Landscape Architecture Collection Description

Auraria Library does not place all landscape materials together in a single area of the library.  Because of this it is important to become familiar with the various locations.  Generally all of the books on landscape will be found on the second floor  in the SB section.  Landscape periodicals are found in the library Periodicals Department on the first floor in alphabetical order by the title of the journal for current issues, and the backfiles which are in paper will be found in the bound section under the SB call numbers.   The majority of backfiles of periodicals are on microform. Ask at the service desk of the Periodicals Department for assistance in locating microforms.Landscape video programs and films are found in the Media Department on the first floor. Consult the Skyline online catalog to identify nonprint programs.

Searching Landscape Subjects

It is important to use subject headings which are appropriate when searching architecture subjects on the Auraria Library

Skyline catalog, or when using other paper and online sources.  There are several methods of determining proper subject headings including consulting the Library of Congress Subject Headings books which are located near the Reference Desk, consulting The Penguin Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture,  New York: Penguin Books, 1998.   (NA31 F55 1998), or talking to landscape architecture faculty and other experts in the field.   Also, it is important to do searches on Skyline using the Library of Congress Subject search.

Assistance with Architecture Research
The Reference Desk located on the first floor of Auraria Library will provide assistance with architecture research any time the library is open.  In addition, the Auraria Library Fine Arts Bibliographer  Bob Wick may be contacted by telephone or email for assistance with research.

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Browsing the Architecture Stacks

The majority of books relating to landscape architecture may be found on the second floor of the Auraria Library under the "SB" classification.  Below is a chart which identifies the classification number under SB by specific subject area.

SB 1-1110                Plant Culture.
SB 107-109              Economic botany.
SB 110-112              Methods for special areas (including dry-land and tropical agriculture  irrigation farming.)
SB 113.2-118.45       Seeds.
SB 118.46-118.75     Nurseries. Nursery industry.
SB 119-124              Propagation.
SB 183-317              Field crops.
SB 317.5-450.87       Horticulture.
SB 450.9-467           Gardens and gardening.
SB 469-476.4           Landscape gardening
SB 481-485              Parks and public reservations. 
SB 599-990.5           Diseases and pests (including treatment and control).

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Landscape Architecture Dictionaries and Encyclopedias

The following landscape dictionaries and encyclopedias are representative of the reference collection.  They represent a few important sources of the many reference works which may be of help to your research.  Please browse the Reference Stacks on the main floor of the Auraria Library in call number area: Ref. SB 400-  to discover additional sources.

Goode, Patrick, ed. The Oxford Companion to Gardens.  Oxford: University Press, 1986.  Ref. SB 429.25 O95 1986  This Companion is the first comprehensive work to deal with the art of garden design on a world-wide scale from the earliest records of civilization to the present day.  The work is concerned with locating and describing gardens, their design, construction, geography, climate, and ethnic and social factors.

Morrow, Baker H.  A Dictionary of Landscape Architecture.    Albuquerque: University of New Mexico, 1987.  Ref. SB 429.25  This work provides short definitions concerning landscape design and construction.  It also provides more detailed overviews on national landscape styles, e.g., Canada, New Zealand, Australia, etc.

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Architectural Bibliographies

Bibliographies provide a list of resources (books, articles, online sources, etc.) published on a specific architectural subjects.  They may be entire books or they may appear at the end of articles, books, or book chapters.   Specific bibliographies may be found using the Skyline online catalog by adding the word "bibliography" to terms used in a Word search, for example:

Landscape architecture "bibliography"

Fredrick Law Olmsted "bibliography"

Architectural accessibility "bibliography"

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Biography

The following sources provide access to biographical information about architects and other individuals in the fields related to landscape architecture.  To determine if the library has a book-length biography of a specific landscape architect or designer consult the Skyline online catalog using a word search.  For example enter:  Frederick Law Olmsted.

There are also several online biography sites which may include landscape architects and designers.  The sites listed below may be accessed directly from this page:

Biographies Plus (Wilson) - More than 46, 000 full-text profiles of authors, artists, prize winners, politicians, world leaders, musicians and more. Covers the Ancient World to the present.

Biography and Genealogy Master Index -- A comprehensive index to more than 11 million biographical sketches in over 3,000 volumes and editions of current and retrospective reference books, covering both contemporary and historical figures throughout the world.

Biography Index -- Index to a wide range of biographical material. 1984 - present, updates monthly.

Search the Biography page at Auraria Library for online biographical sources.

Biography Reference 

Colvin, Howard Montague.  A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600-1840.  New Haven: Paul Mellon Center for Studies in British Art by Yale University, 1995.  3rd. ed.  REF NA 996 C6 1995.  This authoritative and now classic work of reference on the history of British architecture contains biographical information on many architects who practiced in England, Scotland, and Wales from the time of Inigo Jones (1573-1650) to that of William Burn (1789-1870).

International Dictionary of Architects and Architecture.  2vols. Detroit: St. James Press, 1993.  REF NA 40 I48 1993.  This is the most comprehensive biographical dictionary, featuring over 500 architects and nearly 450 buildings.

Profile: The Official AIA Directory of Architectural Firms.  New York: McGraw-Hill, 1983-.  REF NA 53 P76 1983-  Nearly 8000 U. S. architectural firms are profiled with organizational structure and project capabilities.  It includes staff personnel, geography of practice, and awards.  There is also an online version of this source: http://www.cmdg.com/profile

Withey, Henry E.  Biographical Dictionary of American Architects (Deceased).  Los Angeles: Hennessey & Ingalls, 1970.  REF NA 40 W57.  While somewhat older now, this biographical source provides career information on more than 2,000 American architects.  Coverage ranges from about 1740 to 1952.

Contemporary Designers.  Chicago: St. James Press, 1990.   Colin Naylor, ed.  REF NA 53 C66 1990.  This book lists more than 700 international designers from virtually every area of the profession including graphic, industrial/product, textile, interior, and set and costume design.

Pioneers of American landscape Design : an Annotated Bibliography.  Charles A. Birnbaum and Lisa E. Crowder, eds..  Washington, D.C. : U.S. Dept. of the Interior, National Park Service, Cultural Resources, Preservation Assistance Division, Historic Landscape Initiative.  3 vols. 1993. GOV PUBS  I 29.82.P 65.  To day there have been three volumes published on the pioneers of American landscape design.   These are valuable sources for finding references to otherwise obscure landscape architects.

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Books

Auraria Library Online Catalog Use the Library online catalog (Skyline) to find books in the library and to find out if the Library subscribes or has access to specific journals.

Prospector: the Colorado Unified Catalog  Use Prospector to determine which major Colorado library may own a particular book.

WorldCat This database contains the book records of nearly every library in the United States, and many foreign libraries. Use to request items not found through Skyline or Prospector. 

NetLibrary A database of online, full text books.  Some psychology books are included. Other eBooks. 

Tip: Link to the Guide Find Books and Other Material to learn how to find and request  materials that are not available at Auraria Library. 

You may use ILL (Interlibrary loan) to order journal and magazine articles that Auraria Library doesn't own and you cannot locate in Skyline or Prospector. You may use WorldCat to request books, dissertations, videorecordings and other materials that Auraria doesn't own.

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Online Indexes

The most current information, as well as historical information, can frequently be found in magazine and journal articles, which tend to deal with more specific topics than books cover.

The "Find Articles" Guide provides information about locating journals and magazines.

IF AURARIA LIBRARY DOES NOT HAVE THE LIBRARY MATERIALS YOU NEED, ASK AT THE REFERENCE DESK.  The staff at the Reference Desk can often help you locate other suitable information on your topic if the Library does not own the material you need. The librarian at the Reference Desk can often help you locate other suitable information on your topic if the Library does not own the material you need.

Recommended Starting Points

Databases -- Go to this page for general databases that cover multiple subjects, contain full text and  scholarly, peer reviewed articles which appear in leading journals in various fields.

Several of the online indexes subscribed to by the Auraria Library are appropriate for landscape architecture.  The online indexes are available on the computers in the library, at all campus computer labs, and at home for all faculty and  currently registered students using the Off Campus Online Access procedures.  The online indexes listed below cover varying numbers of architecture journals.  For additional assistance in using the online indexes ask at the Auraria Library Reference Desk.

Architecture Database --  This is the online version of the Architecture Periodicals Index (API) which is also available in paper at the library.  It is published by the British Architectural Library at the Royal Institute of British Architects and includes articles, interviews, obituaries, and biographies in more than 400 current periodicals from over 45 countries, as well as some 2,000 cataloged items including monographs, conference proceedings, exhibition catalogs, pamphlets, and some technical literature.  

Architectural Index   -- 1982-present.  The Architectural Index provides indexing to 18 of the more prominent journals in the areas of architecture, interior design, and construction.  Searches may be limited to specific journals and/or to specific states or architects.  A list of the journals included is provided on the search screen.

ArticleFirst -- 1990-present.  This database is a table-of-contents indexing service for articles in more than 13,000 journals.  It may be searched by architecture subjects to identify journal articles.

Uncover (Ingenta)  --  1988-present.  This database is the largest journal table-of-contents indexing service.  It covers more than 17,000 journals and offers a fee-based document delivery service.  While many of the journals indexed are not available at the Auraria Library, it is a good index to use for in-depth searches of architecture topics.

Other Databases

The following databases are also of use to landscape architecture studies.  These databases are not all periodical indexes, but will include articles and other materials on landscape architecture and related fields.

Dissertation Abstracts Online --  1861-present.  (indexing)   1980-present.  (abstracting)  Includes most Ph. D. dissertations published in the U. S..  Updated monthly.  Most art and architecture dissertations are included in this source.

EbscoOnline  -- Provides tables of contents and abstracts on hundreds of journals published in the U. S..  Includes many of the journals subscribed to by the Auraria Library.

GPO Monthly Catalog  --  1976-present.  Contains information on records for more than 450,000 records for documents on all subjects of interest published by the U. S. government.

Grove Art Online -- Grove Art Online is the most comprehensive online resource for all aspects of the visual arts worldwide from prehistory to the present day. 

Jake  -- Jake provides a source for finding where a particular journal is indexed.

Statistical Universe -- 1973-present.  Based on the American Statistic Index this site provides abstracts and indexes for all government publications back to 1973.  Many of the statistical tables are provided full text. 

Thomas Register Online -- This database provides product information for U. S. and Canadian Manufacturing companies. An important source for architecture, design, and building trades.  Updated Quarterly.

WorldCat -- 1000 A. D.-present  This database represents the OCLC Online Union Catalog, containing more than 35 million records describing items owned by libraries around the world.  Each record contains library holdings.  This is an essential database for art, architecture, and building trades studies for finding hard to find books and other materials.

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Internet Resources

American Society of Landscape Architects ( ASLA) -- Founded in 1899, the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) currently represents more than 12,000 members and has 47 chapters across the country with headquarters in Washington, DC. Private, public, and academic practitioners have a professional home at ASLA as do international practitioners and members of related professions.  Links are provided to state landscape architecture organizations. 

The Center for Landscape Research --   The Center for Landscape Research's work is predicated on the assumption that better access to information permits a democratic and therefore more equitable approach to the solution of complex value laden environmental problems.

Colorado Chapter of the American Society of  Landscape Architects  -- This is the official site for the Colorado Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.  Membership and information is provided concerning Colorado.

Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture -- This site represents an association of educational institutions offering programs in landscape architecture and their faculty.   The Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture is composed of virtually all of the programs of landscape architecture in the United States and Canada. The members of the faculty of these institutions are invited to participate in the Council. 

Frederick Law Olmsted -- Frederick Law Olmsted (1822-1903) is recognized
as the founder of American landscape architecture and the nation’s foremost park-maker.  This site is proved by the Olmsted National Historic Site and provides information and links on this important landscape developer.

GardenWeb --  The GardenWeb comprise the largest community of gardeners on the Internet. Covering more than 90 different plants, regions and topics; the forums allow you to tap the collective wisdom of the thousands of other users who visit GardenWeb each day.

Landscape Architecture Information Sources -- This site provides an introduction to some of the landscape architectural resources currently available on the Internet. The list is provided by Rutgers University.

Landscape Design Trust (United Kingdom)   The Landscape Design Trust is an educational charitable trust whose aim is to stimulate concern for, and understanding of, landscape, especially the quality of the landscape around us and the way landscape is designed, used, managed and protected.

LandscapeOnline --   LandscapeOnline provides information on locating architects, contractors, maintenance companies, consultants, supplies, and provides a useful newsletter for landscape architects.

Landscape Products Profiles -- This is the official ASLA product profile directory.  Here you will find an excellent collection of the industry's most comprehensive information on landscape-related products and services to assist with your research and specification needs. The information provided allows you to phone, fax, e-mail, or search the World Wide Web to get all the answers you need.

Landscape Virtual Library --  This site is a part of the World Wide Web Virtual Library developed by the University of Toronto.  The primary point of focus for this library is the collection of references to the electronic landscape resources on the internet. It is an attempt to be fairly definitive within that realm only - not a library covering all material about these subjects - only that which exists.

National Park Service -- The National park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the national park system for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.

The Trust for Public Land --   Founded in 1972, the Trust for Public Land is the only national nonprofit working exclusively to protect land for human enjoyment and well-being. TPL helps conserve land for recreation and spiritual nourishment and to improve the health and quality of life of American communities.

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Explanation of Location Codes

REF = Reference Stacks on Main level near Reference Desk     
INDEX = Index Stacks on Main level near Reference Desk 
GOVPUB = Stacks on Main level near Government Publications office  
GOV PUB CD-ROM = In the CD-ROM Cluster by the Government Publications Office on Main level
PERIOD = Periodicals Department  Main Level, Most Recent Issues in Current Periodicals