Reference Works
Specialized reference works like the ones listed below are very useful for research. Specialized encyclopedias can provide useful overviews or convenient explanations. Specialized dictionaries give a more precise defination of terms as they are used by a particular field of study. Concordances can help you locate exactly where particular words appear in texts. The print titles here are located on the first floor of the Library. Browse around the same areas to find other useful titles. To access online sources, just click on the title.
General Sources
- Civilization of the Ancient Mediterranean
- Reference DE 59 .C55
- Civilizations of the Ancient Near East
- Reference DS 57 .C55
- Classical Greek Civilization, 800-323 B.C.E.
- Reference DF 77 .K49
- Credo
- A collection of hundreds of reference sources covering all subject areas.
- Encyclopedia of Aesthetics
- Reference BH 56 .E53
- Encyclopedia of Greece and the Hellenic Tradition
- Reference DF 757 .E53
- Encyclopedia of the Renaissance
- Reference CB 361 .E52
- European Renaissance and Reformation, 1350-1600
- Reference CB 359 .W67
- New Dictionary of the History of Ideas
- Reference CB 9 .N49 2005
- Roman Republic and Empire, 264 B.C.E.-476 C.E.
- Reference DG 77 .W726
Art and Architecture
- Dictionary of Art
- Reference N 31 .D5
- Encyclopedia of Comparative Iconography
- Reference N 7560 .E53
- Encyclopedia of World Art
- Reference N 31 .W6
- Modern Arts Criticism
- Reference N 40 .M63
- New York Times Guide to the Arts of the Twentieth Century
- Reference NX 456 .N49
- Oxford Art Online
- Oxford Guide to Classical Mythology in the Arts, 1300-1990
- Reference NX 650 .M9 R45
Dance
- International Dictionary of Ballet
- Reference GV 1585 .I57 1993
- International Dictionary of Modern Dance
- Reference GV 1585 .B46 1998
- International Encyclopedia of Dance
- Reference GV 1585 .I586 1998
Film
- Film Review Annual
- Reference PN 1995 .F465
- Magill's Cinema Annual
- Reference PN 1993.3 .M34
- Magill's Survey of Cinema
- Foreign Language Films : Reference PN 1993.45 .M34
- New York Times Film Reviews
- Reference PN 1995 .N4
- Variety's Film Reviews
- Reference PN 1993 .V36
Literature and Theatre
- American Writers
- Reference PS 129 .A55
- Contemporary Literary Criticism *
- Reference PN 771 .C59
- The Critical Perspective
- 20th Century Criticism of British and American Literature to 1904 : Reference PR 85 .C76
- Dictionary of Literary Biography *
- Reference PN 451 .D5
- Drama Criticism *
- Reference PN 1601 .D59
- Drama for Students *
- Reference PN 1601 .D595
- Literature Criticism from 1400 to 1800 *
- Reference PN 86 .L56
- New York Times Theater Reviews
- Reference PN 2266 .N48
- Oxford Companion to Shakespeare
- Reference PR 2892 .O94
- Poetry Criticism *
- PN1010 .P499
- Poetry for Students *
- PN1101 .P756
- Shakespearean Criticism *
- Reference PR 2965 .S44
* Many of the articles found in these resources may be accessed in Literature Resources Center, listed under Indexes below.
Music
- Great Composers and Their Works
- Reference ML 160 .S48 2000
- Music Online
- Musical recordings from all time periods and genres. Also includes liner notes and some biographical information. Some spoken recordings such as speeches and poetry are also available.
- New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians
- Reference ML 100 .N48 2001 This is available online in Oxford Music Online below.
- Oxford History of Western Music
- Reference ML 160 .T18 2005
- Oxford Music Online
- This resource includes the full-text of: The Oxford Dictionary of Music, Grove Music Online, and The Oxford Companion to Music.
- Women Composers
- Reference M 2 .W88 1996
- World's Music
- Reference ML 100 .G16 v. 10 2002 In addition to being a reference work, this functions as an index to the series Garland Encyclopedia of World Music.
Library Catalogs
Use the catalogs below to locate print and audio-visual materials.
- COD Library Catalog
- Items in the COD Library only
- I-Share
- Materials at 76 Illinois libraries. You may borrow directly from North Central College Library, Wheaton College, Benedictine University and Elmhurst College
- WorldCat
- A large number of US and some world libraries
Databases
Although the College of DuPage Library has no online indexes specifically for topics in the humanities, many of these general sources cover the topic well. In many cases, the databases will have the full text article available online. If you are using these databases from off-campus, please be sure to have your library card available.
- Academic OneFile
- General database.
- Academic Search Premier
- General Database.
- Essay and General Literature Index
- Indexes chapters or essays in books.
- JSTOR
- JSTOR is an archive of digitized journal articles ranging in date from the 1700's to the early 2000's. These collections span a variety of subjects in the Humanities, Social Sciences and Physical Sciences.
- Literature Resource Center
- Contains, biographical and critical information about authors and their works from both reference sources and journals.
- Magill OnLiterature Plus
- Brief analysis and brief plot summaries.
- New York Times Historical and New York Times
- Full text of the New York Times, excellent for reviews of film, theatre, and art exhibits.
Internet Sites
- Architecture
- Art
- Museums
- Sculpture
- Shakespeare
Writing Aids
- Dartmouth Writing Program, Materials for Students: Writing the Academic Paper
- How to Study and Write for Art
- How to Study and Write for Theatre
- Short Guide to Writing About Art N 7476 .B37
- Thinking and Writing About Art History N 380 .R438 2004
- Writing About the Humanities PE 1408 .D593 2000
Citing Sources
In the humanities the MLA format (Modern Language Association) is commonly used to create bibliographies or works cited pages. The sources below may help you.
- MLA List of Works Cited
- MLA Formatting and Style Guide
- Research and Documentation Online
Ken Orenic, Reference Librarian
630-942-2338
orenick@cod.edu
September 2012
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