Barbican Centre, London EC2Y 8DS
Blue ray discs
Barbican library is now offering blue ray discs for loan!
Blu ray discs at Barbican
Library (597kb)
Friends of Barbican Libary
Interested in playing an active part in the Barbican Library
service. Why not
join the Friends of Barbican
Library (17kb)
Starting out on the Internet
Free and friendly sessions at the Library to help you get
started. For further details contact the Library
Introductory tours
Please contact Barbican library for information on the next
library introductory tour.
Reading groups
Barbican Library has two reading groups which meet the first
Thursday of each month for an hour; lunchtimes at 12.30pm
and evenings at 6.00pm. A third group meets the second Tuesday
of each month at 6.00pm. New members are always welcome to join,
please contact the Library in advance to confirm the date of the
next meeting.
Improve your basic skills
This is a free service to help improve reading, writing,
spelling and other basic skills. Please contact Barbican Library on
020 7638 0569 for further information.
Barbican Music Library
The Music Library is at the foot of a staircase within the
General Library which is situated on Level 2 (the Library Floor) of
the Barbican Centre.
Barbican Music Library Song
Index
Search an index of over 62,000 entries to find printed music for
all types of songs.
Sound recordings
The Barbican Music Library has one of the largest recorded music
collections in London available to the public. The recordings, on
compact disc, cover most types of music including pop, jazz and
blues, folk, film, musicals, country and western as well as a
comprehensive range of classical music.
The Music Library is a member of the Greater London Audio
Specialisation Scheme (GLASS) which means that if audio recordings
are not held by the Library, it may be possible to obtain them from
another member. Talking books, language courses and other spoken
word cassettes and compact discs are located in the General
Library.
Eight listening booths are provided.
The Library also houses Music Preserved - a growing collection of audio
recordings of recent live performances from venues such as the
Royal Opera House, the South Bank and the Barbican Hall, plus
historic performances, many of which are unique. These recordings,
which are not available commercially, can only be listened to in
the Library. There is also a small collection of music videos in
the Music Preserved archive.
Music scores
Scores of all kinds of music are available in the Library:
popular music 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.
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
An electric piano is available free of charge for practice
purposes.