Finding Film and Media in the Library

General media items

-- including VHS tapes, CDs, CD-Roms, and music cassettes -- and

Microforms

are currently housed on the first floor of the J.D. Williams Library. DVDs are housed in the Baxter Room on the East side of the second floor.

Music LPs are stored offsite and may be requested.

How long can I check out a DVD? (or other format)

Please refer to the Loan Policy.

Finding Music

For information on finding a score or music in various formats or a video/DVD about music, please refer to the Music Subject Guide.

Finding Films

Begin by searching the online catalog.

Don't know where to start?

Use a KEYWORD search to look for certain words in a catalog record.
Search by: KEYWORD -- Limit by format (video/films)
NOTE: the word "movies" is rarely used in a library catalog. Search for "films" instead.

insurance fraud
eating disorders
world war ii

Are you looking for a specific film?

Search by: TITLE

rear window -- Look for the VHS/DVD icon in the item list!
NOTE: a TITLE SEARCH can also bring up books or materials ABOUT a certain film, such as criticism or interpretation or, in some cases, an original screenplay.

Are you looking for a specific actor/actress or director?

Search by: AUTHOR (last name first)

hitchcock, alfred
stewart, jimmy
kelly, grace

Are you searching for a certain TYPE of film?

Search by: SUBJECT

feature films
documentary films
historical films
detective and mystery films
adventure films
horror films
war films
silent films
animated films (but for The Simpsons? Animated television series)
foreign films (if looking for a specific country, include that in your search --> foreign films france)

Are you looking for a film adaptation of a book?

Search by TITLE, and look for the VHS/DVD icon in the item list -- OR
Search by SUBJECT with the official version of the author's name with "film and video adaptations

shakespeare william 1564-1616 film and video adaptations

Are you looking for a specific FORMAT?

Search by TITLE:

dvd videodiscs
vhs videotapes

Finding Film Reviews

Movie Review Query Engine
The largest online database for movie reviews; includes reviews, news, interviews and other material associated to specific movies.

Academic Search Premier
Search for film reviews in newspapers and magazines, including scholarly journals.

MLA International Bibliography
Search for peer reviewed journal articles; will not include popular press.

Rotten Tomatoes
With more than 250,000 titles and 850,000 review links in its
ever-growing database, RT offers a fun and informative way to discover
the critical reaction on movies neatly summarized via the Tomatometer.

Finding Film Information

Internet Movie Database
Includes cast and production information for film and television productions. Reviews are submitted by users.