A Basic Music Library

Prepared by the Music Library Association, with thousands of records selected by experts in dozens of specialized and popular areas of music, A Basic Music Library constitutes the most authoritative music collection resource available.

Basic Music Reference is a quick-start guide designed to introduce library employees to the basic tools and techniques involved in answering questions related to music. As in every specialist subject area, music has its own terminology, but unlike most, it also has a multitude of formats—on paper and other materials—as well as special notation and frequent use of foreign languages in titles and texts. These features make it particularly difficult for library employees to answer users’ questions and thus a guide such as this one is essential. Not all libraries with a music collection can afford to hire a music reference librarian. Even libraries with such a specialist rely on support staff and student employees to answer questions when the music librarian is not available. Whatever the scenario, this volume will serve as a helpful training tool for library employees to learn about the basic music reference tools, and to develop the techniques of greatest use when answering the most common types of music-related questions

Provides advice for libraries on acquiring printed and recorded music; including information on preordering, the ordering process, secondhand and out of print materials, and more.