Introduction
Writing and Style Guides
Reference Materials
Books
Articles
Specialized Indexes
Audiovisual Materials
Public Performance Rights
Websites
Materials from Other Libraries
Help
This guide is intended to provide an introduction to the theatre history resources available from the University of Lethbridge Library.
Use our homepage as the gateway to all of our programs and services. Follow the Undergraduates link for a general introduction to those programs and services.
While anyone is welcome to come in to the library to access our resources, most electronic resources are subject to license restrictions and are therefore accessible off campus to registered students, faculty and staff.
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Use the links accessible from our "How to" Guides page for help on everything from library research to writing a research paper. Some guides that may be useful are:
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Use reference materials (encyclopedias, dictionaries, bibliographies, etc.) to find general introductions to a topic, explain unfamiliar concepts, locate brief factual information and identify references for further research. There are a wide variety of general and specific reference materials that will provide information in the discipline of theatre history. Reference Universe will allow you to search the contents of thousands of print and electronic reference books accessible from our library.
Some examples of the wide variety of print reference materials available are:
A Companion to the Medieval Theatre (PN 2152 C66 1989)
Dictionary of literary biography (Series) (REFNC PS 129 D46) and online
Drama criticism (Series) (REFNC PN 1601 D64) and online
The Oxford Encyclopedia of Theatre & Performance (REFNC PN 2035 O94 2003)
Some full text electronic reference sources that may be of interest include:
The Cambridge Guide to Theatre
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Use the library catalogue to identify the books, journal titles, government publications and audio visual items in our collections. Individual plays in our collection can also be identified through our library catalogue.
Perform an author or title search to locate a known item.
Perform a subject search to find materials on specific topics, including information about indivdiual playwrights. Some examples of broad subject headings that may be useful for finding resources in theatre history are :
Once you have refined your topic, you will need to find information on more specific topics. A few examples of narrower subject headings are:
Perform a keyword search to locate a play in an anthology or other collection or, to search for topics that may not appear in a subject search.
The library subscribes to several Alexander Street Press databases that provide access to the full text of plays and other information. For example:
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Use electronic and print indexes to identify articles that have been written on your topic. A complete listing of relevant indexes may be found under the Dramatic Arts Databases/Indexes link. Some indexes that may be useful for research in theatre history are:
If there is no direct link to the full text of the article you may use the Find full text button to see if the full text is available from one of our other database providers or, in print in the University of Lethbridge Library.
If there is no Find full text button you may perform a Journal Title Search of our collection to see if we own, or provide access to the journal.
Remember! These indexes provide access to both popular magazines and scholarly journals so make sure you understand which kind of information you are seeking and which kind you have retrieved.
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Play indexes locate plays that have been published in journals, anthologies or other collections. Some indexes that may be useful for theatre history are:
Inter-Play(free internet access)
Chicorel theatre index to plays in anthologies (PN 6111 C4)
Ottemillers Index To Plays In Collections (PN 1655 O8 1988)
Play Index 1949+ (PN 6111 P53)
Remember, once you find a play you have to check our library catalogue to see if we own the journal, anthology or collection in which the play appears.
Other specialized indexes and databases provide access to a wide range of information resources including, for example, scripts and production information as well as streaming video. Examples of databases that may be useful for theatre history are:
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The Library's audiovisual collection is located on the 11th floor of the Library along with listening and viewing equipment. All items in this collection are listed in our library catalogue. You may limit your search by MATERIAL type or by WHERE the item is located to ensure that you find the appropriate formats.
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Copyright law stipulates that the viewing of feature film motion pictures by any group is required to be covered by a Public Performance Rights licensing agreement. The University of Lethbridge Library has licensing agreements that allow for free public performance of any feature film represented by Audio Cine Films Inc. and Criterion Pictures.
Report any classroom viewing by filling out and submitting our Public Performance Report .
Read the Copyright Permissions for Licensed Resources to read about general rules for viewing films on campus.
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Use the internet wisely. The quality and trustworthiness of information available on the Web varies greatly, but guidelines are available to help you evaluate Web-based sources when you are unsure of their authority. Some websites that may be useful for theatre history are:
Internet Public Library : Literary Criticism
Voice of the Shuttle : Drama, Theatre & Performance Art Studies
CHOICE REVIEWS recommend the following:
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Use our Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service if we do not own the item you are looking for. Submit your request through the ILL function and follow the instructions on the screen. Undergraduate students are given 25 free loans per fiscal year (ending in April).
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HELP is available during the hours that the Information Desk on level 10 of the library is staffed at the desk itself email at Ask Us or by phone at 329-2263.
Please feel free to contact me if your research question is not answered by any of the above.
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Content Revised: September 13, 2012
Content Created: April 12, 2005
