Information Services

Music collections

A guide to Edinburgh University's collection of music materials, incorporating the Reid Music Library, including sheet music, literature on music (monographs and journals), and audio-visual material.

Special collections include the Weiss Collection of Beethoven literature, Professor Sir Donald Tovey Music Library and the Kenneth Leighton Archive.

The following link gives full details of the locations of all of the Main Library's collections:

Returning fragile items

Unfortunately, fragile items such as music scores and CDs are very easily damaged by the self-return book sorter.

It would therefore be greatly appreciated if you could return such items to staff at the HelpDesk.

Searching the Library's collections

Search the University Library's collections here:

Orchestral sets

The Library holds a collection of over a thousand orchestral sets, a list of which may be consulted at the HelpDesk or downloaded via the link below.

The collection is closed access and borrowing requests must be made to HelpDesk staff a week in advance so that they can be retrieved.

Borrowing is subject to a deposit from all users, and hire charges for non-Edinburgh University users. Charges will also be made for sets returned with missing parts.

Audio-visual catalogue

The Library holds over 5000 LPs and cassettes. They are available for reference use, but kept on closed access and must be requested through the HelpDesk, by electronic form through the Library website, in person, or by telephone: (0131 6)50 3409).

These are listed, along with older CDs, in the old CD catalogue which can be downloaded from here.

Listening and playing facilities

Listening stations are available in the music listening room, located at the north east end of the second floor, overlooking Buccleuch Place, to listen to CDs, LPs and cassettes. CDs may also be listened to in the study pods elsewhere in the Library.

There is a Clavinova available in the music listening room. If you wish to book this room for teaching, please ask at the HelpDesk on the ground floor. 

There are also two electronic keyboards located in the music listening room.

Please note that you must bring your own headphones to use in the listening room as we no longer lend headphones from the EdHelp service desk.

Other music collections at the University

New College Library

New College Library has collections of material relating to psalmody and hymnology.

Scottish Studies Library

The School of Scottish Studies Library contains information on music from around the world. The School also has a large archive of field recordings, both Scottish and non-Scottish.

National Library of Scotland

Music collections outside the University

The National Library of Scotland also holds important music collections.