The following powerpoints were used in past sessions of Music 150. They could prove helpful if information is not answered in the Music 150 Session III powerpoint:
Music Research Resources
While digital advancement has allowed us to search with online database systems and provided us with access to a wealth of information, it remains limited in it's searchability. In order to conduct efficient music research, paper resources must continue to be implimented to locate information succesfully.
The three attached powerpoints are excellent wells of information on the types of materials available from the library for supporting music research.
On the Recommended Resources page, a list of materials developed for support of all music classes is available to assist you in conducting music research.
On the Searching for Scores page, information is provided about how the library keeps track of Musical Works and explains how librarians can assist in locating Collected Works and Editions at the Library Reference Desk.
1. Type of Source:
What type of source is it? Is it a specialized encyclopedia, another type or reference book, a single book on your topic, a chaper from a book, something else?
2. Narrowness of Subject Coverage:
How narrow is the topic covered by this book or portion of a book? Does it place your subject in a broader context, or does it offer specific details about certain aspects of your subject? How would the focus of this work support your understanding of your chosen research subject?
3. Date Published and Effect on Value of Source:
Can you tell what year the book was published? Do you think, given the age of the material, there have been changes in written knowledge in this area?
4. Audience:
Who is the target audience for this work? Is it written for a child? A student? The everyday lay person? A Scholar?
5. Organization of Content:
Does the source contain an index or similar feature to help you locate specific topics within it? Does it contain a table of contents and/or section headings to help you locate specific information? Is the text or other material presented organized in any other ways that facilitate use?
6. Author's use of evidence and effect on value of the source:
Does the source contain citations to other sources? Does it look like, from the research and currency of the citations that the source was well-researched?
If the source has no citations, is there a good reason for this lack? Is your source a first hand account of an event? Did your author invent the process or procedure described in the work? These are both reasons for possible lack of ciations.
7. Credibility of Source
Examine each resource carefully, and try to determine something about it's credibility. Why should you believe this source? Is there anything to tell you that the source is reliable? Who wrote or produced this source? Who is the source's publisher?
