What are the collections?
The AVRC’s research and reference collections are made up of thousands of images, film, video and audio recordings in various formats, material culture artefacts, books, journals, exhibition, festival, sales and distribution catalogues, as well as printed ephemera. Our collections reflect the teaching and research interests of past and present faculty, as well as significant donations.
Search our Collections
Library Catalogue
Search for films, videos, books, journals, and catalogues
Digital Image Database (login required)
Search, organize and share images and image groups
Special Collections
Explore our collections of material culture artefacts
Some of the strengths of our collection include:
- Extensive images and educational material on Canadian architecture / built heritage
- Images of international architecture and built environments
- Materials relating to Canadian film and the National Film Board
- Materials relating to Canadian women artists
- Artefacts relating to the arts of communication and design
- An extensive Jazz analogue recording collection
Our Collections By The Numbers
Images
Our art and architectural history image collections consists of approx. 250,000 35mm slides and to date approx. 105,000 digital images and include examples of visual and material culture from around the world from prehistoric to modern times.
Film and Video
Our film and video collection consists of approx. 2500 VHS tapes, 4000 DVDs and BDs, 370 Laser Discs, and 5000 16mm films, and to date about a dozen 35mm films. Documentaries, features, television programs, experimental film and video are all represented.
Books, Catalogues, Journals Pamplets and Ephemera
Our text based collection consists of approx. 6500 books, 4200 catalogues, 200 journal titles, and 1000s of ephemera covering various topics in mostly western visual and material culture.
Music and Material Culture
Our music and material culture collections consists of approx. 11,000, mostly analogue, recordings of Jazz music and approx. 300 artefacts representing a wide range of original uses, including audio-visual and medical equipment, tables and chairs, cookware and dinnerware.
Featured collections
xDX Collection
Highlights of Canadian Industrial Design
Archive of Canadian Women Artists (ACWA)
Books, exhibition catalogues, artist files, and more
Jazz Collections
Analogue recordings (78s, 33s and 45s), guides and indexes