Directions:

Location:

Mary Church Terrell Main Library
148 W College St. Oberlin, OH 44074-1545

Parking:

The main visitor lot is the east Service Building lot, and the south row of the Carnegie Building lot for visitors to offices within that building.

Search Tools

Summon

Summon provides access to millions of sources of all types (books, articles, audio, videos, images, etc.) on nearly any subject. Summon searches many, but not all, Oberlin College Libraries resources; comprehensive research should include subject databases. It searches the full text of some, but not all, Oberlin books, including books that Oberlin only owns in print.

If you are looking for a specific book, film, or journal, use OBIS, our catalog. If you are looking for a specific journal article, use the Journal Finder. Summon also includes the collection of the Allen Memorial Art Museum as well as materials from other research centers and open access repositories.

Databases A-Z

The Databases A-Z list provides a complete alphabetical list of searchable databases accessible to you through the Oberlin College Libraries. The databases range from those that cover multiple subject areas, e.g. JSTOR or Web of Science, to more narrow research topics, e.g. SOCIndex.

They contain both citations and full text for ebooks, peer reviewed journals, newspapers, magazines, data sets, images, music, primary documents, and more. You will want to use them for finding credible and scholarly materials required for your college research.

If you are unsure which databases are best for your research topic try using the subject and type filters, consult a subject or course guide, Ask a Librarian, or make a research appointment.

OBIS Catalog

OBIS provides access to print and digital books, databases, audiovisual materials, journals, and course reserves. It is the best place to look up books, recordings, journals, and films by title to determine if you can access an item through Oberlin. To see if Oberlin has access to an individual article, use the journal list. OBIS makes it easier to search by subject heading than Summon does, but it does not index the full-text of any books.

In addition to books available at Oberlin through OBIS, patrons also have access to collections from a number of public, university, and college libraries in the state of Ohio through Oberlin College’s partnership with the OhioLink consortium and SearchOhio.

Journal Finder

The Journal Finder lists in one place every print and electronic journal, magazine, and newspaper available through both paid subscriptions and reputable open access platforms. Use the Journal Finder to see if Oberlin subscribes to these publications, to see if they're available online, or to compare coverage dates across databases or subscription services.

The Journal Finder will not allow you to search by article title to determine if Oberlin owns an item - you must search by publication title (e.g. Nature or The New York Times) and then navigate through the volume and issue and year provided by the citation. If you want to search by article title, search for the article from Summon.

OhioLINK Catalog

A virtual statewide library that displays information for items owned by OhioLINK libraries, a consortium of over 100 college, university, and research libraries in Ohio. Items described include books, journals and periodicals, audiovisual materials, sound recordings, electronic resources, government documents, archives and manuscripts, maps, and music scores.

The catalog provides bibliographic descriptions and indicates where copies are located and whether or not copies are available. The OhioLINK Central Catalog allows for delivery of requested items to a member library of your choice. Terrell Main Library is Oberlin’s pickup location for OhioLINK items. OhioLINK's design allows you to transfer a search from our local library catalog, OBIS, to the OhioLINK combined catalog with the touch of a button. Likewise, a search can just as easily transfer from OhioLINK or OBIS to the public library network Search Ohio.

WorldCat

WorldCat contains more than 43 million records describing books and other items owned by libraries around the world. You can search for popular books, music, CDs, and videos—all of the physical items you're used to getting from libraries. You can also discover digital content, such as downloadable audiobooks. Use InterLibrary Loan to order materials that you locate on WorldCat.

Research Guides

Course Guides

Course Guides are organized collections of resources created for the research and information needs of students in specific courses. Research strategies and library services are also included.

Source Type Guides

Oberlin College librarians have identified the best platforms for finding resources by source type, including newspapers, magazines, dissertations and theses, books, music, primary sources, and more. Some guides also provide search tips and techniques.

Subject Guides

Research guides are the gateway to library collections and resources. Created and maintained by Oberlin College & Conservatory reference and subject librarians, Guides by Subject are organized by their relevant subject areas to provide a detailed list of recommended scholarly sources, including: databases; internet and digital resources; and the libraries’ collections of books, journals, magazines, music, art, DVDs, etc.

Guides also help you develop search strategies, cite sources and manage bibliographic references, and lead to a librarian who can provide further assistance. Subject guides are displayed alphabetically.

News: Clarence Ward Art Library

February 28, 2025

Clarence Ward Art Library Call for Artists: Extended Deadline

Salon-style exhibition wall The Clarence Ward Memorial Art Library has extended the deadline to submit work for their Spring Semester Exhibition until 11:59pm on Friday, March 14. The Oberlin College & Conservatory student community of artists working in two-dimensional mediums are invited to submit photos of their... Continue Reading

February 06, 2025

Clarence Ward Art Library Call for Artists

Salon-style exhibition wall In an effort to make the communal space more lively and inspiring, the Clarence Ward Art Library will be displaying student artwork throughout the Spring 2025 semester. Students are encouraged to submit a photo of their mount-ready work to art.library@oberlin.edu to be considered. All entries must... Continue Reading

November 26, 2024

Clarence Ward Art Library Book Club

Illustration of Oscar Wilde (Credit: Junelle Apuya) The Clarence Ward Art Library Book Club is official! The community was polled on what the first book of the series should be and the winner is: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. If you would like to join the discussion on December 10, you can pick up one of the... Continue Reading

Pop-up design of an illustrated colorful beetle on a page of a book discussing its anatomy.

April 04, 2024

Check It Out: Young Naturalist's Pop-Up Handbooks: Beetles and Butterflies

Pop-up mechanism in Young Naturalist's Pop-Up Handbook: Beetles Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart are two renowned creators of elaborate pop-up books. The Clarence Ward Art Library has two of Sabuda and Reinhart’s collaborations in our collection of pop-up books: Young Naturalist’s Pop-Up Handbook: Beetles and... Continue Reading

Crowd of workers gathered on train tracks in front of building, black and white photo.

April 01, 2024

Check It Out: "T" Call Numbers In the Art Library

Image from Sandstone Center of the World by James A. Hieb In Library of Congress classification, the T section, which is divided into 16 subclasses, is where materials about technology are classed. Many of those familiar with the Art Library will know that the TR section is where you will find books on photography, but did you... Continue Reading

Red cover picturing various heels being worn with white text in the foreground.

March 07, 2024

Check It Out: Fashion Books In the Art Library

Cover of Shoes In Vogue Since 1910 by Christina Probert Fashion Materials A less visited area of the Clarence Ward Art Library is the large section of fashion books, located between GT 510 to around GT 2400. Ranging from vintage and antique styles, such as Baroque and Victorian, to contemporary fashion, these books explore... Continue Reading

Four color theory study samples using overlapping colors.

February 21, 2024

Check It Out: Color Theory: Chevreul & Albers

Examples of Alber's sample studies from Interaction of Color The Clarence Ward Art library has a large color theory collection containing many important primary works, including two of the best known texts in this field: M.E. Chevreul’s The Principles of Harmony and Contrast of Colours and Josef Albers’ Interaction... Continue Reading

Two tattoos, one with a gold fish and coins and one with a red snake with flowers, illustrations.

February 07, 2024

Check It Out: Japanese Tattoos: Meanings, Shapes and Motifs by Yori Moriarty

What is it about? The intimate relationship between Japanese irezumi tattooing and the dark world of the yakuza has helped cover this form of artistic expression with an aura of mystery. However, the culture of irezumi is deep and rich in meanings. Shapes and motifs from color woodblock prints are applied to the skin to... Continue Reading

Multicolored knitted projects folded on a table.

March 24, 2023

Diversity in Fiber Arts

Join us for a conversation with Lisa Whitfield, OC ’90 about LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and neurodiversity inclusion in the fiber arts. Learn about the diverse fiber artists active today and explore samples of their work. Fiber art books and patterns, some over 100 years old, will be on display as well.Hosted by the Clarence Ward Art... Continue Reading

Paint brush, crochet hook and crocheted circle, and wood carving tool on light pink background.

March 09, 2023

Art & Craft @ The Art Library

The Art Library will be hosting Art & Craft @ The Art Library, a free arts and crafts evening for all Oberlin College faculty, staff, and students, every Thursday evening. Bring a project or create something new. Tools, colorful paper, and crafting supplies – rubber stamps, glitter pens, markers, paper punches... Continue Reading

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Learn More About Our Libraries

Course Guides ? Course Guides are organized collections of resources created for the research and information needs of students in specific courses. Research strategies and library services are also included.

Source Type Guides ? Oberlin College librarians have identified the best platforms for finding resources by source type, including newspapers, magazines, dissertations and theses, books, music, primary sources, and more. Some guides also provide search tips and techniques.

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News: Clarence Ward Art Library

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Course Guides

Course Guides are organized collections of resources created for the research and information needs of students in specific courses. Research strategies and library services are also included.

Source Type Guides

Oberlin College librarians have identified the best platforms for finding resources by source type, including newspapers, magazines, dissertations and theses, books, music, primary sources, and more. Some guides also provide search tips and techniques.