Search Tips for Music

Browse Search by Subject

What is a subject?

The term "subject" refers to a word or phrase that is assigned by a librarian, library catalog, or database to describe a specific information resource. Some subject terms may also have been provided by the author or publisher of a resource.

The information resource's item record will include a list of subject terms:

Using subjects in Browse Search

Enter subject terms from an item record into the Browse Search box. (You can copy and paste them from the record into the box.) Be sure to set the "Browse by" drop-down box to "Subject."

The search will retrieve a list of subject terms that are closely related to the term(s) you searched.

Use the arrows in the bottom-right corner of the screen to navigate to different pages of results.

Click on any subject heading to explore resources whose records contain that subject term(s). (The example below shows the list of resources linked to "Gamelan music History and criticism," the third result on the above list of browse search results.)

Browse Search by Library of Congress Call Numbers

What is a Library of Congress Call Number?

Libraries use different methods of classification to organize their resources within their physical spaces. In most of these systems, each item on the shelf will get a unique call number that identifies the item and enables its sorting within the collection. In a sense, a call number is the "address" of the resource.

Many academic libraries use the Library of Congress classification system to assign call numbers. In this system, knowledge is organized into classes, which are broad topic areas. Each class is assigned a letter of the alphabet. ("Music" is easy to remember: It is Class M!)

Each class consists of subclasses, which are identified by an additional letter(s). (In Class M, "Music," there are three subclasses: "M," "ML," & "MT.")

Library of Congress call numbers begin with the letters indicating class/subclass, followed by numbers that correspond with specific topics. Subsequent letters and numbers in the call number are taken from the author and publication information of the item and create more granular levels of organization. For example:

• ML410: Biographies of all composers
• ML410.M: Biographies of all composers whose surnames begin with "M"
• ML410.M93: Biographies of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Using Library of Congress call numbers in Browse Search

Enter Library of Congress call numbers from an item record into the Browse Search box. (You can copy and paste them from the record into the box.) Be sure to set the "Browse by" drop-down box to "Library of Congress call numbers."

You can also use a Library of Congress classification outline to select a broad call number.

The search will retrieve a list of items that match or come close to the call number you searched.

Use the arrows in the bottom-right corner of the screen to navigate to different pages of results.