Library Facilities

Your first port of call will usually be the Arts and Social Studies Library which houses the main collection of books, scores, periodicals, collected editions and reference materials. Basic reference tools, such as the New Grove Dictionaries, the RILM and RISM catalogues and the Music Index, as well as more general reference books such as the OED and the Directory of British Theses, can all be found here. If you cannot find what you want, then ask a member of the library staff. Staff will also be able to help you with CD-ROM catalogues and on-line searches and materials (e.g. New Grove Online, RILM, online periodicals). For further information, look at the Library's home page at www.bris.ac.uk/is. The Department's library representative is Pauline Fairclough: if you have suggestions for materials the Arts Library should be acquiring, please contact Pauline.

For extensive help on navigating our library resources, both hard copy and electronic, please see the Information Services' subject page: http://www.bris.ac.uk/is/library/subjects/music/

Metalib: your resource gateway for access to ejournals, databases, and other electronic resources.

You will need to login to Metalib using your UoB username and password to gain access to the full range of resources. If your computer is connected to the University network you will not normally need any additional passwords. But if you are working from home or some other off-site location please read the information on the following site: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/is/library/electronicjournals/ejhelppa.html

It is inevitable that all the materials you need for your research will not be available in the Arts Library. The library staff will be able to help you arrange Inter-Library Loans (this can also be done on-line) and organise the borrowing of materials such as manuscripts and dissertations on microfilm (there is a microfilm reader in the Department's Study & Resource Centre). Unfortunately, the library has to make a charge for these services, but vouchers are available from Margaret, so you shouldn't be out of pocket.

The library's current subscriptions to music periodicals includes a large number of new subscriptions that came into operation from January 2003. The City of Bristol Library on College Green (next to the Cathedral) also subscribes to a number of music journals (including Tempo and - surprisingly - has a full set of Die Reihe in English), and has a fairly healthy collection of books, scores and recordings which can be borrowed. If, however, you need to browse through periodicals in search of articles, you may have to travel further afield: one of the best and easily-accessible collections is at the Westminster Music Library at 160 Buckingham Palace Road, London SWlW 9UD, next to Victoria Coach Station. You can also, if necessary, arrange reader's rights at other university libraries (e.g. Cardiff, London, Oxford) - speak to your adviser about this. If you need to look at contemporary scores, then the British Music Information Centre in Stratford Place, London, is an extremely useful resource (search the online catalogue at www.bmic.co.uk) and, for recordings, try the British Sound Archive. Postgraduate students are entitled to apply for a reader's ticket to the British Library. You will need to obtain an application form and get a reference from your adviser (check details online at www.bl.uk).

The Department's Study & Resource Centre houses a useful but limited collection of scores and a few basic reference books, as well as records and CDs. Do check the catalogue as not everything is on open shelves. Please make any suggestions for acquisitions to Ruth Hill.

Faculty of Arts Graduate Centre

The Centre offers a good working environment and a pleasant social centre for Arts graduate students. It occupies a Victorian house in the midst of the Arts Faculty complex. Access is restricted to graduates in the Faculty of Arts. More information about the Arts Graduate Centre is available.