The Music Major's Guide to the Library ~ Introduction

Music-related library materials are housed in the Irwin Library, located directly south of Clowes Memorial Hall.

The Irwin Library has a number of resources that are specific to music.

Among them are:

1. Books on music, including composer biographies, books on music history, including specific periods of music history, and books on music theory and pedagogy (i.e., teaching!).
2. Scores, including miniature scores, full orchestral scores, and scores of music for specific instruments and chamber music combinations.
3. Recordings. The Library's collection is primarily devoted to classical selections, jazz, and musical theatre works. Formats include: CDs, vinyl recordings, and audio cassette tapes.
4. Videos/DVDs of operas, master classes, Butler performances, recitals of great artists, and complete choral works and symphonies.
5. Periodicals (i.e., magazines, journals, newspapers, etc.) devoted to specific musical topics or instruments.
6. Reference resources devoted to specific areas of music available in print or online formats.
7. Reserves. Most of these items are materials set aside on a semester basis for use in a particular class; some are high-demand materials (such as scores of Broadway musicals). All are assigned a limited check-out period to facilitate user access.

• The Butler Libraries use the LC (Library of Congress) Classification System.
• You probably are familiar with the Dewey Decimal Classification System from using public school libraries and public libraries.
• The LC System works in much the same way but is an alpha-numeric system, meaning it utilizes both letters and numbers. All LC call numbers begin with one or two letters which designate a general subject area. The letters are immediately followed by a series of numbers that designate a specific genre or instrumentation.
• For example:
  • M249 is used for a collection of original compositions written for clarinet and piano;
  • M23 is used for sonatas written for piano solo;
  • M1500 is used for a full [i.e., orchestral] score of a dramatic work, such as an opera or Broadway musical;
  • The decimal point and series of letters and numbers that follow the initial alpha-numeric designation are derived from such information as the author's last name, the title of the work, the opus or thematic catalog number, and the year of publication;
  • M517 .M69 K.452 is the call number for a score of Mozart's Woodwind Quintet in E-flat major, Köchel number 452. (The thematic catalog of Mozart's works was constructed by Köchel!)
  • For more information on LC Classification of Music, check out The M Classes.

Hello, my name is Sheri Stormes.

I hold graduate degrees in music and library science and am Butler's Music and Fine Arts Librarian.

I am responsible for ordering materials for JCFA (art, dance, media arts, music, theatre) and am here to help you with all your library needs! My office is Room 117 on the Main Floor of Irwin Library.

For general research assistance, you also may go to the Reference Desk. This desk is staffed with librarians trained to assist you with your library needs.

YES! Staff at the Circulation Services Desk can assist you with:

• Checking materials in and out
• Reserves
• Copier machines
• Change for photocopying
• Retrieving A-V materials

Staff in the Inter-library Loan Office can answer your questions about items you may have requested from another library.

• Miss Stormes is usually available from 8 AM until 4:30 PM, Monday thru Friday.
• The Reference Desk is staffed with professional reference librarians until 10:00 PM from Sunday to Thursday.
• If you can't find someone who can help you, please email Miss Stormes at sstormes@butler.edu. Be sure to include your phone number and when you can be reached, in case she has questions for you.

• Do you know how to search Butler's online catalog (and what kind of info you can find there)?
• Do you know where Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians can be found?
• Do you know how to find articles in magazines about specific music-related topics (EASILY!)?
• Do you know what a "union catalog" is? Can you name one?

If you answered, "No!" to any of these questions, you will find the remaining tutorials critical to your future success as a JCFA music major.