Library Hacks: Getting the most out
of YOUR Music Library!
Presenter Notes
Hacks: The Better Way
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Life hacks show people the more efficient, smarter way to handle everyday tasks
Library Hacks will show you several ways to enhance your library experience and make
you a savvier user of everything the library has to offer
**The presentation includes a few examples of life hacks from the internet--feel free to
add your own and personal favorites!
Library Materials: How Do I Find Them?
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Physical Resources
o Catalog Searching
 Basic
 Allows the user to specify keywords or strings of keywords and a
descriptor for that search (title, author, etc.) in a single field
 Advanced
 Provides the user three fields for keyword/descriptor searches
linked with Boolean search terms (and, or, not)
 Summon
 This discovery tool allows users to search not only physical
holdings, but also within all databases to which FSU subscribes
o Which one do I choose and why?
 Basic and advanced only search physical holdings or e-book resources
within the catalog
 Summon pulls from a MUCH larger pool of resources linked through the
electronic subscription databases
o Does it make a difference which is used?
 Each search function operates a different way and offers a variety of
results--smart searching will make research far more efficient!
(Demonstrations)
 Single word vs. keyword strings in Basic Search
 Keyword string broken into Advanced Search
 Keyword string entered into Summon
o Hack # 1- Limit, limit, limit!
 Whichever search you use, start broad and use facets (located on the left
hand side) to quickly find exactly what you’re looking for!
 Narrow down by author, format, collection, etc.
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Warren D. Allen Music Library 2014
Created by: Patrick Fulton & Sara Nodine
o Hack #2- Subject Headings & Uniform Titles
 Within the catalog, individual item records feature subject headings and
uniform titles as hyperlinks which provide results with the same title or
general subject area
 Clicking on this link provides a wealth of resources similar to the result
you already found!
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Electronic Resources
o Allen Music Library provides a wide range of online resources accessible to all
FSU students through the Music Library website
o What are the major music resources?
 Grove Music Online (2 slides)
 Encyclopedic entries on subjects pertaining to music and musicians
 Biographical information, complete works lists, bibliographies
 Oxford Bibliographies (2 slides)
 Massive bibliography database on a wide range of subjects beyond
even just music
 Constantly expanding repertoire of subjects.
 JSTOR (2 slides)
 Retrospective collection of periodicals on a wide variety of topics.
 “Moving wall”- Not all journals have the most current issues;
check the journal listings to see how far the dates extend.
 Note: Some articles may cut out charts and illustrations that existed
in the original.
 IPA Source (2 slides)
 International Phonetic Alphabet (I.P.A.) Source
 Search for phonetic and English translations of a vast array of
vocal music
 Many different searching options; files available for download.
 ProQuest (1 slide)
 Scholarly database of printed writing on music and other topics
 Excellent for finding dissertations and theses; also searches
articles, conference papers/proceedings, etc.
 May or may not provide full text
 Streaming Sources (2 slides)
 Naxos (Classical, Jazz, and Video)
 Alexander Street Press Resources
(search.alexanderstreetpress.com)
 Many others as well!
o Hack #3- Proxy Access: Use Web resources anywhere at any time!
 Through the Music Library page, click Off-Campus Proxy Login under
Quick Links on the right hand side. Use BlackBoard login to gain access
to web resources 24/7 from home, work, or anywhere!
 Some databases are now going mobile as well--take them on the go!
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Warren D. Allen Music Library 2014
Created by: Patrick Fulton & Sara Nodine
Accessing Library Collections (2 slides)
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Physical collections in Allen Music Library
o General (Books, scores, etc.--2nd floor of AML)
o Media (CDs, DVDs, etc.--Ask at Circulation)
o Special Collections (Various collections housed in locked storage at Circulation)
o Reference (Dictionaries, bibliographies, etc.--1st floor of AML)
o Research (Collected works, critical editions, etc.--1st floor of AML)
o Old media (Reel-to-reels, DATS, cassettes, laserdiscs, etc.--Ask at Circulation)
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Accessing other collections at FSU
o Visit the other campus libraries: Strozier, Dirac, Goldstein, Medical, Law, etc.!
o Visit the main University Libraries webpage for even more resources (lib.fsu.edu)
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Hack #4- There’s a whole world beyond the catalog!
o Some items/collections don’t fit nicely into the catalog and won’t pull up with
your regular search results
o Special Collections- visit the special collections portion of our website to explore
a number of significant individual items, personal faculty collections, and various
other major collections
o Students, faculty and staff are welcome to access these items! Some restrictions
apply depending on the condition of the items
o Older media may no longer loan out, but we are happy to take digitization
requests--ask at Circulation!
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Hack #5- Library Express Delivery Service (LEDS)
o Faculty and Teaching Assistants have access to a campus-wide delivery service
known as L.E.D.S.
o Requests are placed online (Faculty Quick Links on lib.fsu.edu)
o Items are delivered to faculty office, library, or other designated pickup location
within 24 hours
Library Services
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Troubleshooting access problems:
o FSU item that is already checked out? Place a Hold!
o -When an item is checked out, use our recall process to be alerted when the item
is returned.
 Placing a hold shortens the current patron’s loan period and asks that the
item be returned early via e-mail.
 Once the item has arrived, the requesting patron will be notified
automatically via e-mail to come pick up the item at Circulation
 Items can be routed to other libraries for pickup as well!
o Not on the shelf? Ask our staff for help and place a Search Request
o “We really should have this!”—Place an Order Request Form
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Warren D. Allen Music Library 2014
Created by: Patrick Fulton & Sara Nodine
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Not owned by FSU?
o Hack #6a- State Library Loan Service: UBorrow (2 slides)
 Gain 3-5 business day access to any items own by all the colleges and
universities in Florida delivered right to FSU
 Place requests through the UBorrow catalog (link appears in each catalog
search at the top of the page)
o Hack #6b- Interlibrary Loan Service: ILL (2 slides)
 Gain access to materials at colleges, universities, and public libraries
across the U.S. and internationally within 2 weeks
 Place requests through Illiad (located under the Quick Links at the Music
Library webpage)
 Login with your Blackboard ID (must setup profile this first time)
 Fill out all pertinent information on the request form for books,
articles, or just chapters of books
o Hack #7- WorldCat & OCLC Numbers (3 slides)
 Using the WorldCat database on the Music Library page (Quick Links),
users can view a catalog of items held by libraries around the world
 Each entry provides detailed information about each item,
including which libraries hold the item
 This is very useful for knowing what items exist in the world; it is
particularly helpful when searching on obscure topics!
 Use OCLC numbers to specify EXACTLY which item you would like to
request in ILLiad
 This number, located in the WorldCat record, points to exactly one
score (publisher, publication year, edition, etc.)
 Added specificity in ILL requests ensures you will get exactly
what you’re looking for
Additional Library Services (i.e. The Good Stuff)
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Reference Sessions: Citations, Copyright, Resumes, Research, etc.
Special Events: Banned Books Week, Study Breaks, Coffee Thursdays, etc.
Individual consultations available upon request!
Hack #8- Your library staff!
-Laura Gayle Green: lgreen3@fsu.edu
-Sara Nodine: snodine@fsu.edu
-Patrick Fulton: pfulton@fsu.edu
Questions?
 Consider asking your audience if they have used any of these tips, or do they have any
tricks we did not include?
 If you have extra time, consider doing live searching within the catalog/discovery tools to
demonstrate the differences in search result returns.
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Warren D. Allen Music Library 2014
Created by: Patrick Fulton & Sara Nodine