So this is a guide to assist my peers in using the library effectively (underclassmen, listen up). This will be specifically about the library I work at and you students will more than likely use.
First topic: organizational system. There are dozens of systems libraries go by, the most common in America however are Dewey Decimal and what I will be discussing, the Library of Congress system (loc). The LoC system is a decimal system that utilizes letters and numbers. It begins with a head letter, designating the broad topic. Next is the number, which designates a narrower topic within the broad topic, or subtopic if you will. After that is another letter-number set, which usually designates author/series and book, or a sub-sub topic. So, a book on the biographical history of Johannes Brahms would read:
ML -broad topic (music lit)
410 -subtopic catagory for composer biography
B8 -b is for brahms' last name, the 8 is because there are 7 other subtopics catalogued under ML 410. B--
C54 -c is for the author's last name (Clive) and 54 is for previous subtopic entries to C.
2006 -year published, not always needed or present.
So it reads:
ML
410
B8
C54
2006
And that is the complete call number to the book Brahms and His World: A Biographical Dictionary (at ISU's library that is).
Sometimes you may see a decimal number, those are the same idea, only a narrower topic field. (so ML410 will still be organized before ML410.5). It should go without saying that call numbers are alphabetical, then ascending numerical (A-Z ; 1-100...).
Next is the catalogue. The more advanced your search quarry, the more specific hit you will get, but I'll get into the nitty gritty on this in a later post. Just know it exists and you can do more than title searches, and if all else fails, ask a librarian, they can help.
So for headings that involve you music students this is a quick list:
L-LF: teaching methods, classroom topics, teaching in general
M: sheet music, "performable" music, also "how to" with music software
ML: biographical music topics (composer, era, genre, studio, etc..)
MT: music teaching, elementary music, methods books, technology guides (more on the use, not how to use).
Sometimes more modern composers will have an odd feature somewhere in the N's, but this is pictures and art, so not usually helpful.
Next is periodicals. They are catalogued the same as main collection materials (in LoC), but they are the magazines and the like. These are useful for research on modern takes on things and the latest findings on old topics. They can be difficult to navigate, so always know: periodical title, article title, article author, topic, volume/edition/pages/... Of the periodical. the more you know, the easier to find in the stacks. Of course we have a vast collection of online databases.
That begins the next topic: internet research. Off of our library's homepage there is a link that says "databases." I prefer to organize by subject, so I can just click music. Pf the three main databases there should be an EBSCO database, which is your typical periodical database. Next is the Oxford online music collection (or whatever the blast they're calling it now). This houses an impressive collection of materials in an encyclopedic fasion. Third is a database where you can find listening examples to most classical/art music. The second two are invaluable for research, so get friendly with them (i would like to apologize for any errors at this time, I'm doing this on my phone away from a computer).
checking out materials happens at the circulation desk, and you need your student id to check out (no id, no checkout).
This should cover the basics of library usage, next time, advanced techniques.
First topic: organizational system. There are dozens of systems libraries go by, the most common in America however are Dewey Decimal and what I will be discussing, the Library of Congress system (loc). The LoC system is a decimal system that utilizes letters and numbers. It begins with a head letter, designating the broad topic. Next is the number, which designates a narrower topic within the broad topic, or subtopic if you will. After that is another letter-number set, which usually designates author/series and book, or a sub-sub topic. So, a book on the biographical history of Johannes Brahms would read:
ML -broad topic (music lit)
410 -subtopic catagory for composer biography
B8 -b is for brahms' last name, the 8 is because there are 7 other subtopics catalogued under ML 410. B--
C54 -c is for the author's last name (Clive) and 54 is for previous subtopic entries to C.
2006 -year published, not always needed or present.
So it reads:
ML
410
B8
C54
2006
And that is the complete call number to the book Brahms and His World: A Biographical Dictionary (at ISU's library that is).
Sometimes you may see a decimal number, those are the same idea, only a narrower topic field. (so ML410 will still be organized before ML410.5). It should go without saying that call numbers are alphabetical, then ascending numerical (A-Z ; 1-100...).
Next is the catalogue. The more advanced your search quarry, the more specific hit you will get, but I'll get into the nitty gritty on this in a later post. Just know it exists and you can do more than title searches, and if all else fails, ask a librarian, they can help.
So for headings that involve you music students this is a quick list:
L-LF: teaching methods, classroom topics, teaching in general
M: sheet music, "performable" music, also "how to" with music software
ML: biographical music topics (composer, era, genre, studio, etc..)
MT: music teaching, elementary music, methods books, technology guides (more on the use, not how to use).
Sometimes more modern composers will have an odd feature somewhere in the N's, but this is pictures and art, so not usually helpful.
Next is periodicals. They are catalogued the same as main collection materials (in LoC), but they are the magazines and the like. These are useful for research on modern takes on things and the latest findings on old topics. They can be difficult to navigate, so always know: periodical title, article title, article author, topic, volume/edition/pages/... Of the periodical. the more you know, the easier to find in the stacks. Of course we have a vast collection of online databases.
That begins the next topic: internet research. Off of our library's homepage there is a link that says "databases." I prefer to organize by subject, so I can just click music. Pf the three main databases there should be an EBSCO database, which is your typical periodical database. Next is the Oxford online music collection (or whatever the blast they're calling it now). This houses an impressive collection of materials in an encyclopedic fasion. Third is a database where you can find listening examples to most classical/art music. The second two are invaluable for research, so get friendly with them (i would like to apologize for any errors at this time, I'm doing this on my phone away from a computer).
checking out materials happens at the circulation desk, and you need your student id to check out (no id, no checkout).
This should cover the basics of library usage, next time, advanced techniques.
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