The Trial of Searching for Musical Works Using Resource Discovery Tools

Abstract

It is not possible to perform a complete or efficient search for musical works using current resource discovery tools. Using examples from Encore, EBSCO Discovery Service™1, Primo®2, and WorldCat®3 Local, the author shows the limitations inherent in using the latest generation of discovery tools for music searches. Music searching is problematic in these tools for three reasons: inadequate use of authority information, displays which do not use uniform titles, and systems that do not recognize that results appearing in a single field have a higher relevancy. They cannot fulfill a basic catalog objective of finding and displaying what works a library has by a composer. Music librarians must band together to tell vendors the needs for music searching. Librarians must be vigilant to present catalogs and discovery tools in the most useful way to patrons.