A Guide to Library Research in Music

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.