Introduction
Academic Databases
There are numerous databases available to you which provide access to high-quality information you won't find on Google.
Most of the databases enable you to find full-text journal articles and references, but we also have newspaper, image and
media databases that you can use.
Access Using Summon
The fastest way to access databases is to search using Summon (below):
Looking for something?
Find: Everything Books Articles Books & DVDs at Ipswich
A-Z of databases | A-Z of journals | A-Z of searches | Advanced search
A-Z eResources List
In addition to using Summon, you can browse our A-Z of eResources list of you want to access a particular database.
Go to A-Z List
Structuring your Search
You can save yourself time by spending a few minutes planning how you want to search the databases before you begin.
Consider the following:
- Which database(s) to search
- Keywords- what will you search for?
- How to link the keywords together
- Will you apply any limits to your search? (date of publication, full-text, format)
For more information about searching, take a look at our Searching for Information page.
You can also look at our pages in the Assignment Toolkit related to searching for information.
Moving images
- Black and White Movies This link opens in a new window
Black and White Movies is an online resource which provides access to classic, black and white films in the public domain. The collection can be browsed by genre or keyword.
This content is free to access on the open web and is not searchable in Discovery.
- Box of Broadcasts (BOB) This link opens in a new window
For researchers and students in the UK, Box of Broadcasts (BoB) offers a unique resource for educational purposes. This on-demand TV and radio service contains documentaries, news broadcasts, films, and educational programmes. It allows users to record programs from over 65 free-to-air channels or search an archive exceeding 2 million broadcasts. BoB caters specifically to educational needs by offering permanent recordings and the ability to create playlists, clips, and resource lists – all shareable with others.
The content of this collection is searchable in Discovery.
Access to this collection is provided by the University of Suffolk. To login, select the link above and then click the blue “Sign in” button. Enter “University of Suffolk” and click “Go”. Users may be redirected to the standard UoS authentication screen; please enter your S number (e.g., S123456) and password."
Useful Databases
The following databases / journal collections will be useful for your area of study:
- Art Full Text This link opens in a new window
Provided by EBSCO, the Art Full Text database contains full-text articles, abstracts, dissertations, and art reproductions. This resource is most likely to be relevant to individuals associated with Art and Design disciplines; it covers topics such as fine, decorative, and commercial art, as well as photography, film, and architecture.
The content of this collection is searchable in Discovery.
Access to this collection is provided by the University of Suffolk. Users may be redirected to the standard UoS authentication screen after clicking the above link; please enter your S number (e.g., S123456) and password.
- a-n The Artists Information Company This link opens in a new window
a-n The Artist Information Company is the largest artists’ membership organisation in the United Kingdom with over 30,000 members. It is a leader in research and information for and about contemporary visual arts practice, and offers online resources for individuals in all art and design disciplines. It contains professional practice resources, an extensive archive of published materials, a research index of over 400 sectoral research papers, events, and job listings.
The content of this resource is not searchable in Discovery.
Access to this resource is provided by the University of Suffolk. To login with your University of Suffolk credentials:
- Click the link above
- Select “Login” in the upper right-hand corner of the screen
- Click “Login via your host institution”
- Search for the “University of Suffolk”
- Login with your standard S number (e.g., S123456) and password
- ARTbibliographies Modern This link opens in a new window
ARTbibliographies Modern contains abstracts of journal articles, books, PhD Dissertations, exhibition catalogs, and reviews on all forms of modern and contemporary art dating from the late 19th century onwards. This resource is most likely to be relevant to individuals associated with Art and Design disciplines; it covers topics such as performance art and installation works, video art, computer and electronic art, body art, graffiti, ceramic and glass art, illustration, painting, printmaking, sculpture, and drawing.
Some of the content of this collection is searchable in Discovery. For optimal results, it is advised to conduct your search directly within the collection.
Access to this collection is provided by the University of Suffolk. Users may be redirected to the standard UoS authentication screen after clicking the above link; please enter your S number (e.g., S123456) and password.
- Arts and Humanities Database This link opens in a new window
The Arts and Humanities database contains journal articles, abstracts, and magazines. It is suitable for users of various disciplines, including fine art, architecture, design, history, philosophy, music, and english.
The content of this collection is searchable in Discovery.
Access to this collection is provided by the University of Suffolk. Users may be redirected to the standard UoS authentication screen after clicking the above link; please enter your S number (e.g., S123456) and password.
- Arts Premium Collection This link opens in a new window
The Arts Premium Collection contains journal articles, abstracts, and dissertations. It is suitable for users associated with a wide range of artistic and design disciplines. This collection combines multiple subcollections, including Art, Design and Architecture Collection, Music and Performing Arts Collection, and Screen Studies Collection. The collection includes content on music, performing arts, film, screenwriting, fine art, design, and architecture.
The content of this collection is searchable in Discovery.
Access to this collection is provided by the University of Suffolk. Users may be redirected to the standard UoS authentication screen after clicking the above link; please enter your S number (e.g., S123456) and password.
- Bibliography of the History of Art (BHA) and Répertoire de la Litterature de l'Art (RILA) This link opens in a new window
Bibliography of the History of Art (BHA) and Répertoire de la Littérature de l'Art (RILA) index and abstract books, conference proceedings, dissertations, exhibition catalogs, and articles on Western art history from late antiquity through the early 21st century. BHA covers materials published from 1990 to 2007, while RILA focuses on 1975 to 1989. The database encompasses a diverse range of artistic disciplines, from traditional fine arts like painting and sculpture to architecture and decorative arts.
The content of the BHA and RILA is free to access on the open web, and is not searchable in Discovery.
- Design and Applied Arts Index (DAAI) This link opens in a new windowProquest Design and Arts covers both new designers and the development of design and the applied arts since the mid-19th century, surveying disciplines including ceramics, glass, jewelry, wood, metal smithing, graphic design, fashion and clothing, textiles, furniture, interior design, architecture, computer aided design, Web design, computer-generated graphics, animation, product design, industrial design, garden design, and landscape architecture
- International Bibliography of Art (IBA) This link opens in a new window
International Bibliography of Art (IBA) is a collection of scholarly literature on Western art. The database includes records created by the Getty Research Institute in 2008-09. IBA is the successor to the Bibliography of the History of Art (BHA). The collection includes at least 500 core journals, with an emphasis on specialist and rare titles that are not covered by other indexes, plus detailed coverage of monographs, essay collections, conference proceedings and exhibition catalogues.
The content of this collection is searchable in Discovery.
Access to this collection is provided by the University of Suffolk. Users may be redirected to the standard UoS authentication screen after clicking the above link; please enter your S number (e.g., S123456) and password.
- JSTOR This link opens in a new window
JSTOR is a digital library, which provides access to more than 12 million journal articles, books, images, and primary sources from over 75 disciplines. Please note that JSTOR is an archive database and does not include current content.
The content of this collection is partly searchable in Discovery.
Access to this collection is provided by the University of Suffolk. Users may be redirected to the standard UoS authentication screen after clicking the above link; please enter your S number (e.g., S123456) and password.
- Oxford Art Online This link opens in a new window
Oxford Art Online offers access to authoritative, inclusive, and easily searchable online art resources with over 23,000 subject entries, 21,000 biographies, and 40,000 links to images. This database includes Grove Art Online (which is a scholarly art encyclopaedia), The Oxford Companion to Western Art, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art and The Encyclopaedia of Aesthetics.
The content of this collection is not searchable in Discovery.
Access to this collection is provided by the University of Suffolk. Users may be redirected to the standard UoS authentication screen after clicking the above link; please enter your S number (e.g., S123456) and password.
- Wiley Online Library This link opens in a new window
Wiley is a large academic publisher. Wiley Onlinie Library allows you to search journals and books published by Wiley in a wide range of subject areas.
The content of this collection is searchable in Discovery.
Access to this collection is provided by the University of Suffolk. Users may be redirected to the standard UoS authentication screen after clicking the above link; please enter your S number (e.g., S123456) and password.
