Call Number Searches

Books, Scores, and Videos

Searching by the classification number can yield many works related to a subject or topic. Using a call number search is similar to browsing the shelves in the library with the added advantage that the catalog lists materials that are checked out and the items are never out of order.

Most music libraries use the Library of Congress classification in which music is represented by the letter "M." There are three subclassifications in music: M (music), ML (literature about music), and MT (music teaching, instruction, and study). The first part of the call number is the classification number and consists of one of the three subclassification letters followed by a number, e.g., M452, ML1700, MT280. The remainder of the call number consists of devices to arrange the materials alphabetically within the classification and are not generally needed for call number searching.

There are several ways to determine the classification number of the subject for which you are searching. The music classification chart on the Music Subject Guide provides a summary of the entire music class or simply click on the LC call number outline link directly under the call number button on the search screen and choose M.

The class number can also be determined directly from an item or from a catalog search. For example, the call number label on a score of the String Quartet no. 2 by Bartók is M452 .B29 no. 2 1939. Searching on the number M452 will retrieve scores of string quartets. Similarly by searching on the subject heading, "string quartets," it is possible to see that most of the call numbers begin with the class number, M452, which can then be used for a call number search. (Be sure to limit a search for music to "music scores" to get a Library of Congress call number. Sound recordings in the Middlebury College library do not have Library of Congress call numbers and will be discussed below.) From the search screen, first choose "LC Call Number"

Type the classification number and click on "go" button.

Call number searches can be refined further by adding the first letter following the class number. This letter is usually the first letter of the composer or author's last name. If you are trying to find scores of Mendelssohn string quartets, rather than paging through all of the entries for string quartets, modify the search above to include ".m." This search will retrieve all string quartets by composers whose names start with M.

The same process can be used to find books on a particular topic. For example, books about the history of opera are classed in ML1700. By using this number in a call number search, it is possible to browse through all the books on the topic. Related material can be browsed by re-executing this call number search using a number higher or lower. For example, the books classed under ML1702 are about opera from its beginnings until 1650.

Sound recordings

Unlike most books, scores, and videorecordings, many sound recordings contain more than one piece of music, which makes it difficult to assign a single classification number to them. For this reason, recordings are assigned a number when they are acquired by the library. In general, recording number one was acquired before recording number five. Consequently, these call numbers cannot be used to browse for similar types of music.

However, it is possible to simply browse through the recordings by their call numbers. In the Middlebury College library the call numbers of the recordings are in three different forms. For example,

The CD and cassette call numbers are each preceeded by an alphabetic prefix (CD or MC), followed by a space, and then followed by the number. The call number for vinyl records consists solely of the number. However it is not possible to browse for Local Call No. from the initial serach screen, because the pull down menu for this selection is lacking. However if you first do a search and find a sound recording, then click on the linked call number.




Simply replace the call number in the search box with a another local call number and click the search button.