Formulate your questions: are you interested in background information (culture, history, geography, etc.), scholarly discussion of a topic, technical guidance about writing, inspirational material? Where do you think this information might be published -- books, journals, magazines, newspapers?
The Fleet Library collection is heavily focused on art and design topics. Members of the RISD community also have borrowing privileges at the Providence Athenaeum and Brown University Libraries.
If you are having any trouble finding what you need, please get in touch with us!
Books:
Articles:
Citation & Style Guidelines:
Library of Congress call numbers for literature (RISD and Brown both use the Library of Congress system)
P - General Language and Linguistics
PA - Classical Languages and Literature
PL - Languages and literature of Asia, Africa, Oceana
PN - Literary Criticism, Drama, Journalism & more
PQ - Romance literature (French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese)
PR - English Literature (includes former commonwealth such as South Africa)
PS - American Literature
PT - German, Dutch, Scandinavian literature
PZ - Children's literature
Librarians are available to help students research a topic. Make an appointment at the RISD Library Research Help Desk or by emailing a librarian directly. We're available to meet with individuals or groups. This meeting will help you clarify your ideas, provide ways to approach your topic, and identify key terms, print and online resources, and search strategies to help get you started and save time.
A meeting with a librarian usually lasts 15-30 minutes depending on the scope of the topic. You are always welcome to make follow-up appointments.