When you're searching for a book or another material in the Fine Arts Library, you'll notice that there are a few locations in the catalog. Here is a list with descriptions of these locations, so that you can more easily find what you're looking for.
(Mostly) Circulating Locations
Fine Arts Library Stacks
Regular collection of normally sized items, many monographs live here.
Fine Arts Library Oversized 2nd Floor
Oversized books in the circulating collection. May require assistance with compact shelving upstairs.
Fine Arts Library New Books
Small collection of new arrivals. Located to the right of the circulation desk in the modular shelving.
Non-Circulating Collections (Closed Stacks)
Fine Arts Library Closed Reserve
Behind the circulation desk. These materials can be checked out for a specific period of time and used in the library. Currently includes our collection of artist's books and media.
Fine Arts Library Fragile Books
Upstairs on the 2nd floor. These items are in locked stacks, so you will need to ask a library staff member with assistance. Can be checked out to use in the library.
Fine Arts Library Fragile Books Oversized
Upstairs on the 2nd floor. These items are in locked stacks, so you will need to ask a library staff member with assistance. Can be checked out to use in the library.
Fine Arts Library Portfolio
Upstairs on the 2nd floor. These items in locked stacks, so you will need to ask a library staff member with assistance. They are quite old and/or rare and usually quite oversized as well. Can be checked out to use in the library.
What is this searching? The OSU Library Catalog searches for print, electronic and other formats in the OSU Libraries collections. More Search Options >>
Using the book catalog, you're able to find books on any basically any subject you're looking for. To find books on art in Japan, for instance, a search that looks like this:
"japan" and "art"
yields 3,910 results.
You can do a similar search for "art" and "china" or "art" and "korea" in addition to using keywords to narrow your search by artist, movement, or specific region in any of those countries.
The Library of Congress call number system designates that the letter 'N' represent the subject 'art', hence most of the books at the Fine Arts Library have call numbers beginning with N. For browsing, many materials related to East Asian art can be found in the N7300 section, but it is best to start with a specific call number if you are looking for a particular region or artist.
AM: Museum Studies
N: Visual Arts
NA Architecture
NB Sculpture
NC: Drawing, Design, Illustration
ND: Painting
NE Printmaking
NK: Decorative arts
NX: Arts in general, Mixed Media, Performance Art
PN: Art and Literature/Film
TR: Photography
Z: Books (General), Writing, Paleography, Book Industries and Trade, Libraries, Bibliography (This section also contains typography and history of the book).
If you are having trouble finding an older book or publication electronically, check both Hathi Trust and Internet Archive. Each of these databases has digitized books and other types of publications that have been made available from member institutions. There is a wealth of information in each that may help you in your research.
Hover your mouse over the title of each book to see a description. Click on the title to go to the full catalog record.