Books and eBooks can lay the groundwork for understanding a topic, shaping discussions, and refining questions. They streamline research by guiding scholars in selecting effective keywords and search terms. Many academic texts also include bibliographies, offering valuable primary and secondary sources. In short, they are an essential starting point for any research project.
For visual arts research in particular, books contain rich visual references, detailed critiques, and theoretical discussions that can deepen a reader's understanding of artistic movements, techniques, and cultural influences. Additionally, consulting books helps readers develop critical thinking by engaging with different viewpoints and interpretations. Whether exploring classical art theory or contemporary artistic discourse, books offer a wealth of structured information that enhances creativity and academic rigor.
Phrase searching uses quotation marks around a group of words to find exact matches with the words appearing in that order. This technique enhances precision, context, and efficiency by filtering out irrelevant results. For example, searching Indigenous painters in Canada may return scattered results, but using " Indigenous painters in Canada" ensures more focused and relevant information.
The Discovery Search searches all available formats (books, journal articles, videos and more) by default. Enter your search terms, hit enter, then use the Source Type filter to limit to books and eBooks to focus your results.
Subject headings are standardized labels/controlled vocabulary used in libraries and databases to organize materials by topic. They make it easier to find relevant information by grouping similar content under consistent terms. Please note that some descriptions and subject headings in the library's collections may contain harmful language.
Copy and paste a subject heading from the list below into the Discovery Search and see what comes up.
National Soul : Canadian Mural Painting, 1860s - 1930s by 
Sonny Assu : a Selective History by 
The Visual Arts in Canada by 
Western Voices in Canadian Art by 
Yakuglas' Legacy: The Art and Times of Charlie James by