Based on in-class instruction for AVT 457 taught by Prof. Sue Wrbican at George Mason University

1. AVT 457:
Documentary Photography
Jenna Rinalducci, Art & Art History Librarian
jrinaldu@gmu.edu / 703-993-3720
infoguides.gmu.edu/art & photoportal.gmu.edu

2. What words do you associate
with RESEARCH?

3. In addition to writing papers for class, the library will
help you find resources…
To inspire your work.
To understand how your work connects to the world
around you.
To express your motivations as an artist (e.g., artist
statement).
To explain your work to others like curators & gallery
owners.
Why doART STUDENTS need
library resources?

4. Research:it’s a process
1. Choose a researchable topic
for your paper or project
2. Where do I look?
(Databases, Catalog)
3. How do I search?
(Keywords)
4. How do I get it? (Find the
resource)
5. Is what I’ve got any good?
(Evaluate)
6. Write the paper or
complete the project

5. Research:it’s a process
1. Choose a researchable topic
for your paper or project
2. Where do I look?
(Databases, Catalog)
3. How do I search?
(Keywords)
4. How do I get it? (Find the
resource)
5. Is what I’ve got any good?
(Evaluate)
6. Write the paper or
complete the project
1.Find the stuff.
2.Get the stuff.
3.Is the stuff I found
any good?

6. http://infoguides.gmu.edu/art
Getting Started: Online Guides
http://photoportal.gmu.edu

7.  LibraryWebsite:
 http://library.gmu.edu
 Ask-a-Librarian→ IM…
 InfoGuides & Research Portals
 Library catalog:
 Books & E-books
 Videos
 WRLC…
 Research Databases:
 Articles
 Images
Library Resources

8. Where to search
Big Box Store (Walmart, Target)
ProQuest Research Library
 Indexes more than 5,000
journals & magazines
 Full text for more than
3,600 titles
 Humanities, social
sciences & sciences
Boutique/Specialty Store
Art & Architecture Complete
 Art publications: journals,
interviews, exhibition
listings, reviews, etc.
ARTbibliographies Modern
 Modern & contemporary art. All
mediums (painting, sculpture,
photography, video, graffiti, etc.)
Abstracts beginning from late 1960s.

9.  Art Fulltext
 Art & Architecture Complete
 ProQuest Arts Databases (Design &
Applied Arts Index & Art Bibliographies Modern)
 ARTstor
 AP Images
*Many databases will help you format citations
Research Databases

10. The Starbucks Syndrome
Finding What You Actually Want
Understanding what search terms to use to get the books & articles
you actually want
Exs: TripleVenti Soy No Foam Latte OR Iced Grande SkinnyVanilla Latte
Research:it’s a process

11. How to search
Triple Venti Soy No Foam Latte? or Iced Grande Skinny Vanilla Latte?
Art student taking art history class & researching the Shroud of Turin

12. Crafting your search
1. Cast a wide net.
2. Scan your results & choose a relevant book/article.
3. Examine the terms used to describe it.
4. Rework your search based on these new terms.
5. Evaluate new search results.
6. Take advantage of database/catalog limiters to refine
your search.
7. Make a list of books/articles that work for your topic.
8. Rework your search & topic as needed.

13. Researchable Topic
Evaluate
Outline/Write
Get the Full-Text
Where/How to Search
Research Process Reality Check

14. Questions?
library.gmu.edu
infoguides.gmu.edu