This text investigates the primary sources of information available to music librarians, researchers, and students to facilitate effective music documentation and retrieval. J.H. Davies, a prominent music librarian, utilizes his extensive experience in the field to categorize the vast array of musical literature, scores, and reference materials. The work provides a structured framework for navigating the complexities of music bibliography and the organization of musical collections within an institutional setting.

Experts recognize this work as a foundational text for music librarianship, noting its historical value in establishing early standards for music bibliography. Readers frequently highlight the clarity of the author's organizational approach, though they acknowledge the limitations imposed by the age of the material.