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Alphabetical Searches
ALPHABETICAL SEARCHES, a.k.a. BROWSE SEARCHES are often the fastest way to find the information you want. Use alphabetic author searches when you know the name of an author whose material you'd like to read or listen to. Use alphabetic title searches when you're sure of the title of a work. Use alphabetic subject searches to research a topic, a person or a group to find out the materials on your subject you're interested in that the library holds. Use call number searches to browse what the library has that's related to or similar to an item you've already found. Choose an alphabetical search from menu on the drop-down list, then enter your search term or phrase in the box to the right.
SEARCHING FOR PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS
When doing an alphabetical search for a person (as an AUTHOR or as a SUBJECT) enter the name directory style in the form LAST, FIRST pretty much the way you would search for someone in a phone book. To search for an organization (as an AUTHOR or as a SUBJECT) enter the name as you would find it in directory
For example beethoven, ludwig
bush, george
peabody conservatory
NB: Librarians use the word author to refer to any person or group responsible for producing the work in the catalog. So a composer, an editor, a pianist can all be found in the AUTHOR searches in the library. So can associations considered as responsible for producing a work. HOWEVER, when you are looking for materials about composers, authors, musicians, and groups you must search for them in the alphabetical SUBJECTS LIBRARY OF CONGRESS list.
SEARCHING FOR TITLES
When entering an alphabetical search for a title, drop the initial article.
For example, search screwtape letters not the screwtape letters
boheme not la boheme
donna e mobile not la donna e mobile
If possible, choose a special title search such as Journal Title or Sound Recording Title. Doing an ALPHABETICAL TITLE search for Boheme retrieves a long list of material that includes books, scores, videos, and sound recordings; to find out what each item is, you must open one. If you do a MUSIC/SCORE TITLE search for Boheme, the list of materials retrieved is far shorter. You could also do a SOUND RECORDING TITLE search or a VIDEO TITLE search.
SEARCHING FOR SUBJECTS
The alphabetic subject searches (SUBJECTS-LIBRARY OF CONGRESS and SUBJECTS-MEDICAL) retrieve lists of subjects and their subdivisions. For searching general material and music materials use the SUBJECTS-LIBRARY OF CONGRESS list to search for both people and topics. Enter the names of people LAST NAME, FIRST NAME.
Librarians use a standard list of subject headings for the material they catalog. Sometimes the authorized subject headings are obvious, sometimes not. One way to find subject headings is to enter the subject heading as you think it should be entered. If you're lucky, you'll have guessed right and you'll find a relevant list of materials. It's also possible you may find a cross reference from the term you entered to the authorized heading. If not, consult the Library of Congress Subject Heading volumes on the Index Table in the Reference Area of the Friedheim Library to find a list of authorized headings (including music headings).
CALL NUMBER SEARCHES
Browsing the shelves in a section can help you find material related to your subject. Browsing by call number can do the same thing, with the advantage that you'll see the library's holdings even if the material is checked out, in processing, or misshelved. Call numbers for printed music, periodicals and books follow the classifications set up by the Library of Congress, so use the CALL NUMBERS LIB. OF CONGRESS search. Audio-visual materials in the Friedheim Library are organized mainly by composer. To search them use the FRIEDHEIM AV CALL NUMBER search found way at the bottom of the drop-down menu of searches.
Last updated September 5, 2006 uem
