I. The Robinson Music Library

Introduction to limiting a search

Any search (author, title, subject) may be limited in the library catalog. The "Limit" command enables you to define your search by the following criteria:

• Words in Author (including performer and composer names).
• Words in Title (TIP: Limit by form (plural) and instrumentation): Example: piano sonatas
• Material Type
• Publisher
• Location

Use the limit command to focus your search. It is essential when searching by composers, such as J.S. Bach, for whom the library holds over 5,000 individual items.

Tips for limiting

1. Begin searches for music with an author search.
2. Limit a basic author search by material type.
3. Limit by keywords you would expect to find in the title (flute, violin)
4. Use the plural forms of genres such as "sonatas," '"concertos" when limiting an author search by "Words in the title.

The following is a good example of a limited search:

Does either the CIM library or the Kulas library have a sound recording of Symphony in C Major, K 128 by Mozart?

      Author = Mozart, Wolfgang
      Keyword from title = Symphonies
      Material type = music recording

Examples of other limited searches

Score for Hindemith's Sonata for flute and piano:

Does the library have any recordings of Cecilia Bartoli singing Rossini?

Feel free to review this module. Once you are ready, GO TO QUIZ 1