The Music Library is on the lower floor within the General
Library which is situated on Level 2 (the Library Floor) of the
Barbican Centre and can be accessed by stairs or a lift.
Song Index
Search an index of over 62,000 entries to find printed music for
all types of songs.
Barbican
Music Library Song Index
Music Library Online
Discover the music resources that are available to Library
members from home or on mobile devices.
Music Library online
Sound recordings
The Barbican Music Library has one of the largest recorded music
collections in London available to the public. Over 14,000 CDs
cover most types of music including pop, jazz and blues, world
music, film, musicals, country and western as well as a
comprehensive range of classical music.
Eight listening booths are provided where recordings from the
lending collection can be listened to free of charge. New
releases can be heard on a 10-disc listening post in the
Library.
Talking books, language courses and other spoken word cassettes and
compact discs are located in the General Library.
Music scores
Scores of all kinds of music are available in the Library:
popular music/jazz songbooks as well as operas, musicals, oratorios
and other choral music, instrumental tutors, solo and chamber music
and a large collection of study and full scores.
Sets of vocal scores and orchestral parts are not held but can
be obtained from other libraries for groups which meet in the City
of London.
Guidelines on borrowing performance materials (54kb)
Books and periodicals
The Music Library has an extensive collection of books about
music and musicians both for lending and for reference.
Over 70 periodicals are taken covering different aspects of
music and recording. Back issues of most of these, plus other
titles which have ceased publication (some extending back into the
last century) are held. The Library also has a large collection of
periodicals produced by societies, mostly in the United Kingdom,
which specialise in a particular composer or conductor.
Other facilities
Two electric pianos are available free of charge for practice
purposes.