To locate the databases go to the Library’s homepage (www.sfpl.org), move your curser to the eLibrary tab and select Articles and Databases. From here you can scroll through the list of databases or, if you know the name of the database you wish to search, you can click on the letter that corresponds to the first letter of the database’s tile. A third way to search the databases is to use the pull down menu to select a category. One of the more entertaining categories is Art and Music.
The databases Art Full Text and JSTOR offer articles on topics relating to art. Art Full Text includes articles from scholarly as well as general interest publications. Searches can be limited to peer reviewed journals or to other types of publications. Searches can also be limited by publication date.
Art Full Text
The articles in JSTOR are from academic publications. Users can browse by discipline, such as Art & Art History, or search by keyword. The advanced search option allows users to limit searches by publication date, language and item type, including articles, reviews and pamphlets.
The Art Museum Image Gallery and CAMIO (Catalog of Art Museum Images Online) contain detailed images of artwork and decorative objects held in museums. The Art Museum Image Gallery contains over 150,000 images. Use the Advanced Search option to limit search results to particular types of objects, such as Mixed Media, Installations or Paintings.
The CAMIO database contains over 100,000 images and their high resolution makes them especially interesting to study. By zooming in users can closely examine sections of the images and many of them have alternate views. All of the images are accompanied by basic information and some of the descriptions are quite detailed and informative. CAMIO’s Advanced Search option enables users to limit their searches to the holdings of a particular institution. For example, to view the bronze donkey held by the Detroit Institute of Arts highlight the name of the institution, then click on Add. Enter the word Donkey in the search box labeled Any of the Words. The high resolution image provides a clear indication of the affectionate petting the donkey has received over the decades! Images from this database can be downloaded and saved. For more information about this feature click on Help located at the top, right of the database screen.
You can use these or any of the databases in any location of the San Francisco Public Library without a library card. When you access from home, you will need enter your card number and pin.
