If you're reading this page, it's either because you want to find the full text to the articles I've cited, or because you want to do more research on Joan Bennett. Well, this is the right place.
Search Engines
There are all sorts of different search engines out there. These are some of the ones I use daily.
Although not all search engines allow for the same techniques, there are some commonalities. For instance, if I type in: joan bennett into a search engine, I will get sites that have the two words next to each other, but I will also get sites that don't. Joan Smith and Jane Bennett, maybe. Both the words Joan and Bennett are really common. I don't want to waste time looking through a lot of irrelevant sites and I doubt you do either.
Try putting quotation marks around a phrase. It will return more precise and more relevant results.
"joan bennett"
You can also add other words to your search string (the list of words you type in the search box). By adding additional words or terms, you require the search engine to have each of those words in the sites. The more you add, the less you will get in return.
Good: joan bennett actress
Better: "joan bennett" actress
Better: "joan bennett" "scarlet street"
Bare Bones 101: A Basic Tutorial on Searching the Web
Image Searching
Because of copyright restrictions, I have not included any photos of Bennett. However, it is possible to locate many, many great images of her on the Web. Several search engines offer specialized searches for these.
Directories
A web directory generally contains selected links. The material you find may not be exhaustive, but it usually has gone through some evaluative process.
Academic Info - Humanities - Film Studies
Librarians' Index to the Internet - Motion Pictures or Films
Voice of the Shuttle - Film/Video
Raising the Dead
So you've found what looks like a great page. You click on it and to your disgust and frustration, the site is either not functioning or appears to be defunct. All may not be lost.
1. Google has a cache feature. It's not always available and you may not get the web page in its entirety, but sometimes something is better than nothing.
2. The Wayback Machine is a wonderful and beautiful thing. It takes, well, snapshots of web sites over time. Again, it may not always be available for the site you're trying to find, but it's an extraordinarily helpful research tool.
Evaluating Web Sites
Thinking Critically about World Wide Web Resources
Libraries
In order to obtain the full text of many of the citations I've included, you will need to use a library, either in person or online. Most libraries, be they public or private, now have their library catalogs available online (sometimes called OPACS or online public access catalogs). You do not need to have a library card to search these, only if you want to borrow the items.
The best way to look for an article that is not in a database (see below) is
to search the catalog to see if your library has the newspaper, magazine, or
journal itself.
For example, let's say I want to find this article:
Aronson, Steven M.L. "Joan Bennett: Star of the Woman in the Window and Father of the Bride in Holmby Hills." Architectural Digest April 1996: 172+.
Do a title search in your library's catalog for Architectural Digest. They may have the magazine online, bound (in print), or on microfilm. Your librarian can help you get to the full text from there.
Databases
Many of the more recent articles can be located in their entirety in bibliographic databases. Some of the ones I used for this guide were: InfoTrac OneFile, Ebsco Host MasterFILE Select, and Factiva. Even if your library does not have access to these specific databases, most subscribe to at least one general news or magazine database. Depending on the size of your library, they may have several. Many libraries now allow their patrons to utilize these off site. Others will require you to be on site.
Indexes
For older articles (generally pre-1985), you may need to use a print index. They are not difficult to use. They will not contain the full articles, only the citations.
"Film Literature Index" - An index available online and in print covering various film periodicals.
"Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature" - These indexes cover popular magazines. Instructions on how to use the source are printed on the front page.
"The New York Times Index" - Covers the content of The New York Times.
It can now be searched online for free going back to 1851 at:
The New
York Times Article Archive Search
Google Redux
Two relatively new features through Google are worth taking a further look at.
Google Scholar
Google Scholar lets you search the scholarly literature. If you have an existing
affiliation with an academic library, definitely click on "Scholar Preferences." If they have the articles you need full text, you very well may be
able to search and access them that way.
Google Book Search
Google
Book Search does just that. It searches
the full text of books. You may not be able to get to all of the book,
but you can generally see the reference in context and decide how to proceed from there.
Be aware that both of these tools are in Beta mode. This is by no means, all she wrote on any subject.
Final Thoughts
Most of your research can be done for free. Your library, be it public or academic, is a great resource. Use it.
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© Michelle L. Zafron. 2003-2006