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Tutorial for ARCH 404:
Graduate Architectural Design Studio I

Web page created by Patti Cossard, Architecture, Planning, & Preservation Librarian

Patricia Kosco Cossard, M.A., M.L.S.
Office Phone: (301) 405-6316
Office: Architecture Library
Office Hours: by appointment
Email: pcossard@umd.edu
FAX: (301) 314-9583

Course Instructors: Ronit Eisenback, RA and Carl Lostritto

The University of Maryland Libraries have many resources that will help with research. If you need additional information, please e-mail Patti Cossard or speak with a Reference Librarian at either the Art or Architecture Library's Reference Desk.

Because of licensing agreements, access to bibliographic databases and electronic journals is restricted to UM faculty, staff, and students. These may be accessed from off campus; consult Remote access for further information. For a complete list of electronic resources available to University of Maryland faculty, staff, and students, as well as information about the full range of library materials and services, consult the UM Libraries' home page.

SCOPE AND PURPOSE OF LIBRARY INSTRUCTION CLASS: The University of Maryland Libraries have many resources that will help with research for ARCH 404. Library research is a key component in learning. This class will provide students with an understanding of key research tools. Specifically, at the end of the class, you will be able to:

  • use the Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals to locate articles for course-specific topics
  • identify the intended audiences of an outlet for architectural information (e.g., a book, scholarly or professional journals, a web site, a reference tool)
  • find handbooks on materials and systems as well as reference manuals produced by professional organizations to gather general design data
  • locate product information using the Sweet's Catalogs, along with specific manufacturer's print and onlince publications
  • retrieve architecture and design materials by style, location, and era

OUTLINE

Getting Started: tools, techniques, and services appropriate to a long term project

Finding Tools Inter-Library Loan (ILL) and Other Research PrivilegesIf you find that the UM Libraries don't have much in your area, you may get book, journal, newspaper articles from other libraries. Most database will have a link to the Inter-Libary Loan service through the find it button. However, you may initiate an ILL loan:
  • Login to initiate an ILL request and/or to check the status of a request.

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    Basic Sources Specific to the Profession

    Here are selected group of the type of Reference Sources you will need to be familiar with:

    Professional Practice

    Standards and Handbooks
    • Architect's Handbook. ARCH REF NA2520.A67 2002
    • AIA Architectural Graphic Standards. 11 ed. ARCH REF TH2031.A84 2007
    • Time-Saver Standards Series. (e.g., for Building Types) ARCH REF NA2760.D42 2001
    Products

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    Specific Sources: which ones are best for what?

    • Books: If topic is substantial, use: Guides, Encyclopedias, Monographs
    • Articles: Useful when researching a specific theme or narrow topic. The best is:
      • Avery Index
        This core database offers a comprehensive listing of journal articles on architecture, design, and landscape architecture
    • Plans: for design ideas and precedents
    • Image Resources: when you need to understand the evolution or creation of a work of architecture
    • Websites: Google, for specific information from the source: county/municipality/city, architect
    • Maps: when you need to show site boundaries, topography, easements, utilities, existing structures
    • Newspapers: If topic is less prominent, use: current and historical newstories

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    How to get to the sources you need

    Books
  • Catalog: access to material in the University System of Maryland and Affiliated Institutions (USMAI).
  • WorldCatUM: access to material beyond the Libraries'.
  • Google books: searching for books on the web

    Journals: Popular, Professional, Scholarly

    Popular journals contain current events and general interest articles written by journalists and freelance writers for the general public. Author credentials, abstracts and bibliographies are usually not included. Popular magazines are typically published by a commercial and corporate publisher with no particular connection to the field. The publisher's website most often ends in ".com."

    Professional or trade journals are periodicals restricted to the interests of a trade or industry and includes all or some of the following: current news items, product reviews and advertisements, new publication reviews, job advertisements, industry specific regulatory information, articles on new techniqoes/trends,patents, statistical data, upcoming events/meetings, etc. Professional magazines are typically published by a professional society part of whose mission is advocacy and political lobbying. The publisher's website most often ends in ".org."

    Scholarly journals contain articles by researchers, scholars and experts in a specific field who wish to share their research with others practicing or studying. Articles are usually based on original research and contain author's institutional affiliation, degree credentials, abstracts and bibliographies. They are called scholarly or, interchangeably, peer-reviewed, juried, or refereed because they will have a Board of Editors of peers from a variety of universities and research institutions who review the incoming articles for factuality and scholarly quality. Scholarly journals are typically published by a learned society or a university press. The publisher's website most often ends in ".org".

    • Architectural Digest
      Publisher: Conde Nast Publications, Inc. <http://www.condenast.com>
      LOCATION: UMCP Architecture Library Current periodicals & ARCH PER NA730.C2 A7

    • Architectural Record
      Publisher: McGraw-Hill Construction for the American Institute of Architects <http://www.aia.org>
      LOCATION: UMCP Architecture Library Current periodicals & ARCH PER NA1 .A6

    • Harvard Design Magazine
      Publisher: MIT Press for Harvard University, Graduate School of Design <http://www.harvard.edu/hdm>
      LOCATION: UMCP Architecture Library Current and ARCH PER NA2300.H33 G72

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    Article Indices & Full Text
  • Avery Index: This core database offers a comprehensive listing of journal articles on architecture, design, and landscape architecture
  • Academic Search Premier
    This broad database allows you to limit by "peer reviewed or scholarly" journal article types.
  • Garden, Landscape & Horticulture Index Index to articles that deal with space and landscape
  • Google Scholar finding articles through google
  • PapersFirst: OCLC index of papers presented at conferences worldwide
  • Other important Architecture and Design databases
  • Other important Planning databases

    Plans

  • Other resources for plans
  • Building Plans guide.

    Image Resources

  • Visual Resource Center
  • ARTstor
  • SPIRO: Slide and Photograph Image Retrieval Online
  • Other resources for images.

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    Selected Websites
  • Google
  • Greatbuildings.com
  • Archinform.net

    Newspapers

  • Washington Post Historical
  • New York Times Historical
  • LexisNexis

    Maps

  • Guide to Map Collection
  • GIS Resources
  • United States Geological Survey
  • On-line Aerial Photography

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    Materials Resources

  • Sweet's Guide Online
  • UT Austin Materials Lab
  • MaterialConnexion Hint: Check out the monthly materials update under the news tab.
  • FURTHER STUDY

    Design Guide
  • Architecture Resources Gateway - Design : Design is the basis of the architectural profession, and perhaps the ultimate challenge for the architect. Good design involves artistry, practicality, and sometimes innovation. This Guide to resources covers these topics: Form, function, space (interior and exterior), site integration, integration of technology into buildings, accessibility.

    Finding items by style, era, etc.

  • Architecture Resources Gateway - History and Precedent: This Guide to resources covers these topics: Building types and styles; putting buildings in context; land research; people research; interiors; landscapes. Primary source documents such as letters, papers of architects and deeds.

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    Last modified: October 15, 2009

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