Art and Ceremony of Nigeria and the Diaspora
ART H 001S, Spring 2003
REFERENCE RESOURCES
Encyclopedias
Encyclopedias offer a starting point for research by providing a brief summary of a topic and a bibliography to point to additional literature on that topic. Encyclopedias may also be consulted for quick facts such as names, dates, and places.
- The Dictionary of Art. Jane Turner, ed. 34 vols. New York: Grove's Dictionaries, 1996.
N31.D5 1996 (Arts & Humanities, Pattee, 2nd Floor - Ready Reference) - This encyclopedia features over 45,000 articles on all aspects of the visual arts. Available via the E-Resource List (A-Z), the online version contains the updated full text and bibliographic references from the 34-volume print version, plus images and other hyperfeatures.
BOOKS
- The CAT
- For books and other materials owned by the Penn State University Libraries, search The CAT. If a book is checked out or available at another campus, use the “I Want It” button to recall the item.
Tips for searching The CAT:
- Use synonyms and related terms to narrow or broaden your search.
- Browse around the call number for similar items.
- WorldCat
- For books not owned by the Penn State University Libraries, search WorldCat. These materials may be obtained by completing and submitting an interlibrary loan request form, using either the ILL button in WorldCat or Interlibrary Loan (allow 2-3 weeks for materials to arrive).
ARTICLES
Journal articles are not listed in library catalogs. Instead, indexes provide bibliographic citations for articles and reviews in journals, magazines, newspapers, and periodical literature. Some indexes include abstracts, or brief summaries of the contents of the article, but do not necessarily contain the full text of the article.
Tips for searching periodical indexes:
- Once you find an article in an index, check the title of the journal in The CAT to find out if the library has the volume you need and to get the call number so that you can find it on the shelves. If the library does not own the volume you need, you can request the article through Interlibrary Loan.
- Art Index
Z5937.A78 (Arts & Humanities, Pattee, 2nd Floor - Abstracts & Indexes) - This comprehensive index covers all styles and periods of the visual arts, and is international in geographic scope. The print version is divided into two online databases, Art Abstracts (1984-present) and Art Index Retrospective (1929-1984), available via the E-Resource List (A-Z).
Depending on your object and methodology, additional indexes – such as Anthropological Literature, Religion Index – may also be useful. See the E-Resource List (A-Z), or consult a librarian.
WRITING RESOURCES
Barnet, Sylvan. A Short Guide to Writing About Art. 6th ed. New York: Longman, 2000.
N7476.B37 2000 (Arts & Humanities, Pattee, Stacks 2 - Reference Collection)
- Chicago Manual of Style. 14th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1993.
Z253.C5701 (Arts & Humanities, Pattee, 2nd Floor - Ready Reference) - Guides to using the Chicago Style are also available via the Libraries’ Online Reference Resources under Writing Resources/Style Manuals.