Finding music resources
Searching for CDs, Cassettes, DVDs and Videos on the catalogue
When you know the title:
1.From the Basic Search Screen, use the mouse to click on the downward arrow next to 'Choose a search type'. Select Title Browse
2. Type in the title eg 'Kind of Blue'
3. Click on the Search button
4. A list of compatible titles will be displayed with brief information such as author details and what type of media it is eg. compact disc. You can click on the title you are interested in to get further details such as where the item is located and whether or not there are copies available.
TIP: Leave out 'a' or 'the' if the title you're searching for begins with either or these. For example, if you were looking for 'the downward spiral', you would just type in 'downward spiral'.
When you know the composer/performer:
1. From the Basic Search screen, select Author or name from the search type options.
2. Type in the composer/performer's name, eg 'Red Hot Chili Peppers'
3. Click on Search
4. A list of compatible titles will be displayed with brief information such as author details and what type of media it is eg. compact disc. You can click on the title you are interested in to get further details such as where the item is located and whether or not there are copies available.
TIP: You can restrict your search to show only results of a certain type, for example CDs or Videos. To do this:
1. From the Basic Search Screen, click on the Advanced Search option in the left margin.
2. Type in a name or keyword(s) eg 'Black Seeds' (author) or 'Rastaman Vibration' (keywords).
3. Under Limiting Options select the format you want to limit your search by (eg CD, Video etc)
4. Click the Search tab and results for the format you have chosen will be displayed.
Note: DVD is not yet available as a search limit option. You can limit searches to DVD though, by including 'DVD' in the keyword field.
If you are searching for classical music there are more tips on the classical music subject help.
Browse our collection - Quicksearch
If you're not looking for anything in particular, but would just like to browse our DVD or CD collections, you can use the Quicksearch menu. The most recently purchased items will show first, and you can sort shorter lists by author or title (the option will be on the left hand side of the screen when available).
Audio-visual Resources
We have CDs, Cassettes, DVDs and Videos
Adult collection
Central Sound and Vision Centre: The main collection can be found in the Sound and Vision Centre which is located on the Victoria Street side, North (Harris Street) end of the ground floor. A small charge applies for each item, and you can borrow as many as you wish.
Branches Each branch library has its own audio-visual collection for your browsing and borrowing pleasure.
Young adult and children's collection
Central: A selection of CDs, Cassettes and Videos are available in the Young Adults and Children's area located on the
NB: Borrowers with a Young Adult or Children's library card are welcome to borrow materials from the main collection (providing they don't carry an age restriction) but regular rental fees will apply.
Branches: Each branch also has its own collection of young adult and children's audio-visual resources.
Books, including biographies
1.From the basic search screen click on the downward arrow next to 'choose a search type'.
2. Choose Subjects from the list. 3. Type in the name of the composer/group (e.g. John Coltrane, Nirvana) or instrument you are looking for in the blank space above. Click on 'Search' to find out what we hold.
NB: When you enter the name of an person for a 'subjects' search, you can type in either first or last name order eg. "Coltrane, John" or "John Coltrane".
Music biographies are shelved apart from the main biography section. At Central they are located at the harbour side of the 1st floor behind the escalators, and the large books are shelved further towards the south end.
Some dewey numbers:
| Biographies and analysis: Classical composers and musicians | 789 |
| Biographies and analysis: Popular and jazz (in other words, everyone else) | 786.9 |
| Learning the guitar | 785.35 |
| Learning the keyboard and piano | 785.65 |
| Learning to sing | 784.1 |
The Popular Music Recent Picks page gives reviews of some of the latest books we've bought.
If you are searching for classical music there are more tips at classical music subject help.
Songbooks and scores
The Central Library has around 10 000 songbooks and scores, which can be found at the South (Civic Square) end of the 1st floor just behind the large book section.. They can be located on the catalogue under title or author.
Popular songbooks by particular artists or groups are shelved at the beginning of the scores, organised alphabetically by the first three letters of the performer's name (eg BEA for The Beatles, HOL for Billie Holiday).
For more information on classical music scores, visit classical music subject help.
Online Resources
There are several music-related websites that you can access within the library on our free internet PCs :
- Our Popular music page - updated regularly with music news, CD picks, useful links and details of the monthly radio show.
- All Music Guide - a huge database of bands and musicians, including biographical information, discographies, recent releases and a whole lot more.
- mygateway.info - online databases which you can use in the library or from home with your library card number.
- MasterFILE Premier - a mygateway.info database that gives access to 1000s of magazines including Rolling Stone, Billboard and Guitar Player.
- Gale Biography Resource Center - a mygateway.info biographical database that covers musicians like Eminem, Ani Difranco and Crowded House.
For information on classical music, try:
On this page
Searching the catalogue:Collections:
