Libraries

The Jerwood Library’s main collection focuses on supporting the needs of students, providing access to both standard and diverse repertoire, materials for contextual study, and resources to support teaching and learning. Our library catalogue, Jerwood Library Search, can be used to search the library collection for books, printed music and recordings, as well as online resources via the separate tab on the results page.

Alongside our main collection, the library also houses special collections and archives of international significance – including rare and unique items – all of which are available to study, and include material that can be used as the basis for a dissertation or thesis, or for researching unusual repertoire. Please see the Special Collections and Archives page for details.

Quick links (Trinity Laban login required)

• Use our online research tool QuickSearch to find online recordings and research.
• Check your library account and renew your items on Jerwood Library Search.
• Find further information about the library, including research guides on the Jerwood Library Information page on Moodle.
• To find out if the library holds a particular journal, check our Journal Finder tool.

If you are an external visitor or alum, you must contact the library in advance of visiting. See our FAQ below.

If you are a current student or staff member, you can visit the library to study, browse and borrow items during the opening hours below.

Library Opening Hours (term-time) 

Monday, 09:00 – 19:00 

Tuesday, 09:00 – 19:00 

Wednesday, 09:00 – 19:00 

Thursday, 09:00 – 19:00 

Friday, 09:00 – 17:00 

Saturday, 10:00 – 15:00 

Sundays and Bank Holidays, Closed

Easter opening hours:

Facilities

• • • Study spaces
    • PCs including several modified for users with visual impairment and/or dyslexia
    • All PCs have a suite of software including Microsoft Office, Sibelius, Auralia, and Musition
    • Self-service photocopying, printing and scanning
    • Training and assistance in using library resources and software

Location

The Jerwood Library is located on the second floor of the East Wing of King Charles Court (the Music Faculty building). For directions to King Charles Court please see the Visit Us section of the website.

Access

Step-free access is available throughout the East Wing. An induction loop for hearing aid wearers is available at the library desk. If you have other access needs, please contact the library for advice. 

I’m a Trinity Laban alum. What use of the library can I make?

Trinity Laban alumni are welcome to use the library on a reference-only basis. You can consult collection items in the library and can continue to access many of our online resources onsite. You will not be able to borrow items or access online resources from home.

You must give a minimum of 24 hours’ notice of visiting to both the library and receptions teams.

I’m a student or employee of another UK higher education institution. What use of the library can I make?

If your institution is a member of SCONUL Access you can use the library on a reference-only basis. If you are a part-time student, distance-learner, postgraduate student, or staff member, you will additionally be able to borrow a limited number of items. You can also access many of our online resources onsite. Register online for SCONUL Access in advance, then bring your institutional ID and a copy of your ‘SCONUL Access approved’ email when visiting us. You must make an appointment at least 24 hours in advance. Contact the Jerwood Library to make an appointment with reference to our current opening hours, noting that we can only receive SCONUL visitors on weekdays.

I’m a member of the public/external researcher. What use of the library can I make?

Members of the public, including researchers from institutions not covered by the SCONUL Access scheme, may use the library on a reference-only basis to consult the following materials:

• Items forming part of the library’s special collections and archives
• Items that are not held in any public library in London, including the British Library

You must make an appointment at least 24 hours in advance, providing details of the item(s) you wish to consult. If you are wishing to consult items from special collections or archives we ask that you contact us at least 3 working days in advance in order that the necessary items can be located and prepared for you. Contact the Jerwood Library to make an appointment with reference to our current opening hours, noting that we can only receive external visitors on weekdays.

May I borrow from the library? 

Unless you are a current student or staff member of Trinity Laban, or an eligible member of SCONUL Access (see above), you cannot borrow items from the Jerwood Library. However, if there is a specific item you wish to borrow, you may be able to do so through the Inter-Library Loan scheme. Please contact your local public or academic library for more information. 

As a visitor, can I access the library’s online subscriptions? 

Visitors can access our online resources within the library as long as our licence for the resource(s) in question permits ‘walk-in access’. You can download or print material up to the usual copyright limits, but please note that charges apply for printing. If you would like to access an online subscription, please request assistance from library staff who can log you in with a guest account. Visitors cannot access any of the library’s online subscriptions remotely i.e. from home or elsewhere. 

How can I find out what’s in stock at the library? 

Use Jerwood Library Search. Viewing the details of an item will confirm whether a copy is currently available. 

Where else can I go to borrow music materials? 

Your first port of call should be your local public library. You can usually obtain materials through your local public library and best results can be obtained by planning well ahead and giving the library plenty of notice of your requirement. Materials not in their stock can normally be obtained on inter-library loan for a small fee. 

We particularly recommend joining the Barbican (City of London) and Westminster public libraries if you are based in London. These have extensive music library collections (books, scores and CDs) and offer access to Naxos Music Library and other specialist music online resources. 

Most public libraries also offer access to online resources including Grove Music (Oxford Music Online), Encyclopaedia Britannica, Oxford Reference, Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford English Dictionary, online newspaper archives, and many other resources. 

If your public library is unable to obtain the materials you require, you could investigate getting a reader’s pass for the British Library, which is most likely to hold the scores and recordings you require but remember access to these collections is for reference only. Remember too that, aside from books, scores and manuscripts, the British Library also holds newspapers, journals and sound recordings. Check the British Library’s online catalogue to see what they have. 

Other academic, special, and national library catalogues can be checked via Library Hub Discover and many of these libraries also welcome researchers to use their collections on a reference only basis or may charge modest subscriptions to allow borrowing. 

We also recommend the following online resources: 

• Cecilia – a guide to music collections in archives, libraries and museums in the UK and Ireland.

• The National Archives

• IMSLP – a virtual library of public domain music. Double-check the UK copyright status of pieces before printing and using scores.

Please speak to library staff if you would like any further guidance on sourcing materials. 

Have a question which hasn’t been answered? 

If your question isn’t answered here or elsewhere on the website, please contact us with your enquiry.

Enquiries 

+44 (0)20 8305 3951 

jlpa@trinitylaban.ac.uk 

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The Jerwood Library welcomes your support in the form of Financial Donations and Bequests. 

We have in mind a variety of projects, large and small, which we are currently unable to realise, so your support is greatly appreciated. 

The Jerwood Library has limited capacity to accept donations of items. The library can generally only consider materials which support the music faculty’s teaching and research needs and fall within the scope of the library’s Collection Management Policy.

If you’d like to donate, please contact us here.