Music

Scores
Scores which have been borrowed in the last five years are kept on the second floor in Zone 2B rows 12-15. Other scores are in the Research Reserve. Anthologies and collected editions (classmarks beginning with M2-M3) are on the third floor.

Miniature scores (classmarks beginning M1.M4)
Zone 2B rows 12-13.

Collected editions
Anthologies and collected editions (classmarks beginning M2 – M3) are kept on the third floor. They are in Zone 3A rows 22 – 26. These are for use in the library only.

Facsimiles
Shelved among collected editions at M2.2 but oversized ones are located at the end of the collected editions.

Folio scores (‘f ’)
Folios, that is to say really big ‘oversize’ scores are all in the Research Reserve. They have the prefix ‘f’ in front of the classmark e.g.  f M524.H29

Reference works, i.e. Encyclopedias, dictionaries, yearbooks

These are on the third floor in Zone 3A Row 16. They are for use in the library only.

Books about music

Books about Music (classmarks beginning with ML or MT) are kept on the second floor if they have been borrowed in the last five years. They are on the second floor in Zone 2B Rows 15-20. Those which were last borrowed longer ago are in the Research Reserve.

Pamphlets (‘p’)

These are on the second floor in Zone 2B Rows 15.  On Findit they have the prefix ‘p’ in front of the classmark.

Third Floor

Reference works Zone 3A Row 16

Collected editions Zone 3A rows 22 – 26.

Print only journals Zone 3B Row 1

Second Floor

Scores Monographs (books about music) Zone 2B Rows 15-20.

Ground Floor

Here you can collect books which you have reserved from the Research Reserve or recalled from another user.

Research Reserve

Anything not borrowed in the last five years

Oversize (folio) items

Microfilms

You must book an appointment in order to consult material from the Research Reserve or work in the Allport Room.

For students studying vocal or instrumental music at the University of Birmingham, we have an arrangement whereby they can use the former Birmingham Conservatoire collection, which is now housed in the Curzon Library of Birmingham City University.  They can join as 'external (fee exempt) members' for a renewable one year period, and may borrow up to 4 items at a time from their library.  Please see their Join our Library page.

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