This second edition discusses the latest innovations in library catalog searching, new matters in digital technology, and the expansion in musical genres for library research. The book's organization allows for three independent tracks of study.

Part 1 treats essentials of the research process, explaining starting-point resources such as library catalogs, dictionaries, and bibliographies. It addresses scholarly documentation, the use of style manuals, and basics of copyright.

Part 2 develops skills and strategies for library- and Internet-based research, describing database structures and library catalogs, subject searching in catalogs and journal indexes, keyword searching techniques, related-record searching and citation databases, and the use of experts and thematic catalogs.

Part 3 discusses the organization of a music library, emphasizing score collections, books and journals in music literature, and music teaching publications.