Presser Music Library

MHL 212: You Asked, We Answered

Thanks, everybody, for your questions from class the other day! Browse below to find the answers.

"Sometimes When I Find an Article on the Database I Try to Find it Again, and I Can't." Also: "How do I Save a Source So I Do Not Have to Search it Again?"

I'd recommend emailing yourself a link to whatever articles you find. It's easy in OneSearch, just use the email icon right next to the search result:

You can also sign up to use Endnote Web, which is an online bibliographic management tool - in other words, a place to store your own personal library of references and citations. It's free! You can get more information about Endnote Web HERE

"Is it Possible to Use the Databases outside of Presser?"

Absolutely! You can use OneSearch anywhere, without entering your WCU username and password. If you want to see an online article or book, you'll be prompted to enter your username and password to be able to get the full text online:

 

"How Does Interlibrary Loan Work?"

Interlibrary Loan (ILL) is a free service for WCU students, faculty, and staff that gets you a book, article, or other material not available at West Chester University Libraries. We work with libraries around the world to get you this material.

For more info, see our Interlibrary Loan page. Need help? See me or any librarian!

"How Do I Know Where to Look for Hard Copies?"

This is a tough one. There's so much information that comes up when you search our databases that it can be hard to figure out where to go. I kind of compare it to sight reading a piece of music, lots of new information coming at you at once.

When you search in OneSearch, there will always be some sort of indicator showing what something is - book, ebook, score, etc:

If you find something that interests you, and it's listed as book, score, cd, etc. (something physical) always click on the title to get more info about where it's located\. There will always be more information next to where it says Location:

 

"How Do I Find Literature if I Have No Clue Where to Start?"

Three suggestions:

  1. Check out a reference source like Oxford Music or Oxford Art Online, and be sure to look at the bibliography at the end of the entry
  2. Watch this video about concept mapping: Concept Mapping: How to Start Your Term Paper Research
  3. Email me to set up a time to do some research together: tsestrick@wcupa.edu

"Can We Download or Rent eBooks?"

Yes! Well, you can't rent them - we don't charge you for anything - but you can download them. Click on the title to get to the eBook, then look for links to either read online, or to download:

"What is the Difference Between OneSearch and the Other Search Tabs We Can Choose From?"

Great Question! To use an LOTR reference, OneSearch is the "one search to rule them all" -- meaning you can use it to find things in the library, like scores, books, cds, videos, etc. AND things that are online, like journal articles, streaming music, etc.

The two other main search tabs, Pilot and Vufind, just help you find things in the library.

The limiting phrases and symbols to narrow down search results within a search box

The two I normally use right in the search box are quotation marks, to search things as a phrase, e.g. "Elizabeth Claude Jacquet de la Guerre," and an asterisk to search for different variations of a word, i.e. librar* searches library, libraries, librarian, librarianist (just kidding about that last one).

Here's a good video about using "and" and "or" when finding stuff:

"How Do I Create and Use Proper Citations of Sources?"

Remember to look for the "Cite" button in OneSearch. It masquerades as quotation marks:

You can also check out the Library's HELP PAGES for more inforamation about citation styles:

"Is There a Database of Art Collections?"

There sure is! It's called ArtStor, click HERE for it:

"How do you cite program notes of a piece of music?"

I guess it depends on how you get to the program notes. Are they reprinted in a book? Use the standard book citation format. Are they online? Cite them as a website. Do you have a physical copy that you got at a concert? Then use this TRICK:

Go to the website for NoodleTools Express, which is a free online citation generator. Choose the style you want (MLA, APA, Chicago), and then select "pamphlet/brochure" underneath "select a citation type." This will walk you through eveything you need for the citation.

 

"Which Sources of Thousands Would Be Best?"

No easy answer for this one. I recommend watching these two help videos from the Library Help page:

Finding Good Sources
Scholarly vs. Popular

Consider, too, using the C.R.A.P. Test. More info about that HERE