University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma
This ebook collection includes many books about theatre. All the books it contains may also be found in the library catalog and LEO Search.
The Drama Department maintains a large collection of play scripts for students to study. These are held in Davis Hall by the Drama Department, but they can be found through the Library Catalog. To search only for materials in the Drama Department's collection, from the library catalog main screen, click on the Shelving Location tab. Then select the "Drama Department" checkbox.
Nash Library has many plays available on DVD. You can search for DVDs in the Library Catalog by selecting the "Visual Materials" checkbox. To search for only plays on DVD, in the top dropdown box, select "Subject" and enter Drama into the search box.
The basic Library Catalog search is a keyword search--you simply type your search terms into the box, and the catalog retrieves all the items that have your search terms in their catalog records.
Searching by subject is another way to find materials that focus on your topic. Each item in the Library Catalog has one or more subject terms (headings) assigned to it, When you search by subject, you retrieve only the items that have the subject for which you searched. To make a subject heading more specific, subheadings are added after it. A subheading is separated from the main heading by a double dash (--). Here are some good headings and subheadings for Theatre:
Acting
American Drama
You can replace American with any country (though the Nash collection is strongest in American drama)
Drama
Drama--History and criticism
Motion pictures
Musicals
Musicals--History and criticism
Theater
Theater--History
Once you have your subject terms, to search by subject in the Library Catalog, in the dropdown list under "Search for," select "Subject."
To find subject headings for a subject you are studying, first use keyword searching to find some books on your general topic. Then look at their records and see what subject terms they have. You can use the subject links in the catalog records to retrieve all the items with the same subject. However, this linking scheme has some quirks, so if it seems like it is returning far too many (or too few) items, try using the Library Catalog (aka Advanced Search) screen and a Subject or Subject Phrase search with your terms.
If you want to browse the library stacks, you can use these call numbers to find books on theatre topics.
PN 1530 The monologue
PN1551 The dialogue
PN 1560-1590 The performing arts. Show business
PN 1600-3307 Drama
PN 1635-1650 Relation to, and treatment of, special subjects
PN 1660-1693 Technique of dramatic composition
PN 1720-1861 History
PN 1865-1988 Special types
PN 1990-1992.92 Broadcasting
PN 1992.93-1992.95 Non-broadcast video recordings
PN 1993-1999 Motion pictures
PN 2000-3307 Dramatic representation. The theater
PR 621-744 English Drama
PS 330-353 American Drama
These books can be found on the third and fourth floors of the library stacks. Remember that given the interdisciplinary nature of liberal arts studies, you may find useful books with other call numbers too. You may find plays next to literature in the same language, and you may find musical theatre books in the music section (M).
To find books from thousands of other libraries and request them through interlibrary loan, use WorldCat FirstSearch. You can search for books, journals, audiovisual materials, dissertations, and many other material types. When you find a resource you think would be useful in your research, you can fill out an interlibrary loan form, and Nash Library will request the book from another library.
