Conservatory Library Guide

In this Guide

Core Resources

Berg Fashion Library - Content types: books, images, reference. Includes the Berg Encyclopedia of World Dress and Fashion, as well as e-books, reference info, and images. Learn More.

Stephens Library Catalog - Content type: books, video. Search the traditional catalog for Stephens College books, videos, and more.

Stephens Library Quick Search - Content types: articles, books. Search across most all of Stephens Library holdings as well as millions of additional books and articles using the EBSCOhost Discovery Service. Learn More.

WGSN - Content types: articles. WGSN is a leading fashion and style forecaster. Provides daily access to news, business and retail strategy reports.

Librarian for the Conservatory

Emma Fernandez (she/her)
efernandez@stephens.edu
(573) 441-5129

Book an appointment with me!

Library Contact Info

library@stephens.edu
Front Desk: (573) 876-7182
Text the Library: (573) 475-4211
Chat (when available)

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Finding Theatre Books

Library Resources

Stephens Library Catalog - Search the traditional catalog for Stephens College books, videos, and more.

MOBIUS Library Catalog - Search the MOBIUS Consortium catalog and request physical/print books be sent to Stephens for pickup. Books are generally ready to be picked up in two to three work days.

eMO Electronic Books - Search and view over 250,000 electronic books. Entirely full-text.

Library Book Locations

Books that are Conservatory/Theatre related are generally held on the main floor of the library.

  • PN 1530 - 1590 - Performing Arts

  • PN 1660 - 1693 - Technique of dramatic composition

  • PN 1870-1879 - Historical Plays

  • PN 1891-1899 - Tragedy

  • PN 1922-1929 - Comedy

  • PN 2055-2073 - Acting

  • PN 2085-2091 - Stage and accessories

  • PN 2085-2091 - Sound effects

  • PN 2152-2160 - Hair, cosmetics

  • PN 2171-2179 - Masks

  • PN 3305 - Scene Painting

  • GT 500-2370 and TS 545-TT 850 - Costume

Plays are classed according to their national literatures for example: PQ (French, Spanish, Italian) and PR (English literature) and PS (American Literature).

Vocal Selections/Music Scores are located in the Ready Reference Section on the first floor of the library by the circulation desk.

Please don’t hesitate to ask for assistance.

Search Tips

Search the Stephens Library Catalog to find physical materials and eBooks held at Stephens Library. The MOBIUS Catalog is also a good option to broaden your search for print books to libraries across Missouri.

Use the advanced search function and search the subject term field to find materials covering a broader topic. For example:

  • costume design

  • period clothing

  • makeup

In addition, use the filters on the left hand side of the catalog to narrow or broaden your search.

  • Availability (Online vs. At The Library)

  • Found In (Subject, Title, Author, etc.)

  • Format (E-Book, Book/Print. DVD, etc.)

  • Language (English, Spanish, etc.)

  • Publish Date (use the sliding bar to create a timeline)

  • Place (U.S., Canada, etc.)

Finding Articles on Theatre Topics

Library Resources

  • Berg Fashion Library - Includes the Berg Encyclopedia of World Dress and Fashion, as well as e-books, reference info, and images. Learn More.

  • Stephens Library Quick Search - Search across most all of Stephens Library holdings as well as millions of additional articles using the EBSCOhost Discovery Service. Learn More.

  • Textile Technology Index - Indexes and abstracts of over 470 journals covering the scientific and technological aspects of textile production.

  • WGSN - WGSN is a leading fashion and style forecaster. Provides daily access to news, business and retail strategy reports.

  • Women's Wear Daily (WWD) - A fashion-industry trade journal providing breaking news, comprehensive business coverage and trends in the areas of fashion, beauty and retail. You can Create your own WWD User Account using your Stephens email address.

Search Tips

Break your research question into essential keywords and connect with AND.

  • Use synonyms and connect them with OR

    • adolescents OR adolescence OR teens OR teenagers OR young adults

  • Use truncation (*) to get plurals and alternative endings.

    • educat* = educate, education, educating, educated, etc.

  • Put quotes around a term that’s a phrase to keep the words together.

    • “body image”

  • When you find a good article, look at the works cited or reference list at the end to help identify other useful resources on the same topic.

When searching these databases, you will likely come across articles that are not immediately available. In such cases, choose to “Request It” and complete the process. Articles usually become available within one business day, although it can take as many as five days. You can review your request history and make requests from scratch using Interlibrary Loan.

All About Berg Fashion Library

Berg Fashion Library is an online portal with comprehensive coverage of dress and fashion around the world. It provides access to interdisciplinary and integrated image, book and journal content. The Berg Fashion Library’s content is accessible through a refined search on the Bloomsbury Fashion Central main page.

Content includes articles from the Berg Encyclopedia of World Dress and Fashion and other reference works, a museum directory, images from the Victoria & Albert Museum fashion collection, article links to the journals Fashion Theory, Fashion Practice, and Textile. It also contains an abundance of e-books and major reference texts. The “eBooks” module includes more than ninety Bloomsbury fashion titles, which range from theoretical discourses on fashion to wide-ranging fashion surveys. The “Reference Works” area boasts content from A–Z of Fashion, edited by Valerie Steele, a benchmark text that provides information on designers and clothing styles.

Some other features:

  • The Library’s “Biblio Guides” (short for bibliographic guides) present key readings and schools of thought on a variety of thematic subjects, ranging from “Fashion and Sociology” to “Dress and Religion.” (Content in this area is cross-linked to other areas of the website.)

  • The “Museum Exhibitions” page contains costume and textiles exhibitions that are held by museums and institutions around the world.

Berg Fashion Library User Guide Video - This guide talks you through the main features of the site, and how to make the most of them.

Websites

  • Actors Access - Gives actors access to casting breakdowns, as generated by casting agencies or casting directors through Breakdown Express.

  • American Theater Wing - Offers in-depth interviews with theater dancers, producers, directors, etc., as well as career guides, theater references, and scholarship/grant information.

  • The Collection of Motion Picture Design - The Collection of Motion Picture Costume Design is dedicated to the acquisition, restoration and exhibition of Motion Picture Costumes. It is intended to be a source for museum curators, costume designers or anyone interested in Hollywood film costume design.

  • Fashion History Timeline - This extensively illustrated and well-cited research project provides excellent entry points to research on period styles, fashion terminology, and historical context.

  • Global Performing Arts Database (GloPAD) from Cornell University - Contains digital images, texts, video clips, sound recordings, and complex media objects related to the performing arts around the world, plus information about related pieces, productions, performers, and creators.

  • The Internet Broadway Database (IBDB) - Official database for Broadway theatre information. It records productions from the beginnings of New York theatre until today.

  • Motley Collection of Theatre and Costume Design - Over 5000 items from 150+ English and American theatrical productions, created by set and costume designers Margaret Harris, Sophia Harris, and Elizabeth Montgomery from 1932-1976.

  • Museum of the City of New York Theater Collection - Items documenting theatrical performance in New York City from 1785 to current productions.

  • Musicals 101 - The Cyber Encyclopedia of Musical Theatre, TV and Film includes a history, a "Who's Who" in musical theatre section, reviews, practical information on making musicals and much, much more."

  • New York Public Library Digital Collections - Includes collections specifically for theater and fashion, as well as a breadth of other historical materials.

  • The Stage - Offers the latest industry news, reviews, articles, castings and also a section with advice for actors. Every day there are new articles addressing questions that most actors have.

  • Stratford Festival Archives - A breadth of resource formats from 1952 forward, documenting the Festival and all aspects of its productions.