Databases are large collections of articles and scholarly content. They typically focus on a specific subject. Below are good resources for finding information relevant to architecture, arts, and design. You can also browse our A-Z Databases list to see all databases available through the library.
Art & Architecture Source is a full-text art research database covering fine, decorative and commercial art, as well as film, photography, architecture and architectural design. The database offers full-text art journals and magazines, plus thousands of images with international coverage from all eras, regions and important artists.
Art Index Retrospective is an index of over a half-century of historic scholarly literature covering fine, decorative and commercial art. It is the electronic version of the print annual publication Art Index from its first volume, 1929, through 1984. It consists of citations of over 25,000 book reviews and high-quality indexing of nearly 600 publications, many of which are peer-reviewed for the fields of art history, architectural history, and the visual arts.
Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals indexes citations, abstracts, and full-text articles in architecture and design from American and international scholarly and trade journals, popular magazines, and publications of professional organizations. In addition, this database also provides citation records for architects' obituaries. Full text, when available, is in PDF and HTML. 1800s-present.
DAAI indexes citations and abstracts from journal articles, news reports, and reviews on design and applied arts (including performing arts-related design). You can limit to peer-reviewed sources. 1973-present.
JSTOR is an archive of journals from the humanities, social science, and sciences. It is not a comprehensive index of any of these subjects. Articles are available as PDFs back to volume one for most journals which have a "rolling wall" that excludes content from the last several years of publication. Virginia Tech access includes: JSTOR Arts and Sciences Archive Collections I - XV, Business Archive IV and the following collections:
Life Sciences, Sustainability, Ireland, and Security Studies.
The entire corpus is full-text searchable, offers search term highlighting, includes high-quality images, and is interlinked by millions of citations and references. The content is expanded continuously with a current emphasis on international publications as well as pamphlets, images, and manuscripts from libraries, societies, and museums.
Material ConneXion provides full-text data on materials used in architecture, interior and industrial design, fashion and apparel, and landscaping. Materials include polymers, ceramics, glass, metals, cements, and natural materials. Processing and sustainability information, physical and usage properties, and manufacturers are listed.
