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Reference and Research

• Encyclopedias
  Online and printed encyclopedias provide good background for research.

• Indexes and databases
  Printed indexes and online databases help you locate chapters or articles about your topic in books, journals and proceedings.

• Internet sites
  "Gateway" sites (such as Yahoo!), as well as academic, corporate, government and individuals' Web sites provide myriad links to explore any topic.

• Library catalogs
  Library catalogs help you locate books and other items owned by libraries at Carnegie Mellon and elsewhere.

• Resource Sharing
  If your library does not own the particular item or article that you need, ask Interlibrary Loan to get it for you.

Encyclopedias

To get an overview of a new topic, look it up in a general encyclopedia. Alternatively, to focus a topic, look it up in a subject-specific encyclopedia. Either way, encyclopedia articles provide useful keywords and references for library research.

• Britannica Online (Carnegie Mellon users only)
  Articles include bibliographies and hot links to other websites.

• Contemporary designers. Sara Pendergast, editor. 3rd ed. Detroit: St. James Press, 1997.
  HL4-FA-REF NK1390 .C655 1997

• Dictionary of Art. New York: Grove, 34 vols. 1996.
  HL4-FA-REF N31 .D5 1996
  

• Encyclopaedia of occupational health and safety. Jean Mager Stellman, editor-in-chief. 4th ed. Geneva: International Labour Office, 1998. 4v.
  ENGR&SCI REFERENCE RC963 .A3 E53 1998

• Encyclopedia of World Art. New York: McGraw-Hill, 15 vols. 1959-1968. Supplements: 1983, 1987.
  HL4-FA-REF 703 E565
  

• Modern Plastics Encyclopedia
  ENGR&SCI STACKS TP986 .A1 M62
  

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Indexes and Databases

Use indexes and databases to identify articles or chapters about your topic in books, journals and proceedings.

The information given (citation) in an index or database will include the title of the article, the title of the journal or proceedings, volume, date, and pages where the article will be found. Sometimes there is a short description (abstract) that summarizes the contents of the article.

Check the title of the journal or proceedings in Cameo to see if Carnegie Mellon subscribes to or owns the item. Look at the item record to see if we own the volume (or year) and issue (or number) of the article you want to find.

Be prepared to use interlibrary loan to obtain resources that you find using indexes and databases, because many of these items will not be available at Carnegie Mellon. Interlibrary loan staff will obtain the articles and other items for you from other institutions.

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Internet Sites

Many, many Web sites for design are noted for you in the context of these pages. If you want to take a peek, these two are interesting for general design research:

• Communication Arts
  Includes many links focusing on creativity for graphic designers, art directors, illustrators and multimedia designers.

• CORE Industrial Design Network
  Many links, including jobs.

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Library Catalogs

Use the Carnegie Mellon library catalog on the Web Cameo, or in one of the libraries.

If you are looking for a specific topic, keep in mind that there are often several approaches to the same topic. Use different keywords or try searching on a broader topic if you don't get good results with a search. For example, you may not be able to find information using the keywords "bus poster" but if you try "poster" or "graphic design" you will find relevant information.

Each item record in the Carnegie Mellon library catalog will show whether the item you need is on the shelf or checked out. If it is checked out, you can use the "Place Hold" request menu option to ask to have it returned early and held for you to pick up.

When you open request options and other self-service features in Cameo, you will be prompted to log in with your user ID and PIN. Cameo user services are authenticated for Carnegie Mellon users only.

If you would like to "browse" items by going where the books are shelved at Carnegie Mellon, here are some classification numbers for design and related topics:

• 004 Computer Graphics (HL2-BK, HL2-OVRSZ-Q)
  
• 745 Design (HL4-BK, HL4-OVRSZ-Q)
  
• 749 Furniture (HL4-BK, HL4-OVRSZ-Q)
  
• 779 Photography (HL4-BK, HL4-OVRSZ-Q)
  
• 720 Architecture (HL4-BK, HL4-OVRSZ-Q)
  

Other library catalogs

You can borrow from many University of Pittsburgh libraries and The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, located in Oakland.

• University of Pittsburgh library catalog: PittCat
• The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh catalog: Caroline
  

More library catalogs are available on the Other Library Catalogs page.

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Resource Sharing

Interlibrary loan can help you obtain copies of articles and can also borrow items from other libraries for you to use. With very few exceptions, it is a free service.

You can make interlibrary loan requests online using WebCat, email, or FirstSearch.

Be prepared to use interlibrary loan to obtain resources that you find using indexes and databases, because many of these items will not be available locally.

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