Spring 2010 — Prof. Campbell

• Office Hours:
  • Wednesday, 3:00-5:00 pm
  • Thursday, 12:30-3:00 pm
• Also available by appointment.

Finding Books
(Both literary and critical texts)

Use library catalogs to find books, videos, government documents, journals, magazines, and newspapers.  The Davidson College Library Catalog contains information about materials owned by Davidson.  WorldCat lists materials held in libraries around the world.  If Davidson does not have a copy of what you need, use Interlibrary Loan to request it.

When searching for books and other materials in a catalog, try searching by keyword, author, or title.  You may also search by Library of Congress subject headings.  To locate appropriate subject headings, do a keyword search and then browse records. 

To locate works about a person, do a subject search for the person's name (last name first name).

To locate bibliographies on an author, literary works, or topic, do a keyword search and add the following: su bibliography.

For a list of helpful reference materials owned by Davidson College, click here.

Starting Points | Literature Resources | Other Databases | Finding the Full-Text of an Article

To find journals owned by the library, go to the Library Catalog, do a subject keyword search for your topic and limit your search by format to newspapers and periodicals. Clicking on the Periodicals link in the red bar on the library catalog search page will also allow you to browse journals by subject category.

Use the Library’s online indexes and databases and print resources to find articles from journals, magazines, and newspapers.  Depending on your research interest, you may wish to search in general databases or discipline-specific ones. 

Starting Points

• Academic Search Premier
  (1975 to present) Indexes over 8,000 popular and scholarly periodicals and provides the full text of articles from 4,500 of these periodicals. Also indexes several newspapers, including the Christian Science Monitor, New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal.
  
  
• OmniFile Full Text Mega
  (1982 to present) Indexes articles from over 3,000 scholarly and popular periodicals in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences; also includes the full text of selected articles from over 1,650 of these periodicals.

Literature Resources

• Annual Bibliography of English Language & Literature (ABELL)
  Indexes journal articles and books published from 1920 to present; also includes citations to book reviews. Covers all literatures in English as well as the English language, bibliography, textual studies, and the history of publishing. ABELL is a particularly good source of information about books published in the U.K. Many of these works do not appear in the MLA International Bibliography.
  
  
• Literature Resource Center
  Contains full-text biographies, critical essays, journal articles, and excerpts of criticism and reviews about over 130,000 literary authors and their works; covers dramatists, essayists, novelists, poets, and other writers from all time periods.
  Includes nearly all of the content in the following series:
• Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism
  Note:  the Library has older print volumes of this series in Reference at call number R 809.04 T971.
• Contemporary Literary Criticism
  Note:  the Library has older print volumes of this series in Reference at call number R 809.04 C761.
• Drama Criticism
• Poetry Criticism
• Short Story Criticism
  Note:  the Library has older print volumes of this series in Reference at call number R 809 S559

• MLA International Bibliography
  (1926 to Present) Indexes journal articles, books, and doctoral dissertations in the fields of English, American, European, Asian, African, and Latin American linguistics, modern languages and literatures, film studies, and folklore.  For more information, see the MLAIB Search Planner.

Other Databases

• America: History & Life and Historical Abstracts
  (Time period covered: 1450 to present [world history]; prehistory to present [U.S. and Canadian history]. Publication coverage: 1954 to present). Indexes journal articles, book chapters, doctoral dissertations, and book reviews.
  
  
• Essay and General Literature Index
  (1900 to present) Indexes essays published in books and edited collections. Covers the fields of art, economics, education, history, law, linguistics, literature, music, philosophy, political science, and religion, among others. Particularly strong in the humanities and social sciences.
  
  
• Humanities Abstracts
  (1907 to present) Indexes articles in over 500 English-language periodicals in the fields of archaeology, art, classics, communication, film, folklore, history, languages and literatures, music, philosophy, religion, and theatre. Also includes citations for book, theatre, and film reviews as well as interviews, obituaries, and some original creative works. Includes the full text of selected articles from 1995 to the present.
  
  
• International Bibliography of Theatre & Dance
  (c. 1982 to present) Includes citations to journal articles, books, essays, and doctoral dissertations on all aspects of theatre and the performing arts; international in scope. Includes the full text of 100 periodicals and 50 books.
  
  
• JSTOR
  A searchable archive of the back issues of major scholarly journals.
  
  
• Periodicals Index Online
  (1665 to 1995) Indexes articles from humanities and social sciences periodicals from their first issues to 1995. Particularly useful for locating references to articles from the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries. International in scope.
  
  
• Project Muse
  (c. mid-1990s to present) A searchable collection of full-text articles from journals published by university and scholarly presses.
  
  
• Web of Knowledge
  (c. 1900 to present) A multidisciplinary resource that provides citations to articles in over 10,000 journals in the sciences, social sciences, and humanities.
  
  

Finding the Full-Text of an Article

If you’ve found a citation in an online index or database:

Many of our indexes and databases contain full-text copies of the articles they index.  Look first for a link to the full-text (either in HTML or PDF).

If the database does not contain a link to the full-text, look for the gray Search for Article button in the online citation.  This button will lead you to the Davidson Library Catalog, which will display the holdings for the journal.  Using your citation information, check to see if the library owns the appropriate journal and volume number.  If it does not, you can request it from Interlibrary Loan.

If you found the citation somewhere else:

Go to the Davidson Library Catalog.  Look for the red periodicals button on the right side of the page.  Click on that button and enter the first few words of the journal title in the search box.  Then, do a Title beginning with search.  The library’s holdings for the journal will appear on the page.  Using your citation information, check to see if the library owns (in print or electronic form) the volume you need.  If the library does not own it, you can request the article from Interlibrary Loan.

Reference Resources

Style Guides | Dictionaries |Biographical Information | Critical Theory | General Literature Guides |
Drama Guides | Poetry Guides

Style Guides

• MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 7th ed. New York: Modern Language Association, 2009.
  Little Library Reference Desk: REF LB2369 .G53 2009
  Music Library Reference: LB2369 .G53 2009
  
  
• MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing. 3rd ed. New York: Modern Language Association, 2008.
  Reference Desk: REF PN147 .G444 2008
  A guide for scholars and professional writers.
  
  
• RefWorks
  Use to capture, retain, and organize citations, generate bibliographies using MLA style, share references, and more. See also the library's guide to using RefWorks.

Dictionaries

• The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language. 4th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2000.
  
  
• Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. 11th ed. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, 2003.
  Reference Desk PE1628 .M36 2003
  
  
• The Oxford English Dictionary. Ed. J.A. Simpson and E.S.C. Weiner. 2nd ed. 20 vols. New York: Oxford University Press, 1989-.
  Reference R 423 O98m2
  
  
• Webster's Third New International Dictionary of the English Language, Unabridged. Ed. Philip Babcock Grove. Springfield, MA: G&C Merriam, 1971.
  Reference R 423 W38n3 1971

Biographical Information

• American National Biography.  Ed. John A. Garraty and Mark C. Carnes.  24 vols.  New York:  Oxford UP, 1999-2002.
  Reference R 920.073 A512

• Biography Reference Bank.  H.W. Wilson, 2003-.
  
  
• British Playwrights, 1956-1995: A Research and Production Sourcebook. Ed. William W. Demastes. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1996.
  
  
• Contemporary Dramatists. Ed. Thomas Riggs. 6th ed. New York: St. James, 1999.
  Reference R 822.09 C761 1999
  
  
• Contemporary Poets. Ed. Thomas Riggs. 7th ed. Detroit: St. James, 2001.
  Reference R 821.0003 C761 2001
  
  
• Literature Resource Center
  Contains full-text biographies, critical essays, journal articles, and excerpts of criticism and reviews about over 130,000 literary authors and their works; covers dramatists, essayists, novelists, poets, and other writers from all time periods.
  Includes:
  • Contemporary Authors
  • The Dictionary of Literary Biography
  • Feminist Writers
  • Scribner’s American Writers
  • Scribner’s British Writers
    
    
• Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.  Ed. H.C.G. Matthew and Brian Harrison.  60 vols.  New York:  Oxford UP, 2004.
  Reference R 920 N2111
  See also the first edition:  Dictionary of National Biography, edited by Leslie Stephen and Sidney Lee (22 vols; 1885-1901; reprinted London:  Oxford UP, 1963-1965), shelved in Reference at call number R 920 N211
  

Critical Theory

• The Bedford Glossary of Critical and Literary Terms.  Ross Murfin and Supryia M. Ray.  2nd ed.  Boston:  Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2003.
  Reference R 801.95 M975b
  
  
• Contemporary Critical Theory:  A Selective Bibliography.  Donald G. Marshall.  New York:  Modern Language Association, 1993.
  Reference R 016.8 M367c
  
  
• The Continuum Encyclopedia of Modern Criticism and Theory.  Ed. Julian Wolfreys.  New York:  Continuum, 2002.
  Reference R 801.95 C762
  
  
• Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory.  J.A. Cuddon.  4th ed.  Oxford:  Blackwell, 1998.
  Reference R 803 C964d4
  
  
• Encyclopedia of Contemporary Literary Theory:  Approaches, Scholars, Terms.  Ed. Irene R. Makaryk.  Toronto:  Univ. of Toronto Press, 1993.
  Reference R 801 E56
  
  
• Encyclopedia of Feminist Theories.  Ed. Lorriane Code.  New York:  Routledge, 200.
  Reference R 305.42 E56
  
  
• Encyclopedia of Literary Critics and Criticism.  Ed. Chris Murray.  New ed.  2 vols.  London:  Firtzroy Dearborn, 1999.
  Reference R 801.95 E56
  
  
• A Glossary of Contemporary Literary Theory.  Jeremy Hawthorne.  4th ed.  London:  Arnold, 2000.
  Reference R 801.95 H399g4
  
  
• The Johns Hopkins Guide to Literary Theory and Criticism.  Ed. Michael Grodon et al.  2nd ed.  Baltimore, MD:  Johns Hopkins UP, 2005.
  Reference R 801.95 J65 2005
  
  
• The Penguin Dictionary of Critical Theory.  David Macey.  New York:  Penguin, 2000.
  Reference R 801.95 M142p
  
  
• The Routledge Critical Dictionary of Feminism and PostFeminism.  Ed. Sarah Gamble.  New York:  Routledge, 2000.
  Reference R 305.42 R869
  

General Literature Guides

• The Cambridge Guide to Literature in English.  Ian Ousby.  Rev. ed.  New York:  Cambridge UP, 1993.
  Reference R 928 C178
  
  
• The Continuum Encyclopedia of British Literature.  Ed. Steven R. Serafin and Valerie Grosvenor Myer.  New York:  continuum, 2003.
  Reference R 820.3 C762
  
  
• Credo Reference
  A collection of online reference books, including a selection of literature resources, such as The Cambridge Guide to Literature in English 3rd ed., The Continuum Encyclopedia of American Literature, and The Continuum Encyclopedia of British Literature.
  
  
• A Dictionary of Literary and Thematic Terms.  Edward Quinn.  New York:  Facts on File, 1999.
  Reference R 803 Q7d
  
  
• A Dictionary of Literary Devices.  Bernard Dupriez.  Trans. Albert W. Halsall.  Toronto:  Univ. of Toronto Press, 1991.
  Reference R 803 D943g-T
  
  
• Dictionary of Literary Themes and Motifs.  Ed. Jean-Charles Seigneuret et al.  2 vols.  New York:  Greenwood, 1988.
  Reference R 803 D5541
  
  
• A Handbook to Literature.  William Harmon.  9th ed.  Upper Saddle River, NJ:  Prentice Hall, 2003.
  Reference R 803 H747h9
  
  
• Oxford Companions
  • The Oxford Companion to American Literature.  Ed. James D. Hart.  6th ed.  New York:  Oxford UP, 1995.
    Reference R 810.3 O898c6
  • The Oxford Companion to Canadian Literature.  Eds. Eugene Benson and William Toye.  2nd ed.  New York:  Oxford UP, 1997.
    Reference R 810.3 O981 1997
  • The Oxford Companion to English Literature.  Ed. Margaret Drabble.  6th ed.  New York:  Oxford UP, 2000.
    Reference R 820.3 H34o6
  • The Oxford Companion to Twentieth-Century Literature in English.  Ed. Jenny Stringer.  New York:  Oxford UP, 1996.
    Reference R 820.3 O98
    
  • The Oxford Encyclopedia of British Literature.  Ed. David Scott Kastan.  5 vols.  New York:  Oxford, 2006.
    Reference R 820.3 O982
    
    
• Twentieth-Century Literary Movements Dictionary:  A Compendium to More than 500 Literary, Critical, and Theatrical movements.  Ed. Helene Anderson and Jay P. Pederson.  Detroit, MI:  Omnigraphics, 2000.
  Reference R 809.9 T971

Drama Guides

• The Columbia Encyclopedia of Modern Drama.  Ed. Gabrielle Cody and Evert Sprinchorn.  2 vols.  New York:  Columbia UP, 2007.
  Reference R 809.2 C726
  
  
• The Continuum Companion to Twentieth Century Theatre. Ed. Colin Chambers. New York: Continuum, 2002.
  Reference R 927.9 C762
  
  
• Critical Survey of Drama.  Ed. Carl Rollyson.  2nd rev ed.  8 vols.  Pasadena, CA:  Salem Press, 2003.
  Reference R 809.2 C934
  
  
• Dictionary of the Theatre: Terms, Concepts, and Analysis. Patrice Pavis. Trans. Christine SHantz. Buffalo: University of Buffalo Press, 1998.
  Reference R 792.03 P338d-Ts
  
  
• The Drama Dictionary. Terry Hodgson. New York: New Amsterdam, 1988.
  Reference R 792.03 H691d
  
  
• McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of World Drama: An International Reference Word in 5 Volumes. Ed. Stanley Hochman. 2nd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1984.
  Reference R 809.2 M147
  
  
• The World Encyclopedia of Contemporary Theatre. Ed. Don Rubin. 6 vols. New York: Routledge, 1994-2000.
  Reference R 792.03

Poetry Guides

• A Concordance to the Complete Poems and Plays of T.S. Eliot. Eds. J.L. Dawson, P.D. Holland, and D.J. McKitterick. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1995.
  Reference R 811 E42d

• Critical Survey of Poetry.  Ed. Philip Jason.  2nd rev. ed.  8 vols.  Pasadena, CA:  Salem Press, 2003.
  Reference R 809.1 C934

• Encyclopedia of American Poetry:  The Twentieth Century.  Ed. Eric L. Haralson.  Chicago, IL:  Fitzroy Dearborn, 2001.
  Reference R 928.1 E561

• Guide to the Secular Poetry of T.S. Eliot. Susan E. Blalock. New YOrk: G.K. Hall, 1996.
  Reference R 016.81 E42b
  
  
• The New Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics.  Ed. Alex Preminger and T.V.F. Brogan.  Princeton, NJ:  Princeton UP, 1993.
  Reference R 809.1 P957 1993
  
  
• Patterns of Poetry: An Encyclopedia of Forms. Miller Williams. Barton Rouge: Lousiana State UP, 1986.
  Reference R 808.1 W725p
  
  
• The Poet’s Dictionary:  A Handbook of Prosody and Poetic Devices.  William Packard.  New York:  Harper & Row, 1989.
  Reference R 803 P119p