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University Library DePaul Library

Film Studies Research Guide: Books & E-books

Guide to library resources for the study of the moving image.

Books and E-Books

Using the LibrarySearch tool on the library home page, you can opt for doing and E-book search up front or you can limit your results once displayed to books "available online". 

Books on film studies are split between the Lincoln Park and Loop Libraries, i.e, there are sizeable collections at both locations and it can seem a bit arbitrary as to why something ends up shelved where it does. Be prepared to request materials as needed. Books can be delivered to the other DePaul campus the next day (excluding weekends).

Screenshot of the library homepage showing the LibrarySearch tool.

        

Requesting Books

What if DePaul doesn't have the book, video or article I need?

Click Here for more information about requesting items through interlibrary loan.

Search tips

It helps to know that the preferred subject term is in fact "motion pictures", plural. Whereas, simply searching for the name of "Alfred Hitchcock" will produce results, for a more comprehensive search try the keywords Hitchcock motion pictures. Using just the director's last time in this way increases the likelihood of uncovering the existence of content in books about broader concepts, e.g., evil in motion pictures or history of British filmmaking, that have chapters devoted to Hitchcock in this case. Finding books devoted to a particular film requires a similar approach: search the title of the film followed by motion picture, singular, e.g., Birds motion picture.

What about screenplays? Don't assume that any given screenplay has been published commercially and is readily available in the ebook format. Try the more formal subject term motion picture plays along with the title of the film to see what might be available. Otherwise, consider seeing if a screenplay or transcript is readily available on the Web.