Music in Libraries: Just the Basics Music Reference Preconference Workshop SEMLA Annual Meeting Greenville, North Carolina October 9, 2008 Chris Durman Music Librarian George Devine Music Library University of Tennessee Grover Baker Librarian/Coordinator of Research Collections The Center for Popular Music Middle Tennessee State University Presented by
Learning Outcomes Name the questions to ask in a music reference interview. Identify the most common formats for music materials. Recognize the difficulties in finding songs and instrumental music, and how to overcome them. Describe components that are used in a CLASSICAL MUSIC title. Name free internet sites (and paid electronic resources like WorldCat) to use in answering music reference questions. List basic music reference materials their library may want to purchase.
The Reference Interview What does the patron really want? recording? printed music? video? lyrics? other information?
Formats Audio: compact discs records (LPs, 45s, 78s, etc.) digital (MP3, wav, wma, aif) tapes (cassettes, reel to reel, 8 track) Video: DVD VHS
Formats Print: full score (conductor’s score) miniature score (study score) vocal score (piano/vocal score) score and parts piano reduction choral score
Formats Print: sheet music fakebook (real book, lead sheet, chart) tablature facsimile libretto
The Reference Interview Your turn! Role play
Searching the Library Catalog Challenges and solutions uniform titles Many music libraries have guides on uniform titles: College of St. Catherine - Indiana University - University of Washington - subject headings content notes limiters wildcards and truncation
Searching the Library Catalog Your turn! Try this at home!
Reference Tools dictionaries and encyclopedias thematic catalogs guides to research discographies song indexes music databases directories
Don’t Forget These liner notes biographies general encyclopedias non-music databases
Reference Tools A few free online resources (see handouts for more) allmusic.com Sheet Music Consortium Performing Arts Encyclopedia Worldcat.org UT Song Index
Music in Libraries: Just the Basics Thank You! Special thanks to Jeanette Casey and the MLA Educational Outreach Program for their help preparing this workshop