440-7390 or at the GCI Knowledge Center reading room, 440-6713.

Because of space limitations and security procedures "drop-ins" are not encouraged at GCI. Drop-ins to use the art reference collection can be accommodated at the Research Library on a space available and demonstrated need basis; all else must be requested, preferably 24 hours in advance, and separate appointments must be made for Special Collections and Photo and Study Collections. The hours for the Research Library are Monday through Friday, 9am-6pm, and at GCI Mon. through Fri. (except alternate Fridays) 9am-5pm. When you make an appointment you are put on a parking list, so you don't have to pay.

As in the past, to visit a conservator or scientist make an appointment with the individual. They will put you on the parking list.

The following is the basic information for general visitors: The Getty Center hours are Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Thursdays and Fridays, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Closed Mondays and major holidays. Admission is free. Parking reservations are required. There is a $5 fee per car. For reservations and information, please call (310) 440-7300 (English and Spanish) or (310) 440-7305 (for deaf and hearing-impaired [TDD]).

Visitors may arrive by bus or taxi without a parking reservation. Buses that stop at the Getty Center: Metro bus 561 (information: 1-800-266-6883; for deaf and hearing-impaired, 1-800-252-9040 [TTY]) and Santa Monica Bus 14 (information: 310-451-5444) . There is a taxi stop on Level P-1 of the parking structure. Direct phone lines to city-licensed cab companies are provided on Level P-1 and at the lower tram station.