Skip to Main Content

Theater: Books

The Library Catalog is UC LIBRARY SEARCH

Getting to know UC Library Search from UCSB Library on Vimeo.
Descriptive transcript available at https://tinyurl.com/3txndzdr.

Simple Search

  • Single white box
  • Huge results list
  • Many different types of resources; articles, books and more
  • Best when you are NOT looking for particular types of sources, e.g. - popular, scholarly, primary sources, empirical studies, DVD, etc.
  • Refine results with options on left margin

Advanced search

  • Use for complex searches
  • Many more options
  • Specify Articles books or more (big results list); Resources in the Library (small results list of mostly books); etc.
  • Specify type of resoruce
  • Specify one or more fields - author, title, subject, ISBN
  • Specify publication year, language,  book
  • contains, starts with, exact phrase

Browse Search

  • NOT for keyword searching
  • Use for known item searches - e.g., titles, authors, subject headings

UCSB Library Search

 

Call Number Locations

An online version of the orange Library Locations handout, which tells you what floor, and part of the building (Ocean or Mountain side), the various library locations (Main, Andelson, Government Information, etc) and call numbers are on. 

WorldCat Discovery @UCSB

WorldCat Discovery @UCSB is a way to find books and other materials located in libraries outside the UC System. 


Advanced Search

Other Catalogs

Google Books

Google Book Search

Search Tips

When keyword searching, use keywords that best describe your topic.  The objective is to get a small group of relevant records.  People, places themes, characters, time periods, events, types of information (i.e. ethnography) issues and more can be keywords.  What words or phrases best describe your topic?

Try: And, Or, Not

  • And -- "cell phone" AND distraction
  • Or -- ("cell phone" OR gps) and distraction
  • Not -- (Distraction and children) NOT adolescents
Use Quotation Marks, Asterisks, Parentheses, Question marks
  • Use quotation marks when searching a phrase. 
    • "information processing"
  • Use asterisks to find variations...
    • Flavor* = flavor, flavorful, flavored, flavoring.
    • *Psychology = parapsychology, pseudopsychology
    • Behavi*r retrieves behaviour or behavior.
  • Use parentheses for searches like this: 
    • common cold AND (vitamin c OR zinc)
  • Use the question mark for different spelling as well as singular and plural versions of a word
    • Wom?n = woman and women
    • Gr?y = grey and gray
    • Dog* = dog, dogs

Library of Congress Call Number Ranges for Theater

Library of Congress Classification System

Call Number Areas for Performing Arts:
GV 1580-1799 -    Dancing
ML 47- 54.8  -       Librettos. Texts. Scenarios (Music Library)
MT 955-956  -       Musical theater (Music Library)
PA  3000-6961 -   Greek & Latin Literature
PN 1560-1590 -    Performing Arts, Show Business
PN 1660-1693 -    Dramatic Composition (includes playwriting)
PN 1720-1861 -    History
PN 1993-1999 -    Motion Pictures
PN 2000-3307 -    Dramatic Representation, Theater
PN 2080 - Monologue Books
PQ - French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese Literature
PR - English Literature (UK)
PS - American Literature (playscripts)
PT - Germanic Literature (Ibsen)
TK 7881.4 - Sound Recording and Reproducing

 

Library of Congress Subject Headings

UCSB Library uses Library of Congress Subject Headings to describe materials.

(Think standardized hashtags for subjects and topics.)

LCSH is not a perfect system by any means, but Subject Headings can be useful for exploring the library's collections quickly. Always pay attention to the subject terms listed on the records for books you are interested in.

Below are some examples of Subject Headings related to theater that you can use in the UCSB Library Search to help find relevant books, videos, and other materials on theater topics:​

You can also search Library Search by keyword (try "drama"  "theater" or "theatre").

Acting

African American theater

Amateur theater

Costume (theatrical)

Drama

Drama - collections

English theater 18th century  [or other countries and dates]

English drama 18th century   [or other countries and dates]

Feminism and theater

Monologues

Musical theater

Stage lighting

Staging and scenery

Theater

Theater and society

Theater architecture

Theater history

Theater production and direction

Theater political aspects

Theater United States [or any country]

Theaters stage setting and scenery

Theatrical makeup

 

Login to LibApps