Evaluating Library Discovery Tools through a Music Lens

This article outlines how to use specialized cataloging to evaluate discovery tools for library collections. An awareness of the capability offered by bibliographic records and data for specialized materials enables libraries to conduct their own evaluation of a discovery tool's functionality for complex materials. Bibliographic records for materials such music are excellent for putting a discovery tool through rigorous testing. This article may be used to facilitate evaluation of discovery tools by those without music cataloging expertise, and it provides a ready supply of examples, to quickly identify complex search strategies.