Audio Recordings Collection
WHAT IS THE AUDIO RECORDINGS COLLECTION AND WHO MAY USE IT?
The audio recordings collection consists of approximately 5,000 LPs (long-playing records) and over 6,000 CDs (compact discs). Only CDs are being added to the collection. There are no cassette or other tape recordings in the collection.
In addition, the Classical Music Library provides listening and downloading access via the web to thousands of licensed recordings. Registration and fees are required for downloading. HSU faculty, staff, and current students may use this resource on campus or remotely. The general public has access from the Library only.
The audio recordings collection supports the curriculum at Humboldt State University. Recordings may be checked out by anyone with a valid HSU library card for three weeks with no renewals. Up to three recordings may be checked out at one time. Fines of $1 per day are assessed for overdues ($25 maximum). The borrower will be charged for ruined recordings.
WHERE ARE THE RECORDINGS?
CDs are shelved by call number in the Media Resources area on the second floor, north. LPs are shelved behind the Circulation Desk on the main floor. Request them there.
HOW DO I FIND THE CALL NUMBERS?
They are in the HSU Library Catalog. Call numbers for all but the last 2,000 of the LPs are hard to find in this catalog since they are not fully cataloged. There is also a card catalog, behind the Reference desk, for the LPs, in which they are fully cataloged.
HOW SHOULD I SEARCH FOR RECORDINGS IN THE HSU LIBRARY CATALOG?
To see lists of all the CDs in the collection:
- Type "sound recording" including quote marks into the Search for box.
- Choose Compact Discs in Optional Limits, then click Search.
- You may sort the results using the options in the drop-down menu in the Sort By: box. This box is just above the results list on the left.
NOTE: CDs on order will display first if you don't sort. These have no call numbers and are not available for checkout. The number of on-order CDs varies throughout the year; you may need to skip several screens to get past them. If you do sort, on-order CDs will display among the others according to the chosen sort parameters.
To see an entry for a recording when you have the call number:
- Type the call number, including the hyphen, in the Search for box. You don't need to capitalize.
- Choose Call Number in Search in:, then click Search.
To find recordings of a particular piece of music, or a particular type of music, or by a particular composer, performer, conductor, or group:
- Type appropriate keywords into the Search for box. Put quotation marks around any phrases. Use truncation to retrieve plurals and variant spellings of words in different languages.
- Choose Compact Discs in Optional limits, then click Search.
Tips and examples of keywords:If the music has a distinct title or nickname, use it:
"don Giovanni"
"an die musik"
"jupiter symphon?""kind of blue"
"eleanor rigby"
"you'll never walk alone"The exception is that the songs in operas are not separately indexed for recordings of the operas. To find them, you must search for the opera in which they appear. The songs on rock, jazz, recital, and musical albums are usually indexed, and you can search for them directly.
If there is no distinct title, use keywords for composer, musical form (symphonies, duets, fugues, sonatas, masses, concertos, etc.), instrumentation (violin, violoncello, strings, horn, orchestra, etc.), thematic catalog or opus number, or key to find recordings of the piece:
grieg piano concerto Mozart "K. 626" If you are searching for folk music, you may want to truncate country or location names:
gree? will find greek or greece afric? will find africa or african For more help with keywords, please see Finding Books about Music.
Many shorter works and songs are not indexes in the HSU Library Catalog. You may need to seek them by examining the liner notes on anthology, recital, or other recorded collections. Please see How to Find Scores and Sheet Music for other ideas.
To find recordings of sound effects:
- Type "sound effects" including the quotation marks into the Search for box.
- Choose Compact Discs in Optional limits, then click Search.
To find animal sounds:
- Type keywords for the animal and the word sounds into the Search for box:
- Choose Compact Discs in Optional limits, then click Search.
| fish sounds | birds sounds |
To find copyright free recordings of music and arrangements:
- Type "production music" including the quote marks into the Search For box.
- Choose Compact Discs in Optional limits, then click Search.
If you don't find the piece or recording you are looking for or need help with using the Catalog, please ask for assistance at the Reference desk. If you are a student, staff, or faculty member, you may also use our online reference service, ASKUS, which is linked on the Library's homepage under the Ask a Librarian link.
WHAT IF I WANT TO LISTEN TO RECORDINGS IN THE LIBRARY?
Listening equipment is available in Media Resources located on the second floor, north. Tape players, compact disc players, and turntables are available there.