OC Libraries

Books on the visual arts are located in 700 to 769 in the Dewey Decimal classification system.  Books on painting are located in 750 to 759. 

When searching the library catalog on a particular topic, it is often a good strategy to search Library of Congress Subject Headings.  That way, no matter what syntax the author uses in a title, you will be more likely to retrieve their work if it's relevant to your search.  

Artist's Name

The Haselwood Library catalog defaults to “Keyword Relevance Search”.  This type of search will usually list any books in the collection with your artist's name in the title or the Table of Content.  However, if it is important to you to find a fictional book about your artist, or perhaps you are only interested in criticism of the artist, search under "Subject" . What appears is a listing of Library of Congress Subject Headings.

  For example:  Michelangelo—

12 Michelangelo Buonarroti, 1475-1564

 6  Michelangelo Buonarroti, 1475-1564, Criticism and Interpretation

 1  Michelangelo Buonarroti, 1475-1564, Fiction

1     Michelangelo Buonarroti, 1475-1564, Last Judgement

*In our collection, there are twelve items listed just under the name; six items listed under the name AND “Criticism and Interpretation;” one fictional book; and one item that highlights a particular work.

No matter where you search, be flexible. While Georgia O'Keeffe is logically found under O'Keeffe, Georgia, Leonardo da Vinci is not found under da nor Vinci (except under "Relevance Searching")--he's found under Leonardo.   

In the library catalog, access to works about your artist is by last name (with a few exceptions).  If you do not know the name of your artist, follow the directions under Artistic Movements. 

Artistic Movements

 If the library catalog has nothing under your artist's name, it means that we do not have any books or media that are entirely about your artist.  We may have other information, though, in general art history books or under the artistic movement generally associated with your artist.  If you are unsure what movement your artist is generally identified with, consult one of the art dictionaries or encyclopedias in the Reference Collection.

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