Reference Service for Performing Musicians:

Abstract

The provision of library service to performing musicians in a music conservatory involves both the management of collections consisting of materials in various formats (scores, books, sound recordings, videos, and archival materials) and working to understand the special needs and perspectives of our users. Performers often come to the library with immediate needs for materials that they can take to a practice or rehearsal room and play from. At the same time they are often unfamiliar with the books sources that provide background and contextual information on music, and are wary of using libraries or asking what they fear may be naive questions. The paths of inquiry most commonly pursued in music school or conservatory libraries can be generally divided into three areas: (1) access to collections through library catalogs and other sources that identify materials; (2) research using sources for the study of the music itself, such as critical editions, facsimiles of manuscripts, or reprints of first editions; and (3) research using sources for contextual and background research, including the entire universe of reference, monographic, and periodical literature. Perspectives and problems relating to inquiries by music students in each of these areas are described.