Search the Scholar Catalog

Begin with a keyword search, and then do a Subject Search. Subject headings will often contain the name of the country or region and tend to be very broad. Some related Subject Headings are:

• Art, African
• Art, African -- Africa, West
• Bronzes, Nigeria
• Sculpture, African

When determining whether a book is scholarly consider:

• Publisher: Check the publisher's website. Is the publisher a University Press (e.g. Oxford University Press, Purdue University Press)? Does the publisher specialize in this academic field?
   
• Bias: Does the publisher have a religious or political affiliation? Consider how this affiliation might affect the scholarship and/or content of the book.
   
• Authority: Who is the author? Do they have credentials that give them authority on the subject? Are they recognized by other scholars in the field?
   
• Cited Sources: Scholarly books have cited references or a bibliography. Consider the quality of the sources: look for inclusion of journal articles, primary sources, and other scholarly books by experts in the field.
   
• Content: Consider accuracy, bias, audience appropriateness, graphics/charts/illustrations. Look for books that have clear structure and organization, such as a preface, introduction, table of contents, conclusion, and index. 

Still not sure? Look for book reviews of the book and see what reviewers say about its content.