OISO Now Available for Research

Oxford Islamic Studies Online , the premiere research database on The Qur'an & Islamic topics in the English speaking world is now available at all St. Louis Public Library branches*. It offers easily searchable access to information from world-renowned experts :

·        Prose or verse translations of The Qur’an, plus a complete Concordance

·        “What Everyone Needs to Know About Islam” in Q&A format

·        Articles on Islamic art, architecture, history, contemporary thought, maps, study guides, dictionary and glossary, thematic studies, links to additional resources
The database has been made available through last year's  Muslim Journeys grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Library Association. We hope it will prove useful to St. Louis-area Muslims as well as those who want to learn more about Islam in general.

* Please note: You cannot sign-in over the internet with a library card, but anyone visiting any branch of the city library can use it by sitting down at an adult reference computer or logging on to a public access computer.

Art in the Social Sciences Room

Sometimes books for those who appreciate the creative arts can be found in other departments of the library. Check-out these three recent arrivals, recommended by Fine Arts Librarian Mary Frechette:

Where Does Art Come From How to Find Inspiration and Ideas by William Kluba is an exploration rather than a how-to guide , a combination of art-history, psychology, and spirituality.

The Artist's Library A Field Guide by Laura Damon-Moore & Erinn Batykefer suggests ways to use your library to increase artistic productivity and inspire new work. 

 NOTE: Watch this space for news of a special program on Central Library's resources for moving your professional artistic career to the next level, Central for Creatives, coming in November 2014. 

All the Art That's Fit to Print (and Some That Wasn't) Inside the New York Times Op-Ed Page by Jerelle Kraus, full of examples and explanations, especially since the 1970's.