If you want to...

Begin research on a music topic.

Summon (go/summon)
Summon will pull results from across our many online databases, as well as from the library’s own collection. You can narrow your results to limit to peer-reviewed journals, exclude newspaper articles, find recordings, etc.

Music Research Guide

Quick-Start Guide To Library Research (PDF file)

go/askus
Ask a librarian! Any of our librarians can help you get started. For in-depth assistance, we have several librarians on staff with music expertise:
Joy Pile 802-443-5140
Jess Isler 802-443-3467
Terry Simpkins 802-443-5045

Listen to something... now

go/naxos - Naxos Music Library
go/musiconline - includes classical, world, jazz music from Alexander Street Press

These are two streaming music services that the library subscribes to.

If neither database has what you want, try searching the library’s CD collection (see below).

Find a pop (or rock, jazz, blues, etc.) music CD in the library

MIDCAT (go/midcat)
MIDCAT, the library’s traditional catalog, gives good search results if you’re looking for something specific in Middlebury’s collection. A simple keyword search may work, or, better yet, use the “author” search for musicians and bands, or a “title” search for a specific CD title. You can also select “Music Recordings” from the drop-down menu to limit your results even more.

Once you've found what you're looking for, details about our borrowing policies are available here.

Summon (go/summon)

Summon also works well, but you may get more results than you really need.

For best results finding only items physically in the library, use the “Advanced Search” screen and choose “Show only: Items in the library catalog (mostly print and physical material).” You can also limit by format: Music Recording, Music Score, Book/eBook, are probably the 3 most useful ones.

Find a classical music CD or printed music in the library

Classical music can be difficult to locate in library catalogs. MIDCAT may provide better search results if you’re looking for something specific in our collection. A simple keyword search may work, or, better yet, use the “author” search for musicians and bands, or a “title” search for a specific CD title.

Summon (go/summon)
MIDCAT (go/midcat)

Both Summon and MIDCAT will work better the more specific you can be with your search. For example, if you search for “Mozart and sonata” you will probably get more results than are useful. If you can use an opus, work, or composer’s number in your search (such as “Mozart and sonata and 545”) and limit to a specific format, you’ll get better results.

go/askus
A librarian will be glad to help you with a search strategy!

go/grovemusic
Oxford Music Online, containing The New Grove Encyclopedia of Music can help find opus, work, and/or composer numbers for most composers.

Still need help?

go/nexpress
If you can’t find what you need through Summon or MIDCAT, try searching NExpress, which makes the combined catalogs of 7 regional colleges available for all members to use.

If you find what you’re looking for, you can request it directly through the NExpress website by entering your Middlebury login information.

go/ill
ILL is similar to NExpress, except it expands the search to libraries across the country (and some international libraries, too). ILL takes slightly longer than NExpress, so please plan ahead!

go/requests
Feel free to ask us to buy something.

go/askus
Don’t forget: librarians are very good at helping you find the resources you need.