Irving S. Gilmore Music Library
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
Music 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.

Historical Sound Recordings

Oral History of American Music Program

Music Cataloging
About
History of 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
Locations
- 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.
- Quick lookup workstation - first floor
- Public workstations - first floor and basement
- Public scanners - first floor
- Photocopier - first floor
- Circulation Desk - first floor
- Administration Offices - second floor
- Reference Offices - first floor, ML104 and ML115
- 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)
- Seminar rooms - second floor adjacent to the Reference Room
- Historical Sound Recordings Seminar Room - basement
Ordering Reproductions (Digitization)
Scanning, Printing, and Copying
Scanning
Printing
- 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
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.