Art History Information Resources

Art History 10
Instructor, Bernida Webb-Binder

To use these resources from a home computer you must have a library card and your own unique 14 digit barcode number. Apply at the Check-Out desk or online.

Apply for a Library Card online from the bottom of the Library Homepage or, at the Circulation Desk in the Library (Bring a photo ID if you apply in person)

To get to this webpage,
Start at the library homepage:
http://libwww.cabrillo.edu
select Internet Links
then, select ART
scroll down to the bottom of the page
select AH 10

The big picture:

Every need for information starts with some thoughts and ideas in your head. These thoughts and ideas have to be translated into a search. A good search is based on the careful selection of the right words to describe what your topic is about.

Reading, making choices, and selecting a file or site to view are regular activities in the online world.

Interacting with the online world takes place whenever you fill out a text box or dialog box with your own words and then examine the results of your search.

Remember, the online sources are not "smart." You have to spell the words correctly and choose a variety of words to get useful information back from these tools.

1. Browsing the book shelves in the library

Look for these Books in the Reference collection (library use only)

Atlas of world art / Reference G1046.E1 O9 2004
Encyclopedia of American folk art Reference; NK805 .E6 2004
The Oxford companion to Western art Reference; N33 .O923 2001

Books (to check out) in the open stack collection can be found in the regular stacks in the "N" secction. Oversize "N" books are located just before the Video collection.

Art Videos (for library use only) in the collection can be found in call numbers that begin with "N"

The library has 18 TV/VCR stations for student viewing. Videos may not be checked out, they must be viewed in the library.

2. Using the Library catalog to find books and videos

Go to the library homepage at: libwww.cabrillo.edu
Select Library catalog

If you want to search for a topic, select the WORDS search
Sample searches:
Art, abstract
Art, modern -- 20th century
cubism

You should type in two or three words that describe a topic of interest to you
Read through the results on the screen
Go to the shelves and explore nearby book.

How does a WORDS Search work in the library catalog?
Hint: The WORDS search retrieves results as if you had typen an AND between every word in your search.
Think very carefully about the words you use.
Try more than one search for every topic
Spell carefully. The computer looks for EXACTLY what you typed

If you type in: french impressionism
press enter
This is the result:

FRENCH is in 612 titles.
IMPRESSIONIS is in 55 titles.
Both "IMPRESSIONIS" and "FRENCH" are in 23 titles.
There are 23 entries with IMPRESSIONIS & FRENCH.

3. Using Google to find Web sites

From the library homepage
select Search the Internet
Select Google

or, click in the location box at the top of the browser screen
type this address:
www.google.com

Tips for searching in Google:

Google automatically searches as if an AND were between any search words.
french impressionism (results in over 349,000 hits)
Use quote marks to create a phrase and search for words in exact order, like:
"french impressionism" (results in less than 39,000)

Limit your search to one domain by typing the words for your search followed by site:.gov or site:.edu
"french impressionism" site:.gov (results in over 6,000 (many from the National Gallery of Art)

4. Use the EBSCOhost's Academic Search Elite to find Magazine and Journal articles

Seaching for a topic in EBSCOhost Web

Select Fulltext Articles from the Library Homepage
Click on Magazine & Journal Articles
Choose EBSCOhost Web from the center of the next page

Before you search, study these examples for hints and tips to get better results:

french impressionism
(unmodified two words) 88 results

french impressionism
(limited by checking the Full Text box) 48 results

“french impressionism”
(check the Full Text box, add in the use of quotes around the two word phrase) 5 results

Searching for articles in Art Journal in EBSCOhost Web

Select Fulltext Articles from the Library Homepage
Click on Magazine & Journal Articles
Choose EBSCOhost Web from the center of the next page
Type this title in the text box labeled Magazine : Art journal

Art journal is available online fulltext AND in the library in a paper copy. The most recent issue is on the shelves in the open Current Periodicals section of the library. Back issues are behind the Circulation Desk and have to be requested.

Make sure you browse this title online and in person. Now find one article of interest to you:

5. Use the National Newspaper database

Select Fulltext Articles from the Library Homepage
Click on National Newspaper Articles on the next page
Enter a name that interests you or try one of these:
Inca Art review
Matisse fabric review

6. Grove Art Online

Select Fulltext Articles from the Library Homepage
Click on Grove Art on the next page
Enter a style, movement, artists name or an era that you are interested in.

7. ARTstor

Select Fulltext Articles from the Library Homepage
Click on ARTstor on the next page
Enter a style, movement, or painting name that you are interested in.
Note that impressionists has results of 30 BUT impressionism has results of over 300.

french impressionism (unmodified two words)	88 results
french impressionism (limited by checking the Full Text box)	48 results
“french impressionism” (check the Full Text box, add in the use of quotes around the two word phrase)	5 results

Return to the Library Home page || July 18, 2005 || Johanna Bowen