Vernacular Architecture Research Guide : Find Books

Once you've defined a useful search strategy in the local Library Catalog, duplicate it in UW System Search to identify similar books at other UW campuses.  Use the "Place Requests" function or use Interlibrary Loan to borrow them. 

Once you've defined a useful search strategy, duplicate it in WorldCat to identify similar books at other libraries.  You may be able to borrow them through Interlibrary Loan. 

1)  Use synonyms.  Develop lists of alternative terms to express the concepts you are searching for.

example:  VERNACULAR  and ARCHITECTURE

instead of "Vernacular," try:
domestic
indigenous
folk
traditional 

instead of "Architecture," try BUILDINGS
also: dwellings, residences, houses, homes, cottages, bungalows, "prefabricated houses," cafes, coffeehouses, restaurants, bars, stores--retail, drugstores, hotels, etc.

2) If appropriate to your search, define the type of book that contains the information you need, such as: encyclopedias, dictionaries, bibliography, history, guidebooks, pictorial works, designs and plans, maps.  Add the term to your search. 

For example, architectural guidebooks generally include examples and basic descriptive information for buildings.  To locate guidebooks, try searching the Library Catalog for:
        architecture
        AND
        guidebooks
        AND
        [topical or geographic word, if appropriate -- e.g. hotels, e.g. Chicago]