How to Find Multimedia

Video

The TCU Library offers video recordings in both physical formats (DVD etc.) and streaming (online) form:

Media collection - DVDs/VHS cassettes housed in the Music/Media Library

Streaming video playable directly from links in the library catalog

Video databases found on the list of multimedia databases

Below are instructions for 1) browsing and 2) searching for videos.

1. Browsing for Videos

Lists of videos can be browsed in two ways:

using catalog call number searches (see Browsing and selecting film / video)
  - OR -
clicking on the popular film/TV links below.

New video leaflets are available in the Music/Media Library. For recommendations by library staff, consult The Reel World @ TCU: New Video Arrivals and Recommendations on Facebook, or in the Music/Media Library.

Hint:

Your video selection may be checked out. Click the "Detailed items" link at the bottom of a catalog record to see if your selection is available. If the item is checked out, a "hold" can be placed on it by clicking the "Request" link near the due-date.

2. Searching for videos

DVD/VHS from the Media collection - Advanced search options:

• Select desired format from the Format drop-down box
• Select "Title words" and enter title information, if known (try "Words anywhere" if no results)
• Select "Words anywhere" and enter topic words such as global warming, teenagers or war (see also "Hints," below)
• Select "Author words" and enter the name of a featured person, director or publisher, if known
• Select "Subject words" for films that were originally books and enter adaptations (use plural)

Hints:

Use quotation marks to keep terms in a phrase together, for example - "global warming"

Use the * (asterisk) to allow for alternate word beginnings, endings, or single characters, for example - teen* (teens, teenagers, teenaged...); wom*n* (woman, women, woman's, women's)

Streaming video in the library catalog

From the search box on the TCU Library home page enter "streaming video*" (use quotation marks and the asterisk).  - OR -

Using Basic search or Advanced search select Streaming video from the Format drop-down box.   Add other search terms such as personal names and topic words.  Use "Sort" to rearrange the results.

Streaming video in multimedia databases

Search in one of the multimedia databases.  The databases each have their own indexes and search guides.

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Reviewed 12/20/2012 by Laura Ruede.

Sound

The TCU Library offers recorded sound in both physical and streaming formats.

Sound recording collection - CDs/audio cassettes/LPs housed in the Music/Media Library Audio/Visual Center

Sound recording databases found in the list of multimedia databases

Searching for sound recordings

CDs, LPs and sound tapes from the Audio/Visual Center - Advanced search mode:

• Select desired format from the Format drop-down box
• Select "Words anywhere" and enter title information, if known
• Select "Words anywhere" and enter composer, performer and/or genre terms such as "jazz" or "soundtrack"

Hints:

For recordings, title information is usually best entered in "Words anywhere".

Use quotation marks to keep words together -- for example, "Things our fathers loved."

Use * to allow for alternate beginnings or endings.  Use plurals rather than singular ("sonatas" instead of "sonata").   Try different spellings or use the * (asterisk), for example -

• Prokofie* (Prokofief, Prokofiev); sonat* (sonata, sonatas, sonaten, sonatina, sonatinas...)

Use officially designated composition numbers in quotes, if known -- for example, op. 28 no. 4. To search try searching "op 28" and 4, using quotes for the opus phrase; drop the "op" or spell out "opus" if needed

Search the Worldcat database which may retrieve more items than the TCU Library catalog.

• Select the "Items in my library...Texas Christian Univ" box
• Select the "Sound recordings" box

NOTE:  Terms, titles and names in music may appear in foreign languages (for example, "Wohltemperierte Klavier" for "Well-Tempered Klavier").  Composition numbers may also vary. 

Sound recordings in multimedia databases

Search in one of the multimedia databases.  The databases each have their own indexes and search guides.

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Reviewed 12/20/2012 by Laura Ruede.

Music scores

Specific scores by title or opus number should be searched using the Library catalog and not FrogScholar. Music scores (actual printed music) are in two locations; the Music/Media Library Main Stacks and the sheet music filing cabinets behind the front counter.  Scores may be checked out for 28 days plus two renewals.  Sheet music has very few pages and is usually old and brittle.  It is marked “Reserve” in the library catalog and checks out for 2 hours.  It does not leave the Library except by special permission.  Music scores have the call number designation “M”.  Sheet music will have the designation “XSM” or “See a librarian”.   A limited number of printable scores may be found in two databases: Classical Music Scores and African American Music Reference, found on the list of multimedia databases.

Basic Search

• Select “Music Scores” in the Format drop-down box
• Select “Title words” and enter title information if known
• Or select “Words Anywhere” and enter as much information as is known

Advanced Search

• Select “Music Scores” in the Format drop-down box
• Select “Author” in the first search box and input the last name of the composer.  Add the first name or initial if there are more than one composer of the same last name (ex. Bach, J.S. or Bach, C.P.E)
• Select “Title” in the second search box and input the title or opus and serial number.  Use quotes to search the words together -- for example “Op. 27, no. 2” or “Don Giovanni”.
• Alternatively, select “Words Anywhere” in the second search box and input a distinctive word from the title such as “Winterreise” or “Carnival”.

Hints:

• Use the plural of a genre such as “sonatas” instead of “sonata” to find collections.  (ex. Beethoven’s 32 Piano Sonatas)
• Use the publisher’s or composer’s home language such as “Das Wohltemperierte Klavier” instead of “Well-Tempered Clavier”.
• Use the WorldCat database which will sometimes have more complete table of contents records, especially for song collections like “24 Italian Arias”.
• Use official designations for a work like opus and serial numbers or thematic catalog numbers instead of popular alternative titles.  (ex. “Op. 27, no. 2” instead of “Moonlight Sonata”)

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Reviewed 08/17/2012 by Cari Alexander .

Images

Faculty can use images to support students in learning key concepts about important people, places and historical periods as well as in creating student coursework and exams. Students can use images to improve presentations, projects, and research assignments.

Associated Press Images (AP Images)

• This database offers pictures and graphics from the press.
• AP Images would specifically benefit Journalism History, Photojournalism, and Photography.
• AP Images has a searchable collection of photographs and graphic images dating back to 1826.
• The collection includes international news, United States or domestic news, financial news, and sports news. It features showcases which highlight past events, artists, or celebrations.
• Only 5 people in the TCU Community can use this database at the same time.

ARTstor

• Any discipline can benefit from the images in this database.
• If you register for a free account and use  ARTstorHelp, you can create Image Group folders and can add notes to the images.
• These images can be included in presentations using PowerPoint or using OIV, a tool similar to PowerPoint that ARTstor offers.

Catalog of Art Museum Images Online (CAMIO)

• Art History as well as Design, Merchandising, and Textile will benefit from these images.
• Features works from around the world ranging from the prehistoric times to the present in various mediums

Texas Digital Sanborn Maps 1867-1970

• Those studying environmental and community development, history, and geography would benefit from images provided in the Digital Sanborn Maps collection.
• The maps can be manipulated and magnified.
• The maps provide extraordinary detail on the structures and streets of Texas cities

A note about citing images:

Because faculty and students are using images that another person produced, it is important to appropriately cite the images according to a citation style. Each citation method has specific requirements for citing different types of images-- see our citing images page for additional information.

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Reviewed 7/19/2012 by Laura Steinbach.