Resource of the Week
By Shirl Kennedy, Editor

We’re about due for an art-related resource here, and this week we introduce you to something that is full of interesting digitized images…cool to browse even if you don’t need it for reseach purposes.

GloPAD (Global Performing Arts Database)
“GloPAD (Global Performing Arts Database) records include authoritative, detailed, multilingual descriptions of digital images, texts, video clips, sound recordings, and complex media objects related to the performing arts around the world, plus information about related pieces, productions, performers, and creators.” The database currently contains about 4,500 records; new items are added on an ongoing basis.

Searching here is simple — basically just keyword or phrase. For guidance, see the Search Tips page, which offers “suggested searches” — piece titles (e.g., A Midsummer Night’s Dream), people (e.g., Max Reinhardt), genres (e.g., water puppetry), locations (e.g., San Francisco), objects and activities (e.g., servant costumes). You can also browse by:
+ Performing Arts Type
+ Performing Arts Group
+ Place
+ Person
+ Piece
+ Production

Video clips in the database are in QuickTime format; you’ve probably already got the QuickTime player installed on your computer. But you probably don’t have the Cortona VRML Client, a browser plug-in which you’ll need if you want to view 3D objects.

GloPAD is a multi-lingual resource, available in Chinese, German, Japanese, and Russian as well as English. A three-year grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) provided most of the funding for this project. Read more about it here.

As long as you’re in the neighborhood, why not have a look at the other digital collections available via the Cornell University Library. We especially like:
+ The Fantastic in Art and Fiction
+ Home Economics Archive: Research, Tradition, and History (HEARTH)
+ Making of America (MOA)
+ Witchcraft Collection

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 21st, 2006 and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.