Research Guides

Searching Ruppel Library's catalog

Finding articles in periodicals and magazines

Searching the Internet

Introduction to Graduate Study

Music History

research guides

Searching Ruppel Library's Catalog
Finding Artilces in Periodicals and Magazines
Searching the Internet
Music Technology Class - Evaluation
Introduction to Graduate Study
Music History

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.

Guide to searching musical works in Horizon

Finding Articles in Periodicals and Magazines

You can find articles in magazines and journals by searching in Periodical Indexes. These indexes organize articles by author, title, and subject. Online indexes can also be searched using keyword.

Go to a list of databases which include periodical indexes

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.
• Otherwise, you will need to check if Ruppel Library owns the magazine or journal in your citation. Check Ruppel Library's Periodical Holdings List or search for the title of the magazine or journal in Horizon.
• If Ruppel Library does not own the magazine or journal in your citation, you can visit another library or submit an interlibrary loan request.

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
(view a printable version of this checklist in PDF format)

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

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 electonic) 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?

Additional information about evaluating websites

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.

site last updated: November 27, 2007