Elder Music Library scores a winner

Donations made available to the Elder Music Library are helping transform the way lecturers and students access music scores for research and study.

The University of Adelaide is now the envy of music programs around Australia after buying full access to the exhaustive Alexander Street Music Online Classical Scores Library.

All four volumes have been acquired containing 51,000 titles and 1.3 million printable pages of the most important scores in classical music, ranging from the Middle Ages to the 21st century.

According to Elder Music Librarian, Denise Tobin, the July 2016 purchase is delivering significant advantages across the University’s music program.

“In the old days – which was only last year – lecturers had to prearrange to come into the library to pick up multiple copies of scores,” says Denise.

“Now they can do it digitally from anywhere, anytime and on any device, even if they are in a lecture hall. They can also highlight sections and annotate versions online and create playlists that are easily accessible by the class. This was impossible before.

Investment in the online scores library follows the University’s Library of the Future plan to take advantage of emerging technologies.

The one-off purchase cost more than $70,000 and was made possible through the generosity of donations to the University through the 2016 Barr Smith Library Appeal. There is also an annual subscription of nearly $1,000.

“In the long run, there will be considerable cost savings because we no longer need multiple copies and we can access scores that you would normally have to pay quite a lot for,” says Denise.

When asked how the Online Library has been embraced, Denise says “the Classical Scores Library is already proving enormously beneficial for staff and students of the Elder Conservatorium of Music and the wider University.

They appreciate the flexibility and convenience offered by being able to access good quality editions of scores for research, learning and teaching at any time of the day or night, from anywhere in the world.”

You can make a gift  to support the Community Outreach Dental Program.