Learning to Look and See

The library is a resource in your studies - creative, scientific, interdisciplinary and otherwise.  Use the library and the resources here as a jumping off point for your research this semester.  Begin, now, to collect and organize (in your own way) the ideas and images that influence your thoughts and the work you do.  Your sketchbook is where you "put all personal research, class notes, readings, ideas, drawings, studies, collage, photos, and thoughts..." (this is from your syllabus).  Although sometimes ideas seem like they appear from mysterious places, it is important to take notes throughout the process.  

Research Basics

Information on citing resources (including images) is available on the library Citation Help page.

Reference materials are useful for finding a topic, narrowing an idea, and/or starting research.  The best way to find these materials is to BROWSE! In our library, reference materials can be found in on the 3rd floor by the Learning Commons (they will also say "DEN Ref" in their call number) and online.  DEN Main books are in the stacks.

Dictionaries & Encyclopedias: Good for quick reference and starting research.  Encyclopedias are written by leading scholars and often have bibliographies for further reading and research.

• Grove Art Online
  The best place to start; articles on thousands of artists, countries, and media.
  Print version: The Dictionary of ArtN31 .D5 1996
• Oxford Reference Books Online: Art Section
  Online access to six of Oxford's art reference books.
• Thames & Hudson Dictionary of Art Terms  N33 .L75 2004
• Atlas of World Art  N5300 .A85 2004
• Contemporary Artists  N6490 .C6567 2002
• Dictionary of Women Artists  N8354 .D53 1997

Databases and Web Resources

Databases are infinitely more organized than some random online searches.  Remember the subject headings and keywords that were successful for you in the catalog and start with those here. Use indexes and databases to search for articles that appeared in periodicals.

After you find relevant articles, see if the database you are using has full text (usually PDF) files available for you to download.  If the full text is not available, use the CONSORT Catalog to see whether we subscribe to the journal. If we don't have the journal available make a request for the article using Interlibrary Loan.)

Article & Book Databases:

• Art Full Text
  Index, abstracts, and full text for articles in art.
• Contemporary Artists Index
  A free web database from the Cleveland Institute of Art that indicates publications containing information on individual contemporary artists.
• JSTOR
  Historical full text (up to last 5 years) for 32 art history journals.  Searching in JSTOR allows you to search for images in both the articles themselves and in ARTstor.  Magic, again...
  
• Union List of Artist Names (ULAN)
  The ULAN contains almost 300,000 artist names and associated information. This resource is especially helpful for determining if multiple names belong to the same person and for finding brief biographical information on lesser known artists.


Image Databases:

• ArtSTOR
  Images only; a collection of over 300,000 images from museums and cultural sites all over the world. Click on "Search and browse for images" (lower left side) to begin.
• Art & Architecture Digital Media
  Access more than 60,000 art and architecture images.
• Digital Video Collection:
  Access digital videos from Films for the Humanities. Many films on various periods and themes in Art History; also, films on modern artists and techniques.
• VADS the online resource for visual arts
  The Visual Arts Data Service is based at the Surrey Institute of Art and Design at University College in Farnham, Great Britain. The services offered include a searchable catalog of image collections and other collections. Subject areas include fine arts, design, architecture, applied arts, history and theory, media, museum studies and conservation, and professional practice

Finding Books, Journals, and other materials

1. You can search by title, author, keyword, subject, or journal title.  The information you find as you do your research will lead you to additional keywords and subject headings.  Remember to look at the subject headings for the things you find that are useful - that will give you specific search terms to use as you continue with your research.
   

   SUBJECT Search

   • A specific topic (ex. "fashion design" or "fashion accessories")
   • A topic, narrowed geographically (ex. Theater China or Broadway New York)
   • A person's name (ex. Chanel, Coco)

   
   Keyword Search Options

   • AND (fewer results) / OR (expanded results) / NOT (eliminates words)
   • * truncation symbol (allows you to search for artists, artwork, and art if you put in art*) - Magic!
     
   • Use "quotation marks" to search for a specific phrase
   • Use (parentheses) to make one portion of search string function first
   • "Ill." or "Illus." means a book contains pictures
     
   • Use the "Modify Search" button to perform an advanced search (to weed out materials you don't want).
     


2. MAKE LISTS!!!      Save your catalog searches using  "Saved List" (the "save" button is listed under the number of each item)
   • You can continue to save items on your list throughout your search session
     
   • To get to the Saved List, click "View Saved Records" at the top of the screen
     
   • You can print the list or email it to yourself
     


3. If you cannot find something in the CONSORT catalog, check OhioLINK to see if there is a copy available.  You can "Request this item" if you find something in OhioLINK (follow the prompts on the screen).