The Song Index

The Song Index is a card file compiled by San Francisco Public Library staff to find songs. It is an alphabetical listing of song titles that indexes the library’s songbook collection as well as some uncataloged sheet music. Because it indexes many song collections that are not indexed in the online catalog it can still be a useful search tool.

The Song Index has not been added to since 1992. Because many of the call numbers listed in the index have changed it often necessary to look up the titles of song collections found index in the online catalog. Librarians at the Art, Music and Recreation reference desk are happy to help you with this. When copying information from the index cards, it is important to note the title of the song collection.

Many of the older entries in the card file provide call numbers written in shorthand. These are for songs in the "HP" or "Hit Parade" series – individual pieces of sheet music bound in collections by year or decade using the call number 784.8 HP. A call number of "1941" is short for the call number "784.8 HP1941." A call number of "1935:4" is short for "784.8 HP1935, Series 4."

The Song Index is located on the Fourth Floor of the Main Library. It’s situated to the left as you leave the elevator area toward the atrium.