You may also want to look at the general
Music Subject Guide.
Find books
Use the High Library catalog to find books, videos, CDs and other materials located within the library. Always prefer a subject search. Use the "You Found Titles in Categories" links to broaden your search. Use the "Try These Too" links to narrow your search. To find a specific kind of material, from the catalog search page use the Type pull-down menu to select the kind of material you would like, e.g., videos, DVDs, CDs, scores, reference books , etc.
Use the WorldCat database to find books held by other libraries. Within WorldCat, you can request books from other libraries, by clicking on Request on Interlibrary Loan and logging in to ILLiad using your network ID and password. Prefer books held by ACLCP (other local college) libraries since delivery time is quicker.
Find background
information
Reference books can provide valuable background information and can help to place a topic in its appropriate social or historical context. Reference books are located on the second floor of the library and cannot be checked out.
Encyclopedia of American Music. 1981. (Ref 781. 773 J11e)
Encyclopedia of Popular Music. 2006.
(Ref. 780.3 G964 2006)
Metropolitan Opera Encyclopedia. 1987. (Ref 780.103 M594
The New Grove Dictionary of American Music. 1986. (Ref 781. 773 N532)
The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. 2000. (Ref 780. 3 N532)
New Grove Dictionary of Opera. (Ref. 782.103 N532)
New Oxford History of Music. (Ref 780.9 N42)
Oxford Dictionary of Opera. 1991. (Ref 782.103 W286o)
Opera Companion to Twentieth Century Opera. 1979. (Ref 782.13 M381o)
Find articles
The library subscribes to databases containing articles about opera. Access these databases from the High Library webpage under Search and Find Articles.
To access databases from outside of the Elizabethtown College campus network, on the library webpage, click on Database access from outside E-town network , supply your network ID and password, and click on Search and Find Articles.
Choose the most specific database for your topic. Databases you might use include:
Academic
Search Premier
Humanities International Complete
The Music Index contains citations from more than 725 music periodicals, covering all styles and genres of music. The index cites articles about music, musicians, and the music industry.
JSTOR:
Provides access to articles in the older issues of journal
titles in the humanities and social sciences.
For social and psychological aspects of music:
PsycINFO PsycArticles
Use the links within the databases to limit results to scholarly (peer reviewed) journals, to articles that are full-text and to articles published within a certain date or geographical range. Use subject links to further refine your search.
If the article is full-text in html or pdf format, you can print, email, or download the article.
The Locate Etown Journals link means that the article may be full-text in another database or in the library print/microfilm collection.
Journals held in the library are in three formats: microfilm, microfiche, and print. You can order copies of microfilm/microfiche articles by using ILLiad Log in to ILLiad, click on Request an Article and fill out the form. You will receive an email when the article is available on ILLiad for downloading. You can also make copies of microfilm/microfiche articles by using the fiche/film copiers located in the library.
Get copies of periodical articles in print format by coming into the library and copying the article. You can also use the copy machine on the second floor of the library to scan articles, create a PDF document, and email the PDF to yourself.
Rather than searching only by subject within databases, you can also search within specific journals that relate to music. Here is a list of music-related titles that are available full-text in High Library databases List I.
Web Sites
Use the directory structure of Google to find websites. From the Google search page, click on: More, Even More, Directory, Music (under Arts), Styles, Opera.
Specialized search engines can also be helpful.
http://www.intute.ac.uk/ http://infomine.ucr.edu/ http://www.ipl.org/
Use Yahoo. From the Yahoo search page, under More, click on Directory. Type in search word, "opera." Click on: classical music - opera..
A potentially useful website: http://www.operabase.com
Evaluating online sources
Evaluating Web Pages: Techniques to Apply & Questions to Ask UC Berkeley provides a great evaluative framework in a graphically-pleasing chart.
