Welcome (back)!

Author
Tim Neufeldt, Acting Head Librarian

Welcome (back) from the Music Library! For those of you new to U of T, an especial welcome! We look forward to meeting you and helping you along in your academic journey. The Music Library is the largest music research library in Canada and part of the top four academic library systems in North America. Whatever you’re studying and whatever resources you’re looking for, we’ll find a way to help you.

I hope you’re as excited as we are for the new academic year. We’ve spent the summer preparing for your return and have done some serious reorganizing and cleaning. All of the shelves on our upper level are rearranged and all of the books are now on the one floor. The scores and shelves on the lower level have also been re-arranged and cleaned up. You’ll find the aisles easier to access, lighting improved, and more space on the shelves, all of which makes finding library materials easier than ever! If that’s not enough to make our space more welcoming, in the coming year we’ll also be doing a small renovation to our front of house to make the space even more accessible and inviting.

Before and after photographs of the Music Library stacks.
Before (left) and after (right) the Music Library shifting project.

For those of you who are new (or for those wanting a refresher), here is a list of 8 things you need to know that will help you in your studies while at U of T. 

  1. Music Library hours: Monday-Thursday, 8:30-7; Fridays 8:30-6 (closed weekends). 
  2. We have plenty of study tables, comfy chairs, and a bookable study room. Graduate students can also book a study carrel for the year.
  3. There are many ways to get help using the library. You can drop in and ask for help at the service desk, book an appointment with one of our research specialists, contact one of us directly from the “Our People” page, or use the AskChat instant messaging services for immediate help anywhere you are (not music specific). 
  4. Beyond books, scores, journals, and recordings, we have a variety of specialized equipment available for loan to music students, including video cameras, tripods, recording gear, and lighting. Check out our Equipment loans page.
  5. All of our books, scores, journals, and recordings are findable using LibrarySearch. Once you’ve found something of interest, you can “request” something and library staff will send you an email once it’s ready for pick up from our service desk. 
  6. Digital copies of journal articles not already online can now be requested using the scan and deliver feature in LibrarySearch
  7. We have copiers/printers/scanners available to use when we’re open. Scanning is free (though bring or borrow a USB memory stick from us for this). Printing and copying is $0.15 / page (black and white/greyscale only). 
  8. Follow us on Instagram (@uoftmusiclib) for regular updates, library news, and more! 

We look forward to seeing you! 

Blog category