The Baltimore Art Research & Outreach Consortium--a partnership of eight Baltimore art, education and cultural heritage institutions--has launched Maryland ArtSource, a Web site that offers visitors a way to learn about Maryland artists and the art they've created. The site, whose address is http://www.marylandartsource.org features biographies, online collections and a host of other resources.

BAROC, formed in 1999 to facilitate general art research and illuminate Maryland's artistic and cultural heritage, is based in the university's Sheridan Libraries.

Member institutions in addition to Hopkins are the Baltimore Museum of Art, the Enoch Pratt Free Library, the Maryland Historical Society, the Maryland Institute College of Art, the Division of Library Development and Services of the Maryland State Department of Education, the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and the Walters Art Museum.

Nancy K. Roderer, who served until recently as interim dean of the libraries at Hopkins, said, "We are delighted to partner with several of Baltimore's esteemed cultural institutions to produce new content of value to so many different constituents."

With federal and local funding, members of BAROC worked with a Baltimore-based technology vendor, the Berndt Group, to develop Maryland ArtSource, which features six categories of access for the material.

"Artists" introduces viewers to visual artists who were born in Maryland, depicted Maryland subjects or actively made art while living here. In addition to offering biographical material, the site includes links to personal papers, critiques and other resources.

"Institutions" details the strengths and expertise of Maryland museums, libraries, colleges, universities and historical societies.

"Art Collections Online" currently allows users to browse the holdings of the Maryland Historical Society, which include portraits, landscapes and views of everyday life from the 17th century to the present. Other online collections will be added in the future.

"Library Catalogs" offers links to searchable catalogs of BAROC partner libraries.

"What's New" brings together the latest news in art, educational and funding resources, and exhibitions and events.

"Maryland ArtMail" allows users--whether they're art historians, grantmakers or third-graders--to be notified about art news, educational resources and events, based on their specific roles and interests.

Tom Beck, chairman of BAROC and chief curator of the Albin O. Kuhn Library and Gallery of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, said, "The shared commitment among the BAROC partner institutions to promoting widespread awareness of the important and diverse art holdings and library collections that our institutions represent has made Maryland ArtSource possible. By joining together, we have pooled our institutional expertise into a single resource and simultaneously advanced the educational missions of our respective institutions."

Major funding for Maryland ArtSource was provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a federal agency. Other supporters are the ALH Foundation Inc., the William G. Baker Jr. Memorial Fund and the France-Merrick Foundation.