OneSearch is Ball State Libraries' integrated discovery tool for books, scores, articles, recordings, and other library materials. It also indexes selected trustworthy online resources and incorporates subscription databases such as Academic Search Complete. On the Libraries' home page, you will see a simple search box:
After searching for your topic, you may find more resources than you need. You can narrow your results by using the filters listed to the left of the search results. For both physical and online books owned by Ball State University Libraries, check "Library Catalog." For physical books, the location (Music Collection) and call number (beginning with "M") indicate the books' location in Bracken Library. To specify online books (ebooks) only, check "eBook Full Text Online." Some eBooks require log in with Ball State University authentication to view the book. |
More information on OneSearch can be found at the research guide here: https://bsu.libguides.com/onesearch.
The Music Collection at University Libraries uses Library of Congress Classification, or LCC, for organizing books and scores on the shelves. This system, maintained by the national library of the United States and utilized by libraries across the country and around the world, groups together items on similar subjects. Each item is then assigned a unique call number which combines alphabetical and numerical characters. These features are designed to make browsing library collections easier for users and librarians alike. Tip: Enter the first part of a call number into OneSearch to see all items in a given section. Add "AND jazz" to narrow results.
Call Numbers for Jazz:
ML 385 - 429 Biography
ML 410 Composers
ML 417 Pianists
ML 419 Other instrumentalists
ML 420 Singers
ML 3506 - 3509 History and criticism. Jazz
ML 3506 General works
ML 3507 Addresses, essays, lectures
ML 3508 United States
ML 3509 Other regions or countries
ML 3518 Big band music. Dance band music
ML 3521 Blues. Rhythm and blues
ML 3530 Ragtime music
ML 3792 Individual record companies and labels
ML 3918.J39 Social and political aspects. Jazz
MT 67 Composition. Popular music
MT 68 Improvisation. Accompaniment. Transposition
MT 239 Piano. Performance of popular music
The recommended books below represent a wide sampling of topics in jazz and include biographies, histories, source readings, and investigations into different genres within jazz. Perhaps one or more of these topics will inspire your next research project. Books are sorted by their call numbers for ease of browsing. Hover over the info icon to see a description.
Users are encouraged to search for items beyond University Libraries' catalog via RILM Abstracts of Music Literature and WorldCat. Materials not available in print or online may be requested through Interlibrary Loan. Please allow up to seven days for electronic delivery and up to fourteen days for delivery of physical items.