Music

The Music and Drama Library holds a wide range of books on music of all types. These can be borrowed for up to three weeks. Resources include encyclopaedias, dictionaries, directories and periodicals.

Music CDs can be borrowed from the Music and Drama Library and the larger Community Libraries. Unless you are entitled to a concession, there is a weekly hire charge, payable in advance:

• All CDs, including box sets: £1 per week, then 25p per day, to a maximum of £6.50

Within the first six weeks of your membership of the library, the loan of a CD requires the purchase of a discount voucher. With a discount voucher, which costs £14 (£12 with a Plymcard), you will be entitled to borrow up to 40 items at up to 50% off the normal charge. After your initial six week membership period, you can choose to either purchase further discount vouchers or pay the normal charges.

We have a wide range of music CDs and some cassettes. Through an agreement with the British Phonographic Industry, music recordings are available from libraries three months after they have been released in the shops.

Local music groups, choirs and societies in Plymouth, Torbay and Devon can borrow music sets, including choral works, shows and librettos, Christmas carols, orchestral sets and partsongs. Loan periods cover rehearsal and performance. Charges are based on the number of copies loaned and the loan period:

Plymouth based groups:

• Vocal scores and libretti; 10 copies : £1.70 per month
• Vocal and orchestral sets; per box : £1.70 per month

Other groups:

• Vocal scores and libretti; 10 copies : £2.30 per month
• Vocal and orchestral; per box : £2.80 per month

Use our requests service to obtain books and music scores not in stock. We have access to a national database and other specialist catalogues, and are able to trace items for you.

All charges are inclusive of VAT where appropriate. Find out more about fees and charges. For further information, please email music@plymouth.gov.uk.