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Finding Videos in the Library

Videos, in DVD and VHS format, are located on the 1st floor of the library, behind the circulation desk.  Sorry, you can't browse through the videos on your own - you will have to give the circulation worker a specific call number.  Therefore, the only way to find a specific video is to use the online catalog

Helpful Hints for Finding Specific Pieces of Music

Finding a score or recording of a specific piece of music is probably the trickiest task when searching the online catalog.  That's because the numbering systems and key designations of classical compositions can be written in many different ways.  Suppose you want to find a specific Beethoven piano sonata.  He only wrote 32, so it should be pretty easy, right?  Sorry, it's too complicated to be easy.  Your piano instructor has told you to find Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 20 in G major, Op. 49, No. 2.  You type that string of text into the online catalog, and you get nothing! Does that mean we don't have it?  Maybe.  Or it could be a problem with your text.

  • Should you type "No. 20," "Number 20," or "#20?"
  • Should you type "Op. 49" or "Opus 49?"
  • What about the key? Should it be typed "G major" or "G dur?"  (It might be a German publication, after all.)

How do you answer these questions?  The safest way is to eliminate the words or designations that might cause trouble.  Try searching for "Beethoven piano sonata 20" or "Beethoven piano sonata op 49."  The important thing is to keep it simple.

Using the Online Catalog to Find CDs

The easiest way to find things in the library is to use the Online Catalog.

  1. Click the catalog link on the library home page or use the link above
  2. Type in keyword(s), title, or author - for specific pieces of music, see suggestions on the left in this guide.
  3. Click Search.
  4. Use the "Format" toolbar to limit your results to DVDs or VHS tapes. 
  5. Videos may be checked out for two weeks.  If you don't have access to a VHS player, but would like to view a VHS tape, the library has equipment you can use on site.  Just ask at the circulation desk.

For more information about using DBU's online library catalog, visit our Catalog Guide.