Cypress College Library

Art 110 -- Art Appreciation Research Guide

For your museum paper, you may do research using sources such as books, articles, and credible web sites. This guide will help you get started on your research. If you need further help, please come to the library for a consultation with a reference librarian.

How do I find a book?

There are several ways to look for books. One is to browse the shelves. The general call number range for art books is N through NX--so you could come to the library and go straight to the shelves with the above call numbers and look around.

A more efficient way to look for books is to search the library's online catalog.

• If you're looking for books on a particular artist, type the artist's last name, first name in the text box. Then set the search to "Subject Browse" and click search.
• Sometimes with lesser known artists, a subject search may not bring back any results. In that case, change your search to "Keyword Relevance Search."
• If you don't know the name of the artist, you can use Subject Headings to find books on a style of art or the period of a piece. Below are some subject headings you might find useful. Remember, type the subject heading in the text box, set the search to "Subject Browse," and click search. When you get your results page, you will see that each subject heading is divided by places or time periods. All you have to do is to click the places or period you're interested in.

Can I use a reference book?

Reference books are a great resource. You should use encyclopedias and other reference books to get background information on an artist, or to get an overview of the artist's work, but then you should move beyond the encyclopedia to find other authoritative sources. (HINT: Encyclopedia articles will almost always have a bibliography that will lead you to other relevant works.)

Below are some reference books you might find useful:

Contemporary Artists (REF N6490 .C6567)

Dictionary of Art (REF N31 .D5)

Dictionary of Art and Artists (REF N31 .M8)

Dictionary of Art Terms (REF N33 .H25)

Visual Dictionary of Art (REF N33 .V56)

Dictionary of Subjects and Symbols in Art (REF N7560 .H34)

Illustrated Dictionary of Symbols in Eastern and Western Art (REF N7740 .H35)

Oxford Companion to Art (REF N33 .O9)

How can I find articles on my topic?

For your assignment you may want to find scholarly and/or popular articles on the artist you've selected, the work you've selected, and/or the period you've selected. To find articles, use one of the databases listed below:

Gale Virtual Reference Library--use this database for information about a person or a topic

Literature Resource Center--for biographies, criticism, articles, work overviews, bibliographies and more

EBSCOhost--use "Academic Search Premier" and "MasterFILE Premier" for articles from scholarly journals as well as popular magazines and newspapers

ProQuest Newspapers--articles from the Christian Science Monitor, LA Times, New York Times, Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post, 1985-present

ProQuest: New York Times Historical--articles from the New York Times, 1851-2003

Θ IMPORTANT NOTE: For remote access to library subscription databases like the ones listed above, you will need access codes. Please come to the reference desk at the library, or call 714-484-7069.

Is there a way to find credible Internet sites that my instructor will approve of?

The Internet is a valuable research tool, but you have to keep in mind that anyone can put anything they want on the web. As a student, you need to think critically about the sources you find, and you need to evaluate the information. Important points to consider are criteria like authority, accuracy, objectivity, currency, and coverage.

Subject directories like Librarians' Internet Index, INFOMINE, and Open Directory Project are great places to search for credible information. As well, listed below are some credible web sites you might find useful.

Art History Resources on the Web
URL: http://witcombe.sbc.edu/ARTHLinks.html

British Museum--Explore
URL: http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/explore/introduction.aspx

Exploring Themes in American Art
URL: http://www.nga.gov/education/american/aasplash.htm

LUCI: Library of University of California Images
URL: http://vrc.ucr.edu/luci/

Louvre Museum Official Web Site
URL: http://www.louvre.fr/llv/commun/home.jsp?bmLocale=en

Metropolitan Museum of Art
URL: http://www.metmuseum.org/home.asp

Sister Wendy's American Collection
URL: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/sisterwendy/

Timelines of Art History: The World (BC/BCE)
URL: http://www.art-and-archaeology.com/timelines/tl001.html

How do I get more help finding sources for my topic?

If you feel like you need help getting started, finding more detailed materials, or if you have any questions in general, please feel free to come to the library and ask a reference librarian for help.

If you have trouble accessing this page and need help, contact a librarian at the reference desk at (714) 484-7069.

Billy Pashaie: 8/28/07
Last updated 1/17/08 bp

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