Kelvin Smith Library
If the patron has a call number, it's good to check if it matches the medium they want. If it begins with only M, it's a score. Note that patrons are sloppy about noting if it's miniature, full, or large (Case X). If it's not in full, check miniature. A CD will begin with CD (NOT CDc; that's CIM), DVDs with DVDk, VHS tapes are VHS. If a patron asks for a recording that begins with something else, it's almost certainly an LP record, which we no longer circulate.
"I want Schumann's third."
"Third what"?, you might (but shouldn't) ask. This particular phrasing almost always refers to symphonies. (Notable exception: "Rach 3" is the Rachmaninov third piano concerto. Don't ask why.) Just ask if they mean "3rd Symphony"?
Score or recording?
Full-size or miniature?
"Full-size, if you have it"
You check under "symphonies, No. 3, Op. 97", and see that all the editions we have are miniature, shelved in mmins, listed as "One miniature score" in the record, 19 to 24 cm high. CIM has one, but it's in reference, part of a collected works edition. Most patrons will accept a miniature score, if that's what you have. But remember the Russian Doll principle. Let's go up to "Symphonies". Ah, there's the Dover edition of all the symphonies, 31 cm high. That's what they want. (Note that there's also another record for "symphonies", but it's only the double bass parts).
"Miniature"
Do the work above.
"Actually, I want a piano arrangement."
Solo, or four hands?
You'll find "solo" under both Symphonies and Symphonies, No. 3 and "4 hands" only under Symphonies, in this particular example.
"I want the flute part"
We don't collect individual orchestra parts. But they may be available in a book of orchestral excerpts for flute. Or, for public-domain works, on imslp.org.
Any particular conductor?
"Hmm, Harnoncourt"
You go to Schumann in Sierra, see only two listings for the 3rd (Schumann symphonies are frequently packaged together). And, one is Harnoncourt. You can also do a word search for "Harnoncourt Schumann". CIM has one with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe.
"I was hoping for an original instruments performance. Do you have one?"
You search for "Schumann period", find a few recordings but no symphonies.
I'm not finding anything here. You might check Naxos Music Library, or I can help you contact the research librarian for music.
"Wait...you got John Eliot Gardiner?"
You do a word search, and find the complete symphonies. The record says nothing about period instruments, yet it is. By the way, Harnoncourt never recorded these works with his period-instruments group. And we have at least one other period performance; extra credit if you can find it.