Wesleyan Library

252 Church Street
Middletown, CT 06457
reference@wesleyan.edu

Front Desk: 860-685-2660
Main Office: 860-685-3844
Research Services Desk: 860-685-3873

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Music Library

The Music Library consists of Wesleyan's non-archival music collections, including scores, sound recordings, reference works, books and journals. Recordings include music, spoken word, and other non-musical material. Accessing our collections and services.

  • Collections

    Mirroring the unique history and strengths of Wesleyan's world-class Music Department, our music collections are focused on 20th- and 21st-century experimental music, and on musical traditions from around the world. More about Collections

    We have:

    • recordings of folk, popular, and classical musics from around the world, including jazz
    • musical scores, collected works, songbooks, and other notation collections
    • music reference works, including discographies and record guides, indexes, thematic catalogs, repertoire guides, music encyclopedias and dictionaries, and music research guides
    • listening and viewing stations for playing LPs, CDs, cassettes, and videos
    • audio recording kits
    • books and journals about music and related topics (in the Olin Library stacks)

    Original field recordings and related materials are part of the World Music Archives.

  • Locating Our Materials

    Our materials are held both in the Music Library (on Olin Library's 3rd floor) and in Olin Library's book stacks. OneSearch will indicate where to find any individual item. More about Locating Our Materials

    Scores, Recordings, and Advanced-Level Music Reference Works

    These are located in the Music Library. Scores and reference works are on the open shelves and available for browsing (except for call numbers starting with M1 or M2).

    Recordings are not available for browsing, but can be found and requested through OneSearch or by emailing musiclibrary@wesleyan.edu.

    Books About Music

    Most are located in the main stacks, on Floor 2 and Floor 3a. They are under the ML and MT call numbers.

    Basic Music Reference Works

    There is a small collection of these in the Reference area on Floor 1.

    Videos

    Music videos, except for World Music Archives material, are kept with the other library videos in Science Library.

    Equipment

    Items such as audio recording kits and CD/DVD drives for your computer are available to be checked out for a limited time period. There are listening and viewing stations in the Music library for LPs, CDs, cassettes, and videos.

  • Checking Out Materials

    We have musical scores, recordings, and a variety of audio equipment that can be checked out. More about Checking Out Materials
    Most scores circulate just like books, and can be checked out at the main circulation desk on the first floor of Olin.

    Most of our recordings can be checked out by any Wesleyan card-holder, although some may only be used in the library. Recordings can be requested through OneSearch, and they’ll be ready for pickup at the reserves desk on the first floor of Olin, usually within two business days. For items that can only be used in the library, a staff member will contact you to schedule a time.

    Any physical items on course reserve will be available at the first floor reserves desk.

    For audio equipment, CD/DVD drives, and closed stacks and archival material, contact the Music Library staff directly.

  • Our Staff and Services

    Our most valuable resource is expertise. Our staff are all active, lifelong musicians with advanced degrees in music research and interests spanning the globe.

    Beginning in Fall 2023, there is no longer a check-out window in the Music Library. Our musical scores stacks are still open for browsing, and recordings can be requested for pickup or in-house listening at our listening stations. Music Library staff are here Monday through Friday during daytime hours to help you. We encourage you to make an appointment before making the trip over to Olin, to make sure one of us will be available at a time that works for you.

    To make an appointment, or for general questions, contact the Music Library staff directly. Want to schedule a research consultation? Request a Personal Research Session.

    Aaron Bittel, Director of World Music Archives and Music Librarian
    Jody Cormack Viswanathan, Archives Assistant
    Jennifer Thom Hadley, Music Library Assistant