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by Brian Vetruba, Subject Librarian
Issue: Fall 2005
What's this newsletter? The goal of this quarterly newsletter is to alert student and faculty in Germanic Languages and Literatures about new library resources and changes in library services. Its scope is limited to resources and services relevant to Germanic Languages and Literatures. For general changes, see WU Libraries' What's New. Each issue will highlight new resources and provide research tips. Suggestions are most welcomed: bvetruba@wustl.edu
Newsletter contents:
New Subject Librarian
What's new at Olin
Spotlight on Resources
New E-resources
New Print Resources
New Videos and DVDs
Searching Tips
New Subject Librarian
My name is Brian Vetruba and I have taken over as Subject Librarian for Germanic Languages and Literatures,
Comparative Literature and European Studies.
As subject librarian, my main focus is to assist faculty and students in these departments with research
and to develop the library collections in these areas.
I'm always available to answer your research queries and general questions
about library services. Please don't hesitate to contact me or to set up an appointment: bvetruba@wustl.edu or phone (935-4824).
What's new at Olin
Revised library subject webpages
The subject pages have had a major overhaul and 40 new electronic resources have been added thus far. Here's an organizational overview:
- Main page: Portal page to the others. Bookmark this for easy access.
- Databases: Databases for research. Includes MLA, BDSL, WorldCat, and more.
- E-Journals and Reviews: Includes electronic scholarly journals, such as New German Critique, online literary journals, such as Perlentaucher.de, sources for online book reviews, and collections of digitized periodicals.
- E-Text Sources: Links to full-text collections of German literature.
- Reference: Online bibliographies and online dictionaries, encyclopedias, and handbooks.
- How to Find and Use: Webpages for specific courses, featured lists (What's new in the collections), print journal subscriptions.
- Related German Studies websites: Research-oriented and general interest websites related to German Studies.
Gerritsen Collection: Women's History Online--TRIAL SUBSCRIPTION UNTIL NOV. 30, 2005
An online database of Women's History and the feminist movement(s) from 1543-1945. Contains PDF files of monographs and periodicals
in 15 European languages. German-language materials account for a large percentage. The WU Libraries are considering purchasing this resource
but we are asking for your feedback. To access Gerritsen, see the e-mail Brian sent on Nov. 8, 2005; or contact Brian (bvetruba@wustl.edu ; phone: 935-4824).
Resources for 19th century German literature
A webpage of selected print and online resources for 19th century
German literature to support GER 526 Seminar in the Literature of the Nineteenth Century:
Violence and Community.
Find it!
Find It! is a search engine that allows users to search multiple databases at once. You can search MLA, Academic Search premier and other
Humanities databases simultaneously. Note, German-language databases, such as BDSL, are not yet configured for Find It!. The Get it!
function of Find It! either links to the full text or tells you where you can locate it. More info.
Academic Search Premier
The Libraries now subscribe to Academic Search Premier, a multi-disciplinary database, which covers
much of the same material as Expanded Academic Index, Humanities Abstracts, and Social Sciences Abstracts. These other databases have
been discontinued. More info.
MLA back in FirstSearch
Many have probably already noticed this change. MLA Bibliography is back in FirstSearch.
More info.
New JSTOR electronic journal package
The Libraries have access to the JSTOR Arts & Sciences III Collection which includes
journals in language and literature, music, the history and study of art and architecture,
cultural studies, film, folklore, performing arts, and religion. JSTOR usually only provides full-text access to past issues of a journal.
More info.
Library inventory of PTs
Olin library shelving staff is currently conducting a systematic inventory of materials in the PT (Germanic literatures)
call number range during which misshelved items are being reshelved and missing items identified. The inventory will be completed by
the end of November 2005.
In general, if you're unable to find what you're looking for, the best approach is to page the item for yourself by clicking on the "Request"
button at the top of the catalog record. This will put the item in queue to be searched by library staff and you'll be notified once it is found. Detailed instructions
and information can be found at http://library.wustl.edu/units/circ/requestdir.html
European-region DVDs circulate
The Libraries have begun to circulate non-US region DVD (regions 2 and higher) which will only play on DVD universal
players and computers set up for multiple regions. A sticker on the DVD case and a note in the catalog record
will identify these DVDs. The ARC has two universal DVD players for viewing these DVDs.
Spotlight on resources
Xipolis
A database of 40+ German reference works in the Humanities, social sciences, business and medicine. It includes many of the
Brockhaus encyclopedic works, DUDEN dictionaries, and PONS foreign language dictionaries. Selected list of works in Xipolis:
- Brockhaus in 15 Bänden
- Das große Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache (Grosser Duden)
- PONS Deutsch - Englisch
- PONS English - Deutsch
- PONS Kompaktwörterbuch Französisch - Deutsch
- Harenberg Buch der 1000 Bücher
One noteworthy change with Xipolis is that Kindlers neues Literatur Lexikon, and the Film Dienst Lexikon are no longer included. Kindlers is still available in print: Olin Reference (Level 1): PN41 .K53 1988.
For a complete list of works in Xipolis: Die Nachschlagewerke.
Grimms' Deutsches Wörterbuch
Online version of the 32-volume print DWB (1838-1960), the German equivalent of the Oxford English Dictionary, hosted by
the Universität Trier. Besides providing semantic definitions, the DWB also gives the etymological history of each word.
Entries also provide references to the earliest recorded use of the word.The corresponding print version is available: Olin Reference (Level 1): PF3625 .G7 1984.
You can search the dictionary by Keyword ("Stichwort") or by browsing. Lengthier entries are broken down in the "Artikelgliederung". Entries also include references to corresponding entries in the print version. To access dictionry entries, click on "Online-Wörterbuch aufschlagen".
Although the database is complete, the organization of the webpages is still in the developmental stages. For more info on the development, searching, and system requirements, see the Hinweise. Also includes some historical information about the dictionary and bibliographical references.
Back to Newsletter contentsNew E-resources
A sampling of the 40 new online resources added to subject pages. Consult the subject pages for a complete listing: German Literature & Film
Austrian Literature Online
Gateway to digitized-PDF editions of Austrian literature available from
Austrian university libraries. Includes "Schöne Bücher aus Österreich: die 1000 wichtigsten
Bücher", children's literature, biographical works, encyclopedias, and much more. Listed in
E-Text Sources.
A major digitization project of German-Jewish periodicals (mainly 19th and early 20th century). Listed in E-Journals and Reviews
Exilpresse digital : Deutsche Exilzeitschriften
From the Deutsche Bibliothek, a selection of German exile magazines (1933-1945). Listed in E-Journals and Reviews
Germanistik.net: Internet Resources for Germanists
Links to conferences, job openings, topics in German Studies, German language instruction, Netherlandic Studies, and German departments around the world.
Listed in Related German Studies websites
H-Net Reviews
An online searchable database of scholarly reviews for works in
the Humanities and Social Sciences. Listed in E-Journals and Reviews
The HUMBUL Humanities Hub
Hosted by the University of Oxford (UK). Comprehensive database of resources in the Humanities. Organized by discipline, provides
annotated listings of primary resources, secondary resources, bibliographic sources, and more. Searchable by keyword or browsable by discipline.
Listed in Related German Studies websites
Internationale Hölderlin-Bibliographie Online
From the Württembergische Landesbibliothek, Hölderlin-Archiv, covers publications 1984-.
Related print ed. in Olin,
Level A: PT2359.H2 A818 1985. Listed in Reference.
Lexikon der deutschen Krimi-Autoren
Internet-Edition
Online version of Lexikon der deutschsprachigen Krimi-Autoren by Angelika Jockers and Reinhard Jahn. Bio-bibliographical dictionary of over 300
mostly contemporary German-speaking mystery writers. Incudes information on novels, radio plays and television films.
Listed in Reference.
MATEO: Mannheimer Texte Online
Research and Early Modern primary sources
held at the Universität Mannheim, including Early Modern books and manuscripts, Latin poetry
of Early Modern German writers, and much more. Listed in
E-Text Sources.
Middle High German dictionaries
Full-text. Access to the two standard dictionaries of Middle High German,
Mittelhochdeutsches Wörterbuch by Benecke, Müller, and Zarncke (BMZ);
and Das Mittelhochdeutsche Handwörterbuch by Lexer. Also includes Das Findebuch zum mittelhochdeutschen Wortschatz
(Findebuch). Listed in Reference.
Sophie: A Digital Library of Works by German-Speaking Women
A growing digital library of fiction, drama, music and articles written by German-speaking women between 1740 and 1923.
Also includes the journal: Sophie Journal. Listed in
E-Text Sources.
New Print Resources
For a complete listing of what has been added in the last month for Germanic Literatures (PT), go to Featured lists. Click on "next" to get to "PT". This list is updated monthly and is organized by call number.
A selected list of notable print resources added to the collection in the last few months:
Adelson, Leslie A. The Turkish turn in contemporary German literature.Studies in European culture and history.
New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005.
PT405 .A18 2005
Blumesberger, Susanne, ed. Frauen schreiben gegen Hindernisse: zu den Wechselwirkungen
von Biografie und Schreiben im weiblichen Lebenszusammenhang.
Wien: Edition Praesens, 2004.
PT3826.W65 F73 2004
Carney, Sean. Brecht and critical theory: dialectics and contemporary aesthetics. Routledge advances
in theatre and performance studies, 2. London: Routledge, 2005.
PT2603.R397 Z581874 2005
Faust-Jahrbuch.
Tübingen: Francke, 2005.
PT1925.F38
Huberth, Franz, Ed. Die DDR im Spiegel ihrer Literatur. Zeitgeschichtliche Forschungen, 24.
Berlin: Duncker & Humblot, 2005.
PT3707.T33 2003
Koelb, Clayton and Eric Downing, eds. German literature of the nineteenth century, 1832-1899.
The Camden House history of German literature, 9.
Rochester, N.Y.: Camden House, 2005.
PT341 .G42 2005
Mein, Georg. Erzählungen der Gegenwart: von Judith Hermann bis Bernhard Schlink.
München: Oldenbourg, 2005.
PT747.S6 M45 2005
Rolleston, James, ed. A companion to the works of Franz Kafka. Studies in German literature, linguistics, and culture.
Rochester, N.Y.: Camden House, 2002.
PT2621.A26 Z6579 2002
Taberner, Stuart, ed.German literature in the age of globalisation.
Birmingham: University of Birmingham Press, 2004.
PT405 .G456 2004
Wilpert, Gero von. Lexikon der Weltliteratur. biographisch-bibliographisches Handwörterbuch nach Autoren
und anonymen Werken. Deutsche Autoren, A-Z 4th rev. ed.
Stuttgart: A. Kröner, 2004.
Olin Reference (Level 1): PT155.W48 2004
New Videos and DVDs
For a complete listing of what has been added in the last month for foreign language videos and DVDs, go to Featured lists. Click on "Foreign language videorecordings". This list is updated monthly and is organized by call number.
A selected list of German and Swedish videos and DVDs added to the collection in the last few months:
Title: Alaska.de.
DVD-region 2
PN1995.91.G4 A42 2002 PAL
Title: Gegen die Wand.
DVD-region 2
PN1995.91.G4 G44 2004 PAL
Title: Halbe Treppe (English title: Grill point).
DVD-region 2
PN1995.91.G4 H24 2003 PAL
Title: Jalla! Jalla!.
videocassette
PN1995.91.S9 J35 2000
Title: Lektionen in Finsternis (English title: Lessons of darkness).
DVD
DS79.72 .L45 2001
Title: Soloalbum.
DVD-region 2
PN1995.91.G4 S656 2003 PAL
Title: Untergang (English title: Downfall).
DVD
PN1995.91.G4 U585 2005
Searching tips
Finding translations
To find an English translation for a major work, such as a novel, one good approach is to search by the original title plus "English". For example,
you want a translation of Thomas Mann's Der Zauberberg, the title search "Zauberberg English" will bring up most of the English translations.
Translations of minor works,
such as short stories, short plays, are often published in an anthology of an author's works. Conduct a name/title search with the author's name
in AUTHOR and "Selections English" in TITLE. Repeat this, except put in "Works English" for TITLE. These two searches will give you most anthologies of translated works of a given author.
Finding foreign language videorecordings (VHS, DVDs)
If you know the exact title of a film, search by that title. But if want to find all feature films in a foreign language, the best approach
is to search by call number. For German, the call number is PN1995.91 G4 and for Swedish, PN1995.91 S9. This only includes fictional films;
documentaries and other non-fiction films have call numbers related to their subject (e.g. German history).
To find videos and DVDs of films originally produced in a foreign country,
search by SUBJECT with "Motion pictures, [adjective of country]". For example, "Motion pictures, Argentinian" or "Motion pictures, Austrian".
To find fictional films about a certain topic, go to advanced search, and put in your
topic as a subject or keyword search and add "drama" as a subject search.
On the lower right, limit this by the material type "Video/Film".
If you're having trouble finding what you need, consult Brian by e-mail or
phone (935-4824), or library staff at the Help Desk.