By Jutta Seibert

Looking for expert guidance to help you locate the scholarly literature on an unfamiliar topic? Dreading the time consuming process of identifying and then sifting through mountains of research? Oxford Bibliographies could be the answer you’re seeking.

With Oxford Bibliographies, Oxford University Press has redefined the staid, old print bibliography concept and taken a fresh look at the research needs of today’s scholars. While bibliographies traditionally aimed for comprehensive coverage, Oxford Bibliographies was conceived as a selective bibliography meant to steer the reader towards the most critical publications on a topic.

Its success proves that these bibliographies fill an unmet need. They are selective and are regularly reviewed and updated. Through open link resolver technology, scholars can search their local library catalog for recommended readings or request them from other libraries in a few simple steps.

Villanova has acquired most of the available subject collections; they may be accessed via the link under “O” on the Databases A-Z listing. Individual articles in each subject collection vary in how they are organized, but they are all authored by recognized academic authorities. The works of many faculty authors are listed in various bibliographies reflecting on the growing influence of scholarship coming out of the Villanova community.

Ready to take a closer look? Start by browsing one of the 22 subject collections open to the Villanova community, including Atlantic History, Islamic Studies, and Medieval Studies, or search for a topic near and dear to your heart, or take a look at the most popular bibliography in the collection, Racist Jokes by Claire Horisk from the Philosophy collection. The Oxford Bibliography platform includes a guided tour and other tools that introduce interested scholars to a range of helpful features.

What else could one possibly ask for? I, for one, wish there were one for every topic.

Jutta Seibert is Director of Research Services & Scholarly Engagement at Falvey Memorial Library.