The Quick Guide to CookWeb

Cook Library Online Catalog

• This database allows you to search for books and other media by title, author, or subject.
• Search tips:
  • Search the Towson Catalog for resources that can be found in Towson University's Cook Library.
  • Search the entire University System of Maryland (combined USMAI catalog) for the greatest quantity and variety of books.
  • If you want to use a book owned by another institution, try the "request" option and the book will be sent to Cook Library and held for you at the circulation desk.
  • Try several search terms if your initial search is not satisfying.
  • Don't forget to try both spellings: "theatre" and "theater."

Online Databases and Periodicals

• This page takes you to an alphabetically arranged list of databases that are useful for finding books and articles. The following databases will be especially appropriate for theatre studies:

  Academic Search [Ebsco]

  • Journal article citiations, abstracts and some full text covering the Arts, Cognitive Studies, Film, Humanities, Religous Studies, Science, and Sociology.

  Humanities Abstracts

  • Journal citations and abstracts for art, film, folklore, literature, linguistics, music, philosophy and religious studies.

  International Bibliography of Theatre and Dance

  • Journal articles, books, book articles and dissertation abstracts on all aspects of theatre and performance.
  • The print version of the IBTD has been an important resource in our field since it first appeared in 1984.

MLA Bibliography

• Covers literature, languages, linguistics, and folklore from over 4000 journals and series published worldwide.
• This index will help you find scholarly articles published in journals devoted to literature and the arts.
• The MLA Bibliography is a particularly good index for articles about plays, playwrights and theatre history.

New York Times Historical (1851 - 2001)

• Provides a searchable database and access to all text and images in the newspaper from 1851 - 2001
• Articles can be downloaded as PDF files

World Cat

• Includes books, articles, dissertations, video and sound recordings. It's a great way to find the wide range of scholarship produced on a given subject.
• If your initial search finds too many sources, try the "advanced search" function to narrow your focus. Don't forget to limit the search by language if you are finding a number of foreign language sources.
• This is a national database, so the works may not be available in our library. You may have to use interlibrary loan to obtain the source.

(You can also peruse this same list of databases arranged by subject.)

Lexis-Nexis

• This collection of articles from newspapers and popular magazines will help you find information about recent productions and other theatrical activity.
• It is a useful source for reviews, interviews with artists and other theatrical news.

International Index to the Performing Arts

• Covers a broad spectrum of the arts and entertainment industry.
• This index includes theatre journals such as American Theatre, which are not in other databases.
• A select number of full text articles can be found for some of the most recent entries.

Return to Robyn Quick's courses