Make sure to look at the "Location" listed when you retrieve a book record. Most of our art books are on the 5th floor, but many are shelved in the Reference Collection (main floor) or the Oversized Collection (6th floor).

Reference books are a great place to start your search.  Reference books provide an overview of a topic, typically just a few pages. If you take a few moments to skim a reference book, you'll get some great ideas on the key points on your topic that you can use for deeper research.  

Reference books are shelved on the main floor of the library.  The books must be used in the library, but because the entries are so brief, it is usually takes just a few minutes to jot down a few notes or make a list of relevant keywords.

Ashland University Library Catalog

OhioLINK Catalog

• OhioLINK is a consortium of more than 100 Ohio academic libraries.  
• You may request that books be sent to the AU Library or to any OhioLINK pickup location.
• Your library record, including OhioLINK loans, is maintained by the AU Library. You will find a quick link to My Library Account on the library main page. Check the status of your requests or renew items there.
• It normally takes 3-5 business days for items requested from OhioLINK to arrive at the designated pick-up location. You may return items to any OhioLINK library.
• You will be emailed when OhioLINK requests are ready for you to pick up at the library you designated.
• To request articles use the interlibrary loan article request form.

 List and Map of OhioLINK libraries

 Go to the WorldCat Catalog

Includes books and other media in libraries worldwide. Enter your zipcode to find availability in a library near you.  To request books not available through OhioLINK use the interlibrary loan book request form.

1. Keyword Search

• Uses natural language. Type a word or phrase. Use simple words, not sentences. 
•  You can narrow your search by inserting AND between words. Example: gifted AND adolescent
• You can expand your search by inserting OR between words.   Example: teen OR adolescent OR teenager
• Put quotes or parentheses around phrases when you want to retrieve all of the words, in the exact order given.  Example: "body image" 
• You can use an * to retrieve multiple variants of a word with one efficient search. Example: teach* retrieves results with teach, teaches, teacher, teachers, teaching, or teachable

2. Subject Search

Library catalogs use specific Library of Congress Subject Headings to classify books. When you search, the words have to be typed in the exact order used by Library of Congress.

• You will find the assigned Library of Congress Subject Headings listed in each book record. The subject headings in each book record are linked. Once you find a relevant subject heading in a book record, you will discover more books on the topic by clicking on the link.
• Here are a few relevant Subject Headings for art

ART (GENERAL)

TYPES OF ARTWORKS

ART PROCESSES

ART COMPONENTS AND MATERIALS

ART MOVEMENTS, PERIODS, AND STYLES

ARTISTS

ART HISTORY AND STUDY

ART-RELATED TOPICS

INTERIOR DESIGN

ARCHITECTURE

PHOTOGRAPHY

Article databases also use a controlled vocabulary similar to Library of Congress, but different databases may use different subject terms.

• Note: You cannot use operators such as AND or OR , nor truncate with an asterisk *when doing a subject search.