FEATURED:

Freshman Experience

Jump right into your major

Confidence and technique take time to master. So we don't waste a minute.

We know you’re eager to jump right in and start mastering your art and design skills, so we give you the tools to get started. Like all artists and designers at the start of their career, you’ll need to understand the basics of drawing, design, color and more. But at Ringling College, we tailor these freshman foundation courses to the specific needs of our different disciplines. An animator sketches differently than an illustrator, and a filmmaker uses light differently than a photographer, so we’ve designed informed, focused, and highly-specialized courses that let our freshmen jump immediately into meaningful projects that connect directly to the majors they want to pursue.

In addition to those specialized foundation courses, you’ll also begin taking classes within your disciplines during your first year, sometimes even working with actual clients. Every minute at Ringling College is dedicated to moving your toward your future as a professional creative.

First Year Communities

Our communities bring together students and concepts from related majors to break down silos and introduce the basic concepts of working alongside other disciplines.

Design Arts

The Design Arts community tailors student projects and coursework to the experiences, perspectives and interests of design-related majors. As a member of the Design Arts community, you will learn how to work on long-term projects with other types of designers—a skill that will enable you to collaborate successfully in a professional work environment. Graphic designers will work alongside motion designers and both will learn to question existing design norms as taught in Visual Studies. Don’t limit your design expertise to your discipline alone. Discover how your specialty fits into the larger solution.

Business of Art + Design
Graphic Design
Motion Design
Visual Studies

Visual Studies majors can choose between first-year courses within the Design Arts and Studio Arts communities.

Studio Arts

The Studio Arts community brings together students in Film, Fine Arts, Photography, and Visual Studies to broaden student exposure to other studio arts and deepen understanding of their own major. Photography students will learn how to apply their work to both commercial and fine arts settings, and Fine Arts students will push the boundaries of their work through collaboration with Visual Studies majors. 

As part of the freshman Studio Arts community, you will meet students in related majors and learn how to collaborate and apply your work to larger, long-term projects.

Film
Fine Arts
Photography + Imaging
Visual Studies

Visual Studies majors can choose between first-year courses within the Design Arts and Studio Arts communities.

Media Arts

The freshman year Media Arts community will introduce majors from Illustration, Computer Animation, and Game Art to the realities of working as a media major at Ringling College and beyond. As a Media Arts student, you will work on countless projects that push your knowledge and technical proficiency of your major and related disciplines. Expand your understanding of the media industry by working alongside game artists, illustrators, and computer animators on projects that build in complexity and require understanding of newly acquired concepts.

You will collaborate on long-term media arts projects and learn how your piece fits into the overall equation.

Computer Animation
Game Art
Illustration
Virtual Reality Development

Creative Writing

Our Creative Writing program offers a unique, major-focused community for aspiring writers and storytellers. Creative writing majors will discover the countless applications for creative writing across industries and disciplines and work together on long-term, complex projects.

Staff

Co-Interim Director of Library Services

941-359-7582

Pat Mizak

Co-Interim Director of Library Services

941-309-4055

Alexandra Vargas-Minor

Digital Curation and Special Collections Librarian

941-359-7583

Janelle Rebel

Technical Services Librarian

941-359-7586

Janet Thomas

Instructional Design Librarian

Vacant

Instructional Design Librarian

Vacant

Library Technician III (Cataloging and Metadata Assistant)

941-359-7631

Lisa Martinez

Library Technician II (Periodicals and Interlibrary Loan)

Vacant

Library Technician III (Circulation Manager)

941-359-7587

Tim DeForest

Library Technician III (Acquisitions Manager/Office Support)

941-359-7584

Yolanda Coleman

Library Technician II (Assistant Circulation Manager)

941-359-7587

Christina Song

Circulation Assistant

Jean Ferderber

Circulation Assistant Sooyeon Baek
Circulation Assistant James Harrison

Borrowing

Patron Type # of Items Type of Material Borrowing Time
Student 40 Books 3 weeks
CDs and CD-ROMs 3 days
DVDs and Blu-Ray 3 days
Magazines (unbound) 3 day
Magazines/Annuals (bound) 5 days
Videogames* 7 days
Faculty and Staff 40 Books 6 weeks
CDs and CD-ROMs 3 days
DVDs and Blu-Ray 7 days
Magazines (unbound) 3 day
Magazines/Annuals (bound) 5 days
Videogames* 7 days
Trustee, Alumni, Cross College Alliance, and  15 Books 3 weeks
Ringling College LibraryAssociation Members CDs and CD-ROMs 3 days
DVDs and Blu-Ray 3 days
Magazines (unbound) 3 day
Magazines/Annuals (bound) 5 days
Videogames* N/A
PreCollege 5 Books 3 weeks
CDs and CD-ROMs 3 days
DVDs and Blu-Ray 3 days
Magazines (unbound) 3 day
Magazines/Annuals (bound) 5 days
Videogames* N/A
Local Teacher 15 Books 3 weeks
CDs and CD-ROMs 3 days
DVDs and Blu-Ray 3 days
Magazines (unbound) 3 day
Magazines/Annuals (bound) 5 days
Videogames* N/A
Chartwell’s and Follett employees located at Ringling 15 Books 3 weeks
CDs and CD-ROMs 3 days
DVDs and Blu-Ray 3 days
Magazines (unbound) 3 day
Magazines/Annuals (bound) 5 days
Videogames* N/A
*The video game collection supports the research and teaching of the Game Art & Design program. Video games may not be checked out by Alumni, Ringling College Library Association members or Family members.

Spaces

The Alfred R. Goldstein Library features a wide variety of quiet, group study, and work process spaces. Looking for a quiet study area? Make your way up to the 3rd floor to look for a book in the Research Collection or peruse the new art magazines while relaxing in comfortable seating. When the weather is nice, you can take your coffee from Roberta’s Café on the first floor to one of the four terraces to work outside and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. Looking for meeting space to get together with a group? Check out the group study rooms, which are available on all three floors of the Goldstein Library. The 10 group study rooms are available to students on a first-come first served basis, or available for booking by Ringling College faculty and staff for group and class meetings.

Library Hours

Library Services Hours (when classes are in session):

Sunday: 12:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Monday – Thursday: 8:00 am – 11:00 pm
Friday: 8:00 am – 7:00 pm
Saturday: 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Holidays and Breaks:
The Library is closed on holidays, as designated by the institution, and typically operates on a Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm schedule during breaks.

Ringling College ID Access Only

Please note a Ringling College ID is required for access, except from 8:30am – 4:30pm from Monday – Friday.

Hours for the Brizdle-Schoenberg Special Collections Center:

By appointment only from Monday – Friday 9:30 am – 4:30 pm, no drop-ins. Closed Saturday and Sunday.

Contact specialcollections@c.ringling.edu to schedule an appointment.

Visit Us

Ringling College of Art + Design
Alfred R. Goldstein Library
2700 N. Tamiami Trail
Sarasota, FL 34234-5895

Download a campus map

Suggest a Purchase: Library Acquisitions Request

We welcome recommendations for new library materials from the Ringling College community. Librarians will consider all requests bearing in mind their appropriateness for the collections and the current budget.
(*=Required Field)

Ask Us

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Advanced Search

Text us: 941-208-4542
Email us: research@ringling.edu
Call us: (941) 359-7587

Schedule a research consultation

Schedule an appointment with one of our librarians or a research consultant.