Music Theatre 

• All items from the desk must be checked out to you - even for use in the library. It's the only way we can keep track of who has what.

• The Music Library collects music theatre scores comprehensively

• We have a thorough collection of CDs, LPs, and video recordings (DVDs and Laser Discs). Sound and video recordings must generally be used in the library's listening room but may be taken to a class or lesson within the building if it is returned the same day before closing.

• Most of our music theatre scores are kept behind the Circulation Desk and are due back at the end of the day. But the library has many other resources available to you if you just ASK!

• We have up-to-date books and web resources that can tell you the plot of a show or who your character is, as well as a lot of other information about performers, shows, composers, etc.

• Photocopying music owned by the library instead of buying it might be illegal. Please ask a full-time staff member about copyright laws. Making copies of sound recordings for learning purposes can be legal if certain conditions apply.

• Our collection is for reference and for you to try out pieces you think you'd like to perform. If you decide to perform a piece, you should purchase your own copy so that you will have a legal score that you can use the next time you need it.

• Overdue fines for Desk Reference material are 1¢ per minute, to a maximum of $25. Fees for a lost item can be a total of $97 ($57 item replacement, $30 processing fee, $10 overdue fee), but please see a member of the full-time staff (Maurice or Rachel) if you think you have lost an item.

• We often find scores that people have marked in. Please remember that these items belong to the library and keep them clean for other people to use. We charge fees for excessive markings.

Not all sheet music is listed in ALADIN!

Sheet Music Collection

These Smithsonian historical recordings are excellent for studying styles of singing and older repertoire. They are not searchable by keyword, so check them out and see what's there!

American Musical Theater
Call Number: Smith 036, etc. (multiple vols.)
Booklet (desk reference): ML 1711 A55 1989

American Popular Song
Call Number: Smith 031
Booklet (desk reference): ML 3551 A56 1984

Smithsonian Collection of Classic Jazz
Call Number: Smith A19477
Booklet (desk reference): ML 3561 J3 W54 1997

OUR GIANT BLUE BINDER OF MUSICAL THEATRE CONTENTS LISTINGS! We have photocopied the table of contents of every anthology and song collection we have and arranged it by composer. If you need a song by Irving Berlin, ask for the contents listing instead of guessing which one it's in!

THE BLACK BOOK! Nothing beats searching the computer for the availability of the item you want. But the annotated Black Book of Musicals might be a shortcut

OUR SPECIAL COLLECTIONS OF VOCAL MUSIC! We now have a searchable online database indexing our special collections of popular sheet music and anthologies which are SEPARATE from the regular library catalog.