This list contains details of electronic databases available to Oxford Brookes staff and students on the web. Databases allow you to search for references for journal articles and other publications in your subject area. Some databases provide an indexing service only, some also provide abstracts (summaries) and others are full text. For more information on using these services see the How to search catalogues and databases page. The Library also provides direct access to many full text electronic journals.
Note: Databases are usually available on and off-campus. Most will prompt you to log in with your Brookes ID and password. The Library Electronic Resources pages provide details of passwords for resources not covered by this.
a-n The Artists Information Company
A valuable resource for practising artists. Provides access to research, critical writings, artists' profiles, debates and opportunities in the visual arts as well as a series of open interactive websites.
Art Full Text
A key source for the visual arts, other subjects covered include design, architecture, fashion, film and video. Full text coverage from 1997, indexing from 1984. Includes the Art Abstracts database.
ARTStor
Over a million images from collections world-wide. Covers the arts, architecture, humanities and sciences.
Bibliography of the History of Art
More art historical in focus, but does cover modern and contemporary art. Indexes articles published between 1975 and 2008.
Bridgeman Education
A digital image library covering visual culture of all civilisations and historical periods from pre- historic to the present day.
Oxford Art Online
An encyclopaedia covering the visual arts from prehistory to the present day.
Oxford Reference
200 dictionaries and reference works published by Oxford University Press including dictionaries of art terms, art, artists and design together with the Oxford Companion to the Photograph.
Performing arts periodicals database
A very significant database for the performing arts, containing over a third of a million references to journal articles and reviews on dance, film, musical theatre, opera, performance art, television and theatre. Full text articles are available for about 160 journal titles.
Vogue archive
Access to the complete run of US Vogue from 1892 to the most recent edition. Contains over 400,000 pages produced as high resolution full colour images. Searchable by, for example, designer, model, photographer, collection, garment or brand.
Academic Search Complete
A multi-disciplinary database offering full text access to more than 4,470 scholarly publications, including more than 3,500 peer-reviewed journals. Includes abstracts to more than 2,500 additional periodicals. Coverage includes art and design journals.
Communication & Mass Media Complete
Undoubtedly one of the most important databases for Communication, Media and Culture. The database covers subjects such as advertising, broadcasting, communication, cultural studies, film, journalism, language and linguistics, mass media, radio, rhetoric and television.
Factiva
An international news database covering national and local newspapers from 152 countries. Also includes images from Reuters.
Lexis+
The News tab of this legal database gives full-text access to regional and national newspapers including the Guardian, Independent,Times and Daily Telegraph. It is an excellent source for reviews and arts news. It does not include images. Click on Contents under the search box on the homepage, then choose Newspapers.
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
An illustrated collection of articles providing the life stories of over 50,000 people who have shaped the history of the British Isles and beyond, from the earliest times to those who died in recent years. Includes artists such as Francis Bacon, Helen Chadwick and Paul Nash.