Irving S. Gilmore Music Library

Students in the music library reading room

Sit down and have a listen, or take our music to go.

The Gilmore Music Library is one of the largest collections of music scores, sound recordings, and music research materials in the United States. Located inside Sterling Memorial Library, we hold a wealth of printed, recorded, online, manuscript, and microform materials for the performance and study of music. These include approximately 120,000 scores and parts; 81,000 books about music; 43,000 LP recordings and compact discs (and 280,000 more in the Historical Sound Recordings); 1,500 DVDs and videotapes; and 425 active subscriptions to music periodicals.  Ebooks and online databases of articles (citations and full-text), books, scores, sound recordings (streaming audio), and video recordings (streaming video) allow Yale students and faculty to access materials from anywhere in the world, 24/7.

Researching Music

A student studying music periodicalsMusic Research Guide
A starting point for music research and information about our collections.

All Music Research Guides by Subject
Browse by subject, genre, instrument, and more.

Music Databases
Music-focused databases available to the Yale community.

Music Special Collections
Archives, manuscripts, rare books and scores, and other special collections.

Listening to records on a gramophone

Historical Sound Recordings

Around 280,000 important historical recordings available for study: 78s and LPs, reel-to-reel tapes, CDs, audio cassettes, and cylinders.
Abdallah Ibrahim

Oral History of American Music Program

Since 1969, OHAM has been collecting and preserving the voices of major musical figures through in-depth interviews.
Music notes in an abstract swirl

Music Cataloging

Documentation of the rules and procedures for cataloging music materials at Yale Library.
Visiting
About
The Irving S. Gilmore Music Library at Yale Library is one of the largest collections of music scores, sound recordings, and music research materials in the United States. As such, the Music Library reflects the centrality of musical performance and scholarship to the university throughout its history. The library holds a wealth of printed, recorded, online, manuscript, and microform materials for the performance and study of music.  These include approximately 120,000 scores and parts; 81,000 books about music; 43,000 LP recordings and compact discs; 1,500 DVDs and videotapes; and 425 active subscriptions to music periodicals.  Ebooks and online databases of articles (citations and full-text), books, scores, sound recordings (streaming audio), and video recordings (streaming video) allow Yale students and faculty to access materials from anywhere in the world, 24/7.  Among the strengths of the Music Library collections are complete runs of nearly every available monumental set and composer’s collected edition, and an extensive reference collection of encyclopedias, dictionaries, bibliographies, composer thematic catalogs, library catalogs, and discographies, both print and online.  Hundreds of published facsimiles that recreate the appearance of early editions and important manuscripts, such as the Squarcialupi Codex and the Chansonnier of Jean de Montchenu, form another rich collection that enhances our understanding of the compositional process and physical forms in which music was made available during earlier periods.
 
Amplifying the Music Library’s circulating, periodical, and reference collections are the Special Collections of rare editions, single manuscripts, and archival collections, as well as the American Musical Theatre Collection, the Historical Sound Recordings Collection, and the Oral History of American Music.  The special collections include 11,600 microforms of manuscripts, scores, books, dissertations, library catalogs, manuscripts, periodicals, and scores; 45,000 pieces of sheet music; 95,000 photographs; the personal papers and archival collections of about 140 composers and musicians; approximately 650 individual music manuscripts not forming a portion of a larger collection.  The Collection of Historical Sound Recordings holds more than 280,000 historic sound recordings. Oral History of American Music has created a collection of more than 2,000 of in-depth audio and video interviews with major musical figures of our time.
 

History of the Music Library

The commitment to music manifested itself in the University Library before 1850, by which time the Library had already begun acquiring important European publications of music scores and periodicals. The bequest of Lowell Mason’s private library in 1873 increased the University’s holdings in music by an additional 10,000 items and added to the Library numerous manuscript scores and early printed writings about music.
 
In 1902 a small music collection was created in the Department of Music, where it was housed in a single room. In 1917, with the construction of Sprague Memorial Hall, the Department’s music collection was moved to a well-appointed room in the new building. At the same time, music materials were collected from the University Library and combined with the Department’s holdings to form one large music collection. The Music Library continued to grow, and when the Yale School of Music obtained new quarters in the early 1950s, the Music Library expanded to fill the first floor, basement, and portions of the upper floors of Sprague Hall. Once again too large for its surroundings, the Music Library moved in 1998 to a new facility constructed in a courtyard of Sterling Memorial Library and named for Irving S. Gilmore (Yale ‘23). At the same time the Historical Sound Recordings and American Musical Theatre collections moved into the Music Library.
Carrels and Lockers

Music students, faculty, and visiting fellows are eligible for a Music Library carrel. Lockers are available to current Yale music students and faculty. Request a carrel or locker.

Computers and Wireless
  • There is a a cluster of 5 computers on the first floor of the Music Library including one which is adapted for people with disabilities. This workstation has a Key Tronic keyboard with enlarged keys and an IntelliMouse Trackball device.
  • We use the same wifi connection as most of the campus.
  • There is a “quick lookup” computer next to the Circulation Desk.
  • Two productivity workstations (iMacs) equipped with input music keyboards are available to Yale affiliates. Regular keyboard and mouse have to be checked out at the service desk.
For the General Public / Visitors

The general public is welcome to do research in the library. Anyone with borrowing privileges may borrow material from the Music Library.

Locations and Room Numbers

Room Numbers

ML 1-4 are in the basement, ML 100-115 are on the main level, ML 101M-108M are on the mezzanine level.

Locations

Collection
  • Circulating books and scores - basement
  • Course reserves - behind Circulation Desk
  • Historical Sound Recordings reference collection - basement (beyond the LC class B-L, N-Z regular and + sections)
  • New books shelf - Circulation Desk
  • Periodicals
    • current periodicals - first floor on display shelves
    • bound volumes - basement (ML 4)
  • Reference Collection - second floor; overflow Yale class reference materials, and M2 or M3 reference sets are in the basement (ML 4)
  • Recordings Collection - ask at Circulation Desk.
IT
  • Quick lookup workstation - first floor
  • Public workstations - first floor and basement
  • Public scanners - first floor
  • Photocopier - first floor
Service
  • Circulation Desk - first floor
  • Administration Offices - second floor
  • Reference Offices - first floor, ML104 and ML115
Study
  • Reading tables and armchairs - Reference room on second floor
  • Student carrels and lockers - basement
  • Harold E. Samuel Recordings Listening Area - first floor
  • Includes listening stations (CD players, cassette tape players, and turntables), four video & DVD stations, and a Clavinova
  • Rare Books Reading Room - second floor (enter via administration offices)
Teaching
  • Seminar rooms - second floor adjacent to the Reference Room
  • Historical Sound Recordings Seminar Room - basement
Ordering Reproductions (Digitization)
The Irving S. Gilmore Music Library, including Historical Sound Recordings (HSR) and Oral History of American Music (OHAM), provides broad access to its collection materials for personal research use, teaching, and educational purposes, under the fair use clause of the United States copyright law.
 
Reproductions of items from the library’s special collections can be requested by following these guidelines. If you have any questions or need help with submitting a request, please contact musicspecialcollections@yale.edu
 
For information on accessing OHAM materials, please see the OHAM Collections Guide.
Scanning, Printing, and Copying

Scanning

Self-Service Scanners
Two self-service scanners are on the first floor near the circulation desk.
 
Yale readers who make use of scanners are expected to abide by the regulations of the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code). Any violations of the Copyright Law at self-service machines are the responsibility of the reader and are not the responsibility of the Yale University Library.
 
Scanning Service
Scan and Deliver provides electronic copies from books and journals in the general collections of the Yale University Library.  This service is available to current Yale University faculty, students, and staff, as well as alumni with borrowing privileges.
 

Printing

Yale BluePrint/PaperCut scanner/printer is located near the circulation desk on the first floor. Oversize paper (11”x17”) that will accommodate music scores is available.  
 
Prices for Blueprint/PaperCut (Add funds)
  • Black and white printing/copying:  .10 first side / .02 second side
  • 11x17” paper: .20 first side / .04 second side
  • Color printing/copying:  .25 per image [color not available in Music Library]

Photocopiers

The scanner/printer near the circulation desk also makes copies on 8.5”x 11” or 11”x 17” paper.
 
Special Collections
All researchers visiting the Music Library’s Special Collections require an appointment. Learn more about using special collections.
  • For general special collections inquiries, contact musicspecialcollections@yale.edu. This will go to Suzanne Lovejoy, Music Librarian for Access and Research Services.
  • For Historical Sound Recordings (HSR), contact the Head of HSR, Mark Bailey, at mark.bailey@yale.edu.
  • For Oral History of American Music (OHAM), contact the Research Archivist for OHAM, Anne Rhodes, at anne.rhodes@yale.edu.

Today's Hours


Located inside Sterling Memorial Library. A valid Yale ID with swipe access is required for entry after 6 p.m.

All Yale Library Hours

Contact Us

General, Reference, or Research Questions: musiclibrary@yale.edu or (203) 432-0492
 
Music Special Collections Inquiries: musicspecialcollections@yale.edu
 
Music Special Collections Reproductions: musicreproductionrequests@yale.edu
 
 
Gilmore Music Library
Sterling Memorial Library
120 High Street
New Haven, CT 06511

Directions