VanderCook College of Music
Research
Research Guides
Searching Ruppel Library's Catalog
Begin your research by searching Horizon, Ruppel Library’s online catalog. Here you will find books, scores, sound recordings and other materials on your topic.
Searching Other Libraries for Inter-Library Borrowing
If you are unable to locate an item you are looking for in the Ruppel Library Catalog, you can expand your search to libraries all around the U.S. by using WorldCat, where you can perform a search similar to that used in the Ruppel Library Catalog. The link to WorldCat is located on the main library web page.
Finding Articles in Periodicals and Magazines
You can find articles in magazines and journals by searching in one or more of several Periodical Indexes. If your topic is related to MUSIC, you may want to start with MPD – the Music Periodical Database. MPD provides access to citations and full text articles for a wide variety or music journals from around the world. The link for MPD can be found on the main library web page.
If your subject is of a less specific nature, you may want to start with WorldCat and select from a range of database options – for more information on this, please see “Locating Journal Articles in WorldCat” in the following link
VanderCook also subscribes to all NAfME publications, and direct links for these can be found on the main library web page.
Where to go after you have the citation
Some online periodical indexes will offer Full-Text of the articles you need. You can print these, save them to disk, email them to yourself, or read the articles online. If full text is not available for your citation, submitting an interlibrary loan request is usually the easiest next step. You may also email your citation to the librarian, who can quickly determine the best option for accessing your article.
Searching the Internet
Internet search engines such as Yahoo and Google are definitely useful but may not be the best places to start your Internet searching since they will overload you with unevaluated search results. Rather than using search terms that describe your question, use what you know about the world of information and search for the source whose information you would trust.
- Looking for information about music education advocacy? Search for Music Educators National Conference or Music Teachers National Association
- Looking for information relating to band directors? Search for American Bandmasters Association
- Looking for information about funding for your music program? Search for National Endowment for the Arts
Try one of these music education links compiled and evaluated by a VanderCook Music Librarian.
Evaluating World Wide Web Information: A Checklist
Unlike print resources which have gone through a selection process before entering the library’s collection, information on the World Wide Web is mostly unfiltered. The following checklist provides a starting point for evaluating information found on the World Wide Web.
Authority
- Is there an author? Is the page signed?
- Is the author qualified? An expert?
- Is a sponsor or institution indicated?
- Is the sponsor or institution reputable?
- Is there a link to information about the author or sponsor / institution?
- If the page does not include a signature or indicate a sponsor, is there any other way to determine its origin?
Accuracy
- Is the information reliable and error-free?
- Is there an editor or someone who verifies/checks the information?
Objectivity
- Does the information seem free from bias, or support information found elsewhere?
- If the page does seem biased, was it designed to sway opinion?
- Is the page free from advertising?
Currency
- Is the page dated?
- Is the last update current?
- Are the links up-to-date?
Content
- Is the purpose of the page indicated?
- Does the page indicate the intended audience?
- Have you verified what other resources (print and electronic) are available in this subject area?
- Are the page's links relevant?
Structure
- Do the graphics serve a purpose?
- Is there a link back to the home page from subsequent pages?
Citing web resources
- Author's Name
- Title of the Document
- Publication Information (includes title of the site, the date of publication or latest update, and the name of any sponsoring institution or organization):
- Date of Access
- URL
The MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing (REF PN 147.G53 1998) is a good reference for citing web resources. See examples beginning on page 211.