How to Use the Online Catalog

To prepare for a Keyword Search:
go to the CCM Library Home page,
in the red box, click on "Search for CCM Library Materials,"
in the Advanced Key Word Search menu, click on the "Keyword" tab.

The Keyword Search can often be the the simplest and most effective way to search the catalog. It is also similar to other online searching that you do every day.

Before searching, think about search term(s) that describe the item(s) that you seek. When preparing to use this online catalog, keep your searches simple. In Keyword Searches, fewer, more specific search terms lead to successful searches.

Remember what you learned about how music is described in the online library catalog. To search for music scores or recordings, keep these tips in mind as you search – especially for works with generic titles:

1. Always give genres in plural, and titles in "catalog" (reverse) order,

sonatas violin piano

2. Always include any available numbering. If you don't already know it, looking it up in a music dictionary or thematic catalog can help you (see Oxford Music Online and Thematic Catalogs).

sonatas violin piano op 12

3. Combine different search elements: include name (composer, performer), title, and format words whenever possible.

beethoven sonatas violin piano 12 parts

sibelius tapiola karajan

Efficiency hint: because the system will change or ignore them, in titles omit capital letters and initial articles in any language (a, an, the (English); der, die, das, ein, eine (German); la, le, lo, los, un, una, une, uno, etc. (romance languages)).