A Guide to Library Research in Music

by Pauline Shaw Bayne

Overview

A Guide to Library Research in Music introduces students to the process and techniques for researching and writing about music. It provides examples of different types of writing, offers a thorough introduction to music literature, describes various information-searching methods and library-based organizational systems, and explores the wide array of music resources.

This second edition discusses the latest innovations in library catalog searching, new matters in digital technology, and the expansion in musical genres for library research. The book’s organization allows for three independent tracks of study.

Part 1 treats essentials of the research process, explaining starting-point resources such as library catalogs, dictionaries, and bibliographies. It addresses scholarly documentation, the use of style manuals, and basics of copyright.

Part 2 develops skills and strategies for library- and Internet-based research, describing database structures and library catalogs, subject searching in catalogs and journal indexes, keyword searching techniques, related-record searching and citation databases, and the use of experts and thematic catalogs.

Part 3 discusses the organization of a music library, emphasizing score collections, books and journals in music literature, and music teaching publications.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781461655817
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	09/18/2008
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	290
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Pauline Shaw Bayne is retired assistant dean of libraries and professor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Two web-based resources created by her—UT Song Index and UT Analysis Index—continue to be maintained by the staff of the George F. DeVine Music Library, which Bayne managed for 36 years. She has also written articles about moving library collections, digital audio reserves, delivering instructional media, and computer-based training for library staff.

Edward Komara is Distinguished Librarian at the Crane Music Library, the State University of New York at Potsdam. His contributions to music research have been in jazz, blues, rock, and other kinds of music for which recordings are the primary sources. His previous book for Rowman and Littlefield, 100 Books Every Blues Fan Should Own (with Greg Johnson), received the 2016 Vincent Duckles Award from the Music Library Association for the best book-length bibliography or reference work in music.

Table of Contents

Preface
How to Use This Book
Acknowledgments

Part 1 The Short Course: Music Research and Writing

Chapter 1 The Research Process
Chapter 2 Starting-Point Resources: Reference Books
Chapter 3 Starting-Point Resources: Journals
Chapter 4 Starting-Point Resources: Bibliographies
Chapter 5 A Case Study
Chapter 6 Scholarly Writing
Chapter 7 Writing Samples

Part 2 How To: Discover and Use Resources

Chapter 8 Browsing as a Discovery Strategy
Chapter 9 Databases: Structured for Searching
Chapter 10 Subject Searching in Library Catalogs: Controlled Vocabulary
Chapter 11 Subject Searching in Indexes and Abstracts
Chapter 12 Keyword Searching
Chapter 13 Related-Record Searching and Citation Indexes
Chapter 14 Other Discovery Methods: Experts and the Internet
Chapter 15 Using Thematic Catalogs

Part 3 Resources: The Literature of Music

Chapter 16 M: The Music-Scores and Recordings
Chapter 17 ML: Music Literature
Chapter 18 MT: Instruction and Study

Appendix 1 Form Subdivisions: A Selective List from the Library of Congress Subject Headings
Appendix 2 Outline of the Library of Congress M-Class
Appendix 3 Topical Guide to Music in the Library of Congress Classification
Appendix 4 Bibliographies by Topic in ML128

Bibliography

Editorial Reviews

Pauline Shaw Bayne and Edward Komara demystify the most daunting aspects of music research in an update that remains approachable for beginning researchers.

Misti Shaw

This book is intended as a textbook for music research classes, but it could also be a valuable resource for serious music researchers. Bayne (emer., Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville) wrote the first edition (2008), and is now joined by Komara (SUNY Potsdam). Like the first edition, the volume is divided into three parts: "The Short Course: Music Research and Writing," "How To: Discover and Use Resources," and "Resources: The Literature of Music." Each chapter starts with basics, defining what a certain type of research resource or process is and providing significant examples, and each ends with learning exercises appropriate for class use. Both print and electronic resources receive ample coverage. Notably, part 3 details the complex Library of Congress classification system for music and includes supporting appendixes. The amount of space given to this often-overlooked topic is a welcome validation of its importance to music researchers. A valuable resource for university music libraries and for public libraries with significant music collections. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty; professionals.

Choice Reviews

This book is intended as a textbook for music research classes, but it could also be a valuable resource for serious music researchers. Bayne (emer., Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville) wrote the first edition (2008), and is now joined by Komara (SUNY Potsdam). Like the first edition, the volume is divided into three parts: "The Short Course: Music Research and Writing," "How To: Discover and Use Resources," and "Resources: The Literature of Music." Each chapter starts with basics, defining what a certain type of research resource or process is and providing significant examples, and each ends with learning exercises appropriate for class use. Both print and electronic resources receive ample coverage. Notably, part 3 details the complex Library of Congress classification system for music and includes supporting appendixes. The amount of space given to this often-overlooked topic is a welcome validation of its importance to music researchers. A valuable resource for university music libraries and for public libraries with significant music collections. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty; professionals.

Choice

Teachers of music research classes and students or scholars who are learning, honing, or updating research skills have an urgent need for excellent and current sources, and this book fits those criteria. Bayne gives a masterful overview of present-day serious music research, and astutely acknowledges the vital importance of online resources early on. Bayne's book has extensive material specifically designed to help students. Any librarian who helps patrons do advanced research in a music library will perceive the extensive music reference experience that guided the author.

June 2009 Notes: Quarterly Journal of the Music Library Association

A work for students of music history and theory and those pursuing public or private music teaching and performance....Useful in any academic or special library with a large music focus.

May 2009 American Reference Books Annual

Ambitious and concisely written, A Guide to Library Research in Music will undoubtedly be a valuable resource for music librarians and music scholars in need of updating their knowledge; a worthwhile preparation tool for music graduate students who will be tested on music resources or source studies; and a helpful instruction guide for educators teaching music research and/or music information literacy.

Fontes Artis Musicae

This book is intended as a textbook for music research classes, but it could also be a valuable resource for serious music researchers. Bayne (emer., Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville) wrote the first edition (2008), and is now joined by Komara (SUNY Potsdam). Like the first edition, the volume is divided into three parts: "The Short Course: Music Research and Writing," "How To: Discover and Use Resources," and "Resources: The Literature of Music." Each chapter starts with basics, defining what a certain type of research resource or process is and providing significant examples, and each ends with learning exercises appropriate for class use. Both print and electronic resources receive ample coverage. Notably, part 3 details the complex Library of Congress classification system for music and includes supporting appendixes. The amount of space given to this often-overlooked topic is a welcome validation of its importance to music researchers. A valuable resource for university music libraries and for public libraries with significant music collections. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty; professionals.

CHOICE

Pauline Shaw Bayne provides a comprehensive manual on the intricacies of research methods and information tools in the field of music. June 19, 2009

(Online Blog) Robinson Music Library

Teachers of music research classes and students or scholars who are learning, honing, or updating research skills have an urgent need for excellent and current sources, and this book fits those criteria. Bayne gives a masterful overview of present-day serious music research, and astutely acknowledges the vital importance of online resources early on. Bayne's book has extensive material specifically designed to help students. Any librarian who helps patrons do advanced research in a music library will perceive the extensive music reference experience that guided the author.

June 2009 Notes: The Quarterly Journal of the Music Library Association

A Guide to Library Research in Music will be an important addition to the collections of music libraries and university libraries, as well as being essential reading for any student anticipating or embarking on postgraduate music research and for the reference and collection development librarians working to support them.

Australian Library Journal

12/01/2020

Bayne (retired, Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville) and Komara (State Univ. of New York, Potsdam; 100 Books Every Blues Fan Should Own) take readers through the wide breadth of music research. Those using the book can read cover to cover, use the alternative reading order suggested by the authors (moving between overview chapters in Part 1 and skill-developing chapters in Part 2), or dive into sections as needed. The work is divided into three parts. "The Short Course" breaks down the basics of research, covering library catalogs and dictionaries, the use of style manuals, and copyright. "How To" helps readers hone skills for finding information, and "Resources" "explores the logic behind the arrangement of music materials using the Library of Congress classification system." The format makes what may be an overwhelming task easy to digest, highlighting subject-specific searching techniques and resources. Like the first edition, this one doesn't disappoint, and the authors spotlight new resources available since the original was published in 2008. Included are four appendixes giving particulars of Library of Congress classifications, a bibliography of sources referred to in each chapter, and two indexes in author-title and subject formats. VERDICT Written for students at the undergraduate and graduate level, as well as for general learners, this is a necessary tool for those looking for guidance in finding music research.—Elizabeth Berndt-Morris, Loeb Music Lib., Harvard Univ., Cambridge, MA

Library Journal