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.

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.

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)

Chat requires JavaScript.

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 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

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.

Looking for Plays or Monologues?

There isn’t a single section where plays or monologues are held. Below are some suggested call number ranges where plays and monologues can generally be found:

  • PN6111-6120: Anthologies and Collections (books of plays on a variety of themes from various playwrights.)

    • PN2080: Monologue Collections (books of various monologues)

    • PR1243-1272: Collections of English Drama

    • PS623-634: Collections of American Drama

Please note - as seen above, plays are classed according to their national literatures for example: PR (English literature) and PS (American Literature).

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.)

Plays & Monologues on the Web

Search these databases for potential monologue ideas. (To check if we have the whole play, search for the title in our catalog.)

  • Backstage:

    • Can filter by gender, age range, category (contemporary), etc.  

    • Shows you the title of the play, then the name of the character. 

Notable Costume/Fashion History Collections in the Library

  • Reference GT507. E54 2010 

  • Reference GT580. F37 2009 

  • Reference GT511. L474 2008 

Notable Monologue Collections in the Library

*Note that availability of these items are subject to change.

  • PN4208. B46 2023

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.

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

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

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.

Search Tips

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

  • Use synonyms and connect them with OR

    • costume OR wardrobe OR apparel OR attire

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

    • perform* = perform, performance, performative.

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

    • “costume design”

  • 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.

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.

External Resources/Websites

General 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.

  • 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.

Costume Design/Fashion History Collections:

  • 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. (Includes Fashion History Dictionary.)   

  • Can search by: time period  

  • MET Costume Institute - A collection of more than thirty-three thousand objects represents seven centuries of fashionable dress and accessories for men, women, and children, from the fifteenth century to the present.

  • Victoria and Albert Museum - Spanning five centuries, this collection is the largest and most comprehensive collection of dress in the world. Key items in the collection include rare 17th century gowns; 18th century ‘mantua’ dresses; 1930s eveningwear by Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli; 1960s daywear by Mary Quant and Barbara Hulanicki; and post-war couture by Christian Dior and Cristóbal Balenciaga among others.