SDSU University Library
Laurel Bliss

Laurel Bliss (she/her)

Fine Arts Librarian

ORCID iD
Academic Rank: Associate Librarian; Tenured
(619) 594-4446
lbliss@sdsu.edu

Office: Library Addition 1101E
University Library,
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive,
San Diego, CA 92182-8050

Professional History
  • Fine Arts Librarian, 2007—Present
    Library, San Diego State University
  • Assistant Art Librarian, 2003—2007
    Library, Princeton University
  • Librarian for Art and Architecture, 2001—2003
    Library, Yale University
  • Reference Librarian, 1999—2001
    Library, Yale University
Education
  • MLS, Southern Connecticut State University, 1998
  • MA, University of Virginia, 1994
  • BA, Haverford College, 1991
Memberships
  • 2024—Present
    College Art Association
  • 2000—Present
    American Library Association

Scholarship

Academic Publications

Speaking Across Silos: Understanding the Commonalities between Subject and Functional Roles.
Amanda Lanthorne; Pamella Lach; Laurel Bliss
Approaches to Liaison Librarianship: Innovations in Organization and Engagement, 2021, book chapter
Csu dreamin’: A case study of collaboration across the California State University system with arts, architecture, and performing arts librarians
Smith, K.A.; Roll, A.; Laurel Bliss
Art Documentation, 2021, journal article
Evolution of the Curriculum: Using Archives to Inform Collection Development for Women's Studies
Laurel Bliss
Gender Studies in the Library: Case Studies, Programming, Outreach, 2017, book chapter
Spreading Girl Germs: Sources on Third-Wave Feminism in Collaborative Librarianship
Laurel Bliss
Gender Studies in the Library: Case Studies, Programming, Outreach, 2017, book chapter
Smarter Together: Collaborative Tablet Communities on Campus and Reference Services Innovation
Laurel Bliss
Library Technology Reports, 2012, journal article

Surveying trends in art librarianship: evolving roles
Laurel Bliss
The Handbook of Art and Design Librarianship, 2010, book chapter
Hunting for Art - Elusive WPA Murals
Laurel Bliss
Visual Resources Association Bulletin, 2010, journal article
Documenting WPA Murals in California
Laurel Bliss
Art Documentation, 2010, journal article
Persuading Architecture Faculty that Library Instruction is Essential: A Yale Case Study
Laurel Bliss
Art Documentation, 2002, journal article

Academic Conferences

Grassroots Consortial Collaboration Building
Laurel Bliss
ARLIS/NA Annual Conference, 2019, conference paper
Engaging Library Users in Collection Development
Laurel Bliss
ARLIS/NA Annual Conference, 2017, conference paper
The Communication Super Friends: Powering Communication, Strengthening Engagement, and Defeating Unawareness in an Academic Library.
Laurel Bliss; Alex Herbias; Keven Jeffery; Jordan Nielsen; Gloria Rhodes; Jessica Santos
American Library Association, Orlando, FL., 2016, conference poster
Moving the Needle: Advancing the Profession Through Publishing
Laurel Bliss
ARLIS/NA Annual Conference, 2015, conference paper
Global Visions: Building Image Collections in a Participatory Culture
Laurel Bliss
ARLIS/NA Annual Conference, 2010, conference paper

Moving outside the Canon: a Projects Update
Laurel Bliss
Visual Resources Association Annual Conference, 2009, conference paper
Evolving Art Librarian
Laurel Bliss
ARLIS/NA Annual Conference, 2009, conference paper
WPA Murals in California: a small digitization project.
Laurel Bliss
ARLIS/NA Annual Conference, 2008, conference poster

Review and Editing

Colour of clothes : fashion and dress in autochromes 1907–1930 (Review)
Laurel Bliss
Choice, 2025, book review
Creole : portraits of France's foreign relations during the long nineteenth century (Review)
Laurel Bliss
Choice, 2024, book review
A new way of seeing : the history of art in 57 works (Review)
Laurel Bliss
Choice, 2023, book review
Pre-fab living (Review)
Laurel Bliss
Choice, 2021, book review
Walker Evans : no politics (Review)
Laurel Bliss
Choice, 2021, book review

The decisive network : Magnum Photos and the postwar image market (Review)
Laurel Bliss
Choice, 2020, book review
A History of architecture and trade (Review)
Laurel Bliss
Choice, 2018, book review
Firecrackers : female photographers now (Review)
Laurel Bliss
Choice, 2018, book review
Photography after photography : gender, genre, history (Review)
Laurel Bliss
Choice, 2017, book review
Face and mask : a double history (Review)
Laurel Bliss
Choice, 2017, book review
First in the homes of his countrymen : George Washington's Mount Vernon in the American imagination (Review)
Laurel Bliss
Choice, 2017, book review
Enduring truths : Sojourner's shadows and substance (Review)
Laurel Bliss
Choice, 2016, book review
Principles of art history : the problem of the development of style in early modern art (Review)
Laurel Bliss
Choice, 2016, book review
German art in New York : the canonization of modern art 1904-1957 (Review)
Laurel Bliss
Choice, 2016, book review
Discovering the Impressionists : Paul Durand-Ruel and the new painting (Review)
Laurel Bliss
Choice, 2015, book review
Isaiah Rogers : architectural practice in antebellum America (Review)
Laurel Bliss
Choice, 2015, book review
Architecture and armed conflict : the politics of destruction (Review)
Laurel Bliss
Choice, 2015, book review
The Parthenon enigma (Review)
Laurel Bliss
Choice, 2014, book review
Architecture in motion : the history and development of portable building (Review)
Laurel Bliss
Choice, 2014, book review
Mathew Brady : portraits of a nation (Review)
Laurel Bliss
Choice, 2014, book review
Makers of modern architecture : v.2: From Le Corbusier to Rem Koolhaas (Review)
Laurel Bliss
Choice, 2014, book review
Color rush : American color photography from Stieglitz to Sherman (Review)
Laurel Bliss
Choice, 2013, book review
Reconstructing the view : the Grand Canyon photographs of Mark Klett and Byron Wolfe (Review)
Laurel Bliss
Choice, 2013, book review
Photography and landscape (Review)
Laurel Bliss
Choice, 2012, book review
Tudoresque : in pursuit of the ideal home (Review)
Laurel Bliss
Choice, 2012, book review
Shadows of a fleeting world : pictorial photography and the Seattle Camera Club (Review)
Laurel Bliss
Choice, 2011, book review
The secret lives of buildings : from the ruins of the Parthenon to the Vegas Strip in thirteen stories (Review)
Laurel Bliss
Choice, 2010, book review
194X : architecture, planning, and consumer culture on the American home front (Review)
Laurel Bliss
Choice, 2009, book review
Home delivery : fabricating the modern dwelling (Review)
Laurel Bliss
Choice, 2009, book review
Paris on the Potomac : the French influence on the architecture and art of Washington, D.C. (Review)
Laurel Bliss
Choice, 2008, book review
Makers of modern architecture (Review)
Laurel Bliss
Choice, 2008, book review
Candid reflections : letters from women in architecture 1972 & 2004 (Review)
Laurel Bliss
Choice, 2008, book review
James Marston Fitch : selected writings on architecture, preservation, and the built environment (Review)
Laurel Bliss
Choice, 2007, book review