From: PKrampe~ol.com Date: Sun, 20 Feb 2000 11:01:59 EST Subject: Re: [slidemeister] library resources
The local and college library here in MT do not have ANY info on harps. I went to the interlibrary loan department and got about a doz. videos . I probably ordered or asked for about 2 doz. Some libraries would not send there videos for loan and some would. I got stuff by Dunkin, Harp, Marcos, Buffalo, Howell, and a couple of others. This is how I learned on the diatonic. BTY, there is not much on the chromatic. Now you can get videos, books including music books, CD's , cassette tapes by interlibrary loan. I just recently got a book by Schackner on chromatic harps - today. You can search for what you want in just about any library. You search under subject, title, keyword, author. It will tell you what is available and who - which library - it is in. Just ask the librarian to get it for you. Maybe they can and maybe not. I was unable to find anything by Toots so not everything is available. But most of what you will want is. If I was to get a recommendation on a good music book I would obtain it this way first (if possible). I can always buy it later if I like it. It's coming up with good book titles that is a key.
The public library is one of the best resources you have. I strongly encourage everyone to avail themselves of this source of knowledge. When working on the Encyclopedia of the Harmonica I got to know most of the librarians in several libraries. When they didn't have a book or recording that I wanted, they would either find it at another library and get it for me through an inter-library loan or order the book for their collection. The key is to get on friendly terms with those people who influence purchasing decisions. By getting libraries to purchase books and CD's on harmonica, it benefits the entire harmonica community by generating sales and money back into the harmonica community. Remember that you are already paying for the library through your taxes and you might as well take advantage of it. Only about 5% of the American populace has a library card (disgusting). If we want to promote our instrument, the library is a free resource that only takes a few moments of your time to utilize.
If you want to make things better, it's only a matter of making up your mind to do so. You can light a candle or curse the darkness.
