Between America’s coastlines lies a vast collection of priceless art. Accessing the plethora of artistic venues in our nation can be an overwhelming task to the casual traveler. For years, art-loving travelers have relied on the updated volumes of On Exhibit: Art Lovers’ Travel Guide to American Museums for essential information on the best permanent and traveling exhibitions across the country. Each year, author Judith Swirsky performs the Herculean task of compiling current information on the nation’s art exhibits.

Now in its eighth edition, the unique directory offers comprehensive information about traveling and permanent collections including a calendar of temporary exhibits for each museum, descriptions of each exhibit, parking and other facilities, ticket and reservation numbers, and more. On Exhibit 2000 (Abbeville Publishing Group, December 1999, $17.95 paperback, 415 pages, ISBN 0-7892-0532-7) documents over 750 museums and 3,000 special exhibitions.

A perfect traveling companion for all art lovers, the book features state-by-state and city-by-city listings for easy reference while at home or on the road. The cross-country traveler can find museum listings for all 50 states.

The book is a good frame of reference, especially for the operating hours and contact phone numbers and Web sites for museums. However, not all museum listings in On Exhibit 2000 offer schedules of all special or temporary exhibitions planned for this year. In the Connecticut listings alone, the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford is given a full page of coverage, with background information on the museum and a calendar of some of the shows the museum will be presenting through the end of the year, including even exhibitions that do not open until April and September. The Atheneum presents at least 15 new shows annually, however; On Exhibit 2000 has missed listing a number of those planned for this year.

The entry for Greenwich’s Bruce Museum is also lacking. Again, the header is full of the pertinent information including the fact the museum is closed on Mondays and all legal holidays, but the special exhibitions section — the crux of this book — is deficient. On Exhibit 2000 lists only one of the four current temporary exhibitions at the Bruce, all of which close in March, and there are no listings beyond that. Whether the fault of the author or lack of advance planning by the museums, the special exhibitions are not, as the title implies, all included.

Nevertheless, museums in smaller cities and universities, as well as those in the larger cultural hubs of the country, are all included. Detailed entries include Web site addresses and “not to be missed” side notes. Its accessible format and concise language makes On Exhibit 2000 a helpful resource for art aficionados and casual museum patrons alike.