Not sure where to start? “Best bet” databases are marked with a 
. Still not sure? Just Ask a Librarian!
Databases for Academic Research
Academic Search Premier
General/Multidisciplinary Article Database
Search peer-reviewed academic journals, newspapers, magazines, and more across disciplines, from communications and culture to science and social science.
Feature Films for Education
Stream both current and hard-to-find films, including dramas, literary adaptations, blockbusters, classics, science fiction, environmental titles, foreign films, social issues, animation studies, Academy Award® winners, and more.
Search peer-reviewed journals on a multitude of subjects, including history, economics, archaeology, classics, language, music, art, sociology, multicultural studies, political science, and more.
Business Source Premier
Provides access to the scholarly, trade, and mainstream business press. Also includes some industry reports and SWOT analyses.
Newspaper Source Plus
Provides full text for more than 860 U.S. & international newspapers, and more than 35 million full text news articles. In addition, more than 850,000 full text television & radio news transcripts are provided.
Prep for Your Exams with LearningExpress
Get test prep and practice test materials for program entrance exams and career advancement tools including college prep, CLEP tests, and resume and cover letter builders.
Did you know? 💡
You have access to the Adobe Creative Suite with your OTC log-in credentials!
Visit: https://creativecloud.adobe.com/ and sign in with your OTC log-in.
Open Access Resources
Bibliography of the History of Art
Search through thousands of indexes and abstracts of art-related books, conference proceedings and dissertations, exhibition and dealers’ catalogs, and articles from over 4,300 periodicals. Subjects covered include: art of Europe and the Americas (4th century to modern) architecture and industrial design decorative and applied arts drawings painting popular and folk art prints and sculpture.
Digital Public Library of America
Looking for primary sources, historical documents, or cultural artifacts for your research? The Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) is like a massive search engine that lets you explore millions of items from libraries, museums, and archives across the entire country all in one place. Instead of having to visit dozens of different websites, you can search through photographs, letters, maps, artworks, and historical documents from institutions everywhere—from small local historical societies to major university libraries. DPLA also helps libraries provide better access to ebooks and digital resources, which means you might be able to access materials through your school or local library that you couldn’t find anywhere else. Whether you’re researching local history, need primary sources for a paper, or want to explore American culture and heritage, DPLA connects you to authentic materials that can make your projects more compelling and well-researched.
Ever wondered what to call that specific architectural detail or art technique you’re studying? Getty Vocabularies are like massive dictionaries for the art world that help you find the correct terms for artworks, buildings, materials, and techniques from all over the world and throughout history. These online databases are created by experts and include multiple names for the same thing (like how a “Catherine wheel” is also called a “rose window”), along with definitions, images, and connections between related concepts. They’re completely free to use and especially helpful when you’re writing papers, creating presentations, or need to describe visual elements accurately in your projects. The Getty team actively works to make these vocabularies more inclusive by incorporating diverse perspectives, using unbiased and antiracist terminology, and including art and terminology from cultures around the world—not just Western art. You can search these specialized databases for reliable, scholarly information that’s perfect for academic work and represents a broader, more equitable view of art history.
Google Arts & Culture is a non-commercial initiative. We work with cultural institutions and artists around the world. Together, our mission is to preserve and bring the world’s art and culture online so it’s accessible to anyone, anywhere.
Need high-quality images for your design projects, presentations, or research? The Smithsonian has made over 5.1 million images and digital items completely free to download and use in your work—no permission needed! This massive collection includes everything from historical photographs and artwork to 3D models and scientific specimens from all 21 Smithsonian museums, research centers, libraries, and even the National Zoo. Whether you’re creating a poster about American history, need reference images for an illustration project, or want to study the details of famous artworks up close, you can download these professional-quality images and use them however you need for your academic work.
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