REFERENCE SOURCES in theARTS and HUMANITIES

WorklistsOne of the first steps in doing in-depth research on a specific writer or artist, is to access a complete list or catalog of their works.Such worklists are available in various resources depending on the discipline. See the examples in this map.Worklists can be in print sources or on websites devoted to a specific writer or artist.

Foreign-Language AidsIn the literature of the humanities and arts (more than in the sciences or social sciences) you are likely to encounter both primary sources and secondary literature (journal articles, etc.) in a number of different languages.There are many resources designed to help the humanities scholar navigate foreign languages. See the examples in this map.You may want to beware of online translation services, as they vary greatly in quality, and aren't generally designed for literary works, etc. Consult metasites (websites that collect links to many sites on a specific subject or discipline) to identify scholarly language aids online.

ConcordancesThese trace every use of a given word within a text -- for instance, in a scripture or a literary work.

DissertationsA doctoral dissertation typically treats a narrow topic in great detail. It may be the only book-length study that exists on the topic (for example, a lesser-known writer or artist). So you're likely to find information here that you won't find elsewhere.The bibliographies in dissertations are also valuable, because they are intended to be exhaustive -- to cover all known writings on the topic.There are indexes to help you identify dissertations related to your own research topic (see examples in this map).You can obtain a copy of a dissertation in the following ways:Place an interlibrary-loan request at your library.Some online indexes enable you to purchase a copy.Some universities have institutional repositories containing their students' dissertations, available free online. Once you have a citation to a dissertation, go to the issuing school's website and see if they have an institutional repository.

LC Classification for Arts/HumanitiesIn addition to searching the Library's catalog, you can locate reference works by browsing the Reference room shelves. Look for the following call number ranges:B - BJ PhilosophyBL - BX ReligionC - F HistoryM MusicN ArtP LinguisticsPA Classical languages (Greek, Latin)PC Romance languagesPE English languagePF Germanic languagesPG Slavic languagesPJ Middle Eastern languagesPK Indo-Iranian languagesPL Asian languagesPN General literaturePQ French, Italian, Spanish literaturePR English (British) literaturePS American literaturePT German literaturePZ Children's literatureOnce you've found a relevant reference source, note its full call number and check the corresponding area in the main stacks (shelves). Many libraries have limited space in their Reference room, so they shelve older or more specialized reference works in the main stacks.To see a more detailed classification outline:http://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/lcco/

EncyclopediasThese give an overview of a subject. They typically feature extended entries arranged in alphabetical order, with bibliographies.They may call themselves encyclopedias or dictionaries. Try both as search terms.In print, they can be one or multiple volumes. (There are one-volume encyclopedias, and multi-volume dictionaries.)They can cover an entire discipline, or a very specific area of study within a discipline (a specific time period, country, genre, issue, etc.).The more specialized encyclopedias can help you narrow your topic. They outline the major areas of scholarship, the big questions, issues, etc. that scholars have written on. They provide sub-sections covering narrower aspects, and see-also references to related topics. They also introduce you to the vocabulary, terms, and buzzwords of that particular field of study -- you can use these as search terms in the library catalog, databases, and other resources.The more generalized encyclopedias can provide historical/cultural context for your specific topic.Foreign reference works may offer more comprehensive coverage of a foreign artist/writer than an English-language source. Also, don't be afraid to consult a reference work that's in a language you're not very familiar with: the bibliographies or other citations may include English-language literature on your topic.Older reference works may contain hard-to find information on artists/writers that are lesser known today.

BibliographiesBibliographies list publications and other research materials pertaining to a specific subject area or topic.They can be in print, or on websites devoted to a specific writer/artist; or they can be findable via metasites (websites that collect links to many sites on a specific subject or discipline).Their coverage may be exhaustive (attempting to include all known writings on the subject) or selective.Some are also annotated, giving descriptive and evaluative comments indicating the scope and validity of each work listed.See the "Primary Sources" box for examples of descriptive bibliographies.Bibliographies can be used to complement online databases: because they are retrospective in their coverage, bibliographies offer a more historical survey of the scholarship in a subject area, while databases offer coverage of more recent literature.

Research GuidesThese identify the various types of research tools for a subject area, including encyclopedias, dictionaries, bibliographies, indexes, core journals, and online databases.They can be in print, or on the websites of libraries or of scholars specializing in that subject area; or they can be findable via metasites (websites that collect links to many sites on a specific subject or discipline). SeriesSome publishers have issued research guides in series. These series focus on a specific disicipline or subject area, and include guides on individual authors/artists, or other specific topics. See examples by clicking on the plus signs in this map.Series titles can be searched in the library catalog as titles. You'll retrieve a list of all the individual guides published in that series, so you can see if there's one relevant to your topic.Subject headingsSome subject headings that can be used to find research guides:[Subject][Subject]--History and criticism[Subject]--Handbooks, manuals, etc.[Subject]--History[Name]--Criticism and interpretation[Name]--Bibliography[Name]--Bio-bibliography

DictionariesThese include not just dictionaries that give definitions of words (though they do include ones that specialize in the terminology of a specifc subject area or discipline). They also include dicitionaries that give biographical data on people; names and terms related to the history of places, events, etc.; and almost anything else that can be organized in a list of some sort.They can be in print or online. Glossaries may be found on websites devoted to a specific subject. They can also be findable via metasites (websites that collect links to many sites on a specific subject or discipline).

Government DocumentsWe usually think of these in relation to law, business, or the social sciences -- but don't forget the following U.S. government agencies that support research in the arts and humanities:Smithsonian InstitutionLibrary of CongressNational Endowment for the HumanitiesNational Endowment for the ArtsDepartment of Education(See links in map.)