Music: Find Books & EBooks

Browse through the tabs below for a selection of books in print and eBooks on different music topics.

• OneSearch
• Articles
• Books
• Textbooks/Reserves

About OneSearch

The OneSearch library catalog helps users find different types of library resources using just one search box. These resources include:

• The library catalog (includes books in print, textbook reserves, eBooks, and physical multimedia items like DVDs and audiobooks on CD, located at any State Center Community College District campus library)
• Most of our research databases
• Open access materials (journal articles and eBooks that are freely available online)

Like most library search tools, special filters can help narrow down search results to just the most relevant items, too.

Try OneSearch with the widget at the top of this box, or access it from the CCC Library page under the link "Books: Library Catalog."

Search Tips

• A "virtual browse" feature appears when you check a physical book's record; it will help find other relevant print books with the same call number (but double check their location, as they may be at other SCCCD libraries)
• Most music topics are very specific, so you can usually just search the main topic phrase—for example, the name of a music genre, an instrument, or a musician/artist—to retrieve very targeted results
• To make sure your results are related to music, try an advanced search. Make sure one of the fields is selected to search a specific subject, and make the subject contain the word "music." Then on the next line, search all fields for your specific topic (again, like a music genre, instrument, etc.)
• Have words related to your topic or synonyms ready! These may help expand your search, because if one term doesn't return results, there may be other similar or related words that will bring back results.

Photo by Drew Patrick Miller on Unsplash

"M" is for Music; The Library of Congress Classification System

Music resources will generally be found under one letter in the Library of Congress classification system; the letter M. Having music under one letter class all its own means many items to search through; it may be daunting to just browse the "M" shelves, hoping to run into what you need for research! There are, however, three main "subclasses" if you wish to browse; "M" - Music (general) is the first, then "ML" - Literature on Music, and "MT" - Instruction and Study.

Use Library-to-Go to request books, CD audiobooks, and DVDs from the library’s general collection and other eligible items from our SCCCD libraries for easy, quick pick up at the library during open hours.

• Sign-in to the CCC OneSearch Catalog to request the items you’d like to check out.
• Please include your preferred phone number in the request comments.
• We will pull your items from the shelves and notify you when they are ready for pick up at the library.
• Note that this service is for general collection items and does not apply to reserve items like textbooks and anatomy models.