This guide serves as the primary instructional manual for navigating and utilizing the Authority Reference Tool within the Art and Architecture Thesaurus (AAT) framework. The Getty Art History Information Program developed this documentation to assist researchers, catalogers, and information professionals in standardizing terminology across art and architectural databases. By providing clear protocols for data entry and retrieval, the text ensures consistency in the application of controlled vocabularies for complex cultural heritage collections.

Experts identify this manual as the foundational documentation for users of the Getty's controlled vocabulary systems. Professionals in the field of information management frequently rely on this text to ensure accurate indexing and retrieval of specialized art historical data.