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ART 101: History and Appreciation of Art I (Annandale)

Direct comments to cboyce@nvcc.edu

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Browsing for Art Books

Art books are located in the "N" section of the library, meaning that most art books have an "N" at the beginning of their call number. The exception to this is for photography, which are located in the "T" section.

As a general rule of thumb, art books are located in the following sections*

N - for General Art

NA - for Architecture

NB - for Sculpture

NC - for Drawing, Animation & Graphic Design

ND - for Painting

TR - for Photography

Examples From the Catalog

*Please note: All descriptions listed were written by the publisher, not by the creator of this research guide. 

Here are some examples of phrases you could use to search the catalog:

(Rome OR Roman) AND art

Mesopotamia AND art 

What is a Scholarly Book

From chatGBT, on 9/30/2024

A scholarly art book typically has several distinguishing characteristics:

  1. Author Expertise: The author(s) are usually experts in the field, such as art historians, curators, or academics, with credentials that demonstrate their authority on the subject.

  2. Publisher: Scholarly art books are often published by academic presses, museums, or established art institutions. These publishers have a peer-review process or editorial oversight ensuring the content's quality and academic rigor.

  3. Research-Based Content: Scholarly art books are based on original research or a critical synthesis of existing research. They provide in-depth analysis, interpretations, and contextual information about the artworks or artists covered.

  4. Citations and References: These books include citations, footnotes, and bibliographies, allowing readers to verify sources and explore further reading. The referencing indicates engagement with a wide range of scholarly works.

  5. Target Audience: The intended audience is usually scholars, students, or professionals in the art world rather than a general audience. This means the language is often more formal and assumes some background knowledge.

  6. Critical Approach: Scholarly art books often take a critical approach to the subject, analyzing rather than simply describing. They may discuss theoretical frameworks, cultural contexts, or historical significance in depth.

  7. Peer Review: Some scholarly books undergo a peer review process, where other experts evaluate the manuscript for accuracy, originality, and contribution to the field before publication.

  8. Supporting Material: They often include supporting material like high-quality images, charts, or maps that provide additional context to the discussions, with detailed captions explaining their relevance.

Together, these elements distinguish a scholarly art book from a general art book, which might focus more on visual appeal and descriptive content without critical analysis or referencing.