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Art Resources: Books & eBooks

Help with finding the images and information you need for homework and projects in art and art history.

Finding Books and eBooks

This page has sources for books and online eBooks for use in art research.

Books making steps, conceptual artwork - Britannica ImageQuestBooks:

West Sound Academy Library Catalog
WorldCat
Local public and university libraries

eBooks:

WSA Databases with eBooks 

EBSCO eBooks Academic Collection
Gale eBooks
JSTOR (Open Access eBook collection)
Taylor & Francis Open Access eBooks
All WSA Databases with eBooks

Digital libraries
MetPublications

Also:  learn how you can use an Interlibrary Loan to get a book or article you need that's not owned by your local library. 

If you find a book which is really useful, have a look at its bibliography.  The bibliography can provide a wealth of leads to further sources of useful, relevant information on your topic.

Search the West Sound Academy Library Catalog

Find books, digital resources (ebooks), WebPath Express websites, and Open Educational Resources (OER).

WorldCat

What is WorldCat?

WorldCat represents a “collective collection” of the world’s libraries.  WorldCat.org lets you search the collections of libraries in your community and thousands more around the world.

What's in WorldCat?

When you search in WorldCat you'll find all of the physical items you're used to getting from libraries - books, music CDs and videos—and new kinds of digital content, such as downloadable audiobooks. You may also find article citations with links to their full text; authoritative research materials, such as documents and photos of local or historic significance; and digital versions of rare items that aren't available to the public. WorldCat libraries serve diverse communities in dozens of countries, so resources are available in many languages.

On May 4, 2013, the University of Alberta Libraries created the 2,000,000,000th holding record in WorldCat, marking a major milestone for this unique library resource.

WorldCat Stats:  As of April, 2024, WorldCat has 3,446,566,579 holdings and 559,887,458 bibliographic records.  WorldCat gets a new record every second.  As of May, 2023, the percentage of non-English records is 61% and the number of languages and dialects represented is 490.

How Can WorldCat Help Me?

You can search many libraries at once for an item and then locate it in a library nearby.  A WorldCat record always lists which libraries hold any particular item, showing the libraries that are closest to you first.  

What If the 'Closest Library' Holding an Item Isn't My Public Library?

If you need a book or other item for your research that's held by a library other than your own public library, you can request an Interlibrary Loan.  

Search WorldCat here: https://search.worldcat.org

Interlibrary Loans

What is an Interlibrary Loan?

An Interlibrary loan (ILL) is a service where a patron (user) of one library can borrow books or receive photocopies of documents that are owned by another library. 

How do Interlibrary Loans work?

The patron makes a request with their local library.  This local library identifies the institution that owns the desired item (probably using WorldCat!), places the request, receive the item, makes it available for the patron to pick up at their closest branch, and arranges for the return.

How long can I keep an Interlibrary Loan?

The lending library determines the loan and renewal period for the item.  If you need an ILL item longer, you should contact your local library at least three business days before the due date and ask them to request an extension from the lending library.

Can anything be borrowed with an Interlibrary Loan?

Some libraries have items in reserve or reference collections that cannot be borrowed.  If the item you want is owned by a library that you could visit on your own (for example, at the University of Washington) you should plan for a research visit to look at the resources you need, take notes, and make photocopies.

How long does it take to get my Interlibrary Loan item?

Plan ahead!  If the lending institution agrees to loan the item you want to your local library, it could take three weeks or more before the item actually arrives at your local branch, ready for you to pick up.

How much does an Interlibrary Loan cost?

Good news!  An ILL is a free service provided to library patrons.  The only cost will be if the lending library charges your local library a processing fee for microfilm or copy requests.

 

See below for links to Interlibrary Loan request forms for regional libraries.

         

Regional Libraries

WSA Databases with eBooks

This list of WSA databases with eBooks - including links and database descriptions - can be a starting point for your research.

EBSCO eBooks Academic Collection

Gale eBooks

Gale eBooks Database Pointers - Purdue University Library

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JSTOR (Open Access eBook Collection)

Taylor & Francis Open Access eBooks

Digital Libraries

MetPublications

Five decades of Met publications on art history, available to read, download, and/or search for free.  

         

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