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Resources for Dance History

WebCat - the database used to locate books and other materials owned by the University Libraries.  Don't forget that "ink on paper" resources are generally authoritative and are still the easiest to use for many questions.  Remember too, that "Power Search" allows you to limit to by item type (scores or compact discs for example), by language, publication date(s) etc.

WorldCat - contains records of over 95 million items in over 400 languages from over 60,000 participating libraries from around the world.  As you might expect, most records are of books, but you will find records of any conceivable item a library might own including audio and video recordings, computer programs, archival materials, maps, musical scores and more.  Some items in this database date to before 1,000 B.C. Approximately one million items are being added annually, and WorldCat is updated daily.  (remote access requires Outlook username and password)

Research Databases - will help you find articles.  These proprietary databases are leased by the Shenandoah University Libraries at a cost of tens of thousands of dollars annually.  They include materials which are accurate and authoritative and have search interfaces designed by experts to make your search for articles easier.  Using these databases will generally provide more accurate information, more quickly and easily, than using "free" Internet sources.

Selected Websites - Caution:  The sites listed below are available "free" of charge on the Internet.  They have been selected by experts for their accuracy and reliability.  However, one should always use a critical eye in evaluating information found for free on the WWW. 

Reference Books - available on the first floor of Smith Library

International encyclopedia of dance    GV1585 .I586 1998
International dictionary of modern dance    GV1585 .B46 1998
The Oxford dictionary of dance    GV1585 .C78 2000
Black dance : an annotated bibliography    Z7514 .D2 A33 1989
Research in dance : a guide to resources    Z7514 .D2 B6 1994
Dancers and choreographers : a selected bibliography    Z7514 .D2 G48 1995
Biographical dictionary of dance    GV1785 .A1 C58 1982
World ballet and dance    GV1787 .W67

Library Home - Catalog - Journal Locator - Databases - Internet Resources - Media - Reference/Instruction - User Services - General Info -
Off-Campus Support - Forms - Faculty Info - Other Libraries - Site Index

        Research Databases        

Academic Search - coverage includes fulltext of over 5,000 national and international newspapers, magazines, journals, and trade journals.    This database is great for items you would find in American and foreign newspapers (all in English).  News of all sorts including the arts, politics and government, business and ecomonics, and sciences.   (remote access requires username and password)

Factiva -  Fulltext of over 8,000 newspapers, magazines, newsletters, and journals from all over the globe.  While emphasis is on business and economics, this database is great for finding most anything published in the popular press.  The "Newswires" are updated continuously, and other publications are updated daily, weekly, monthly etc. depending on publication schedules.

Academic OneFile - provides indexing to more than 11,000 scholarly journals in the humanities, sciences and social sciences. The fulltext of articles is available for approximately 3,500 of the titles indexed. Some of the journals indexed may be available in the University Libraries. (remote access requires username and password)

General OneFile - provides indexing to more than 10,000 periodicals and scholarly journals in the humanities, sciences and social sciences. The fulltext of articles is available for approximately 4,000 of the titles indexed. Some of the journals indexed may be available in the University Libraries. (remote access requires username and password)

JSTOR - an archive of scholarly journals providing the fulltext (PDF files) of hundreds of  journals from all disciplines.  Coverage extends back decades for many titles, but most have a "moving wall" which blocks access to the most recent articles.

SPORTDiscus with Full Text -  "covers both serial and monographic literature in the following areas of sport:  recreation, exercise physiology, sports medicine, coaching, physical fitness, the psychology, history and sociology of sport, training, and conditioning. Seventy percent of the database consists of periodical articles."  Indexing for some items is as early as 1949.  Includes fulltext of 415 journals. (remote access requires username and password)

Wilson OmniFile Full-Text, Mega Edition - provides access to indexing and abstracting for approximately 3,500 journals and magazines from the humanities, social sciences, and science and engineering, with fulltext available for about 1,750 titles.  Coverage for some titles begins as early as 1982.  (remote access requires username and password)

Music Index Online -  from Harmony Park Press surveys more than 700 music periodicals including some international titles.  All music subject areas are covered beginning in 1979.  (Note - If you need earlier articles try the print version of Music Index in the Reference Department - 1949 to the present.  Call number R 050.M973). (remote access requires username and password)

Music Literature (RILM)  - provided by FirstSearch, RILM is an international (202 languages) index of  more than 200,000 citations and abstracts taken from over 500 periodicals and other types of materials including  "books, bibliographies, catalogs, dissertations, films and videos, conference proceedings and more."  Indexing of some materials dates back to 1969.  Updated monthly, RILM is assembled by the City University of New York.  (remote access requires username and password)

Journal Locator - is an alphabetical list of journals and magazines to which the University Libraries provide access.  This title list will, in most cases, tell you the dates available for a particular electronic title, and you can connect to the appropriate database.  You can then search the database for the title you need. 
If we subscribe to a title in print format, SU Journal Collection will be stated and you can connect to the catalog record which will show our subscription holdings.  The catalog record will tell you whether a title is available in paper or on microfilm.
Approximately 10,500 titles are now listed.

NEW  --  Search Journal Locator  -  Find Both Print and Electronic Journals Available Through University Libraries

InterLibrary Loan Forms - just click here to bring up the forms for books and journals.  Remember, you must make sure that we do not have access to what you need in our local collection, BEFORE you make a request. 

Music in Print - "an internet-based fully-searchable sheet music index."  Features choral, orchestral, sacred, string, woodwind, piano, and other categories.  Sorry, dance is not on the list, but perhaps others will be of use to you.

    Remember to read on-screen instructions; some systems are actually quite friendly.

     Use online help features for more detailed explanations of how to search each particular
     database.
 

     Always feel free to ask a librarian for help!!

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                         Web Sites            

Caution:  The sites listed below are available free of charge on the Internet.  They have been selected by experts for their accuracy and reliability, however one should always use a critical eye in evaluating information found free on the WWW.

Please let me know of additional sites you would like to have listed here.
 

Cyberdance - "This is a collection of over 3,500 links to classical
ballet and modern dance resources on the Internet."
Voice of Dance - perhaps the single best website for professional and amateur dance enthusiasts
Balletcompanies.com - "We are your gateway to the ballet and dance world.  On this site you'll find over 2000 links to ballet and dance companies all over the world"
Artslynx Homepage - International Arts Resources provides "Links to  Theatre,  Dance,  Music,  and more"
Artslynx International Dance Resources - "Dance Links, Ballet Links, and other resources organized into accessible
 link libraries" is edited by Richard Finkelstein
Sapphire Swan Dance Directory - links to dance styles ranging from ballet and belly, to tango and tap
Music, Theatre and Dance Resources on the Internet - links to many professional organizations for music, theater and dance from Library of Congress
 

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Dance 471 has been designated a Research Intensive course by the University Curriculum Committee (UCC).  Consequently, it is mandatory that you receive instruction in the "process of bibliographic research" and several other areas agreed upon by your instructor and the UCC.  Understanding the process of Bibliographic Research will make all of your research assignments easier.  For an excellent overview check out Seven Steps of the Research Process courtesy of Cornell University.

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