Oxford Music Library

We hold the largest collection of music books, printed and recorded music in the county. You can also find performance sets for choirs and orchestras, reference books, online resources and a selection of magazines.

The playsets collection, for use by play reading groups, is also located here.

Find out what is available by searching our online catalogue. 

We can help you with any music enquiry or you can contact Answers Direct, Oxfordshire Libraries’ countywide information service.

We also have information on local concerts and gigs, music societies, clubs and music tutors.

Services available

Lending books

A wide range of books covering most genres of music, including music criticism and biographies, as well as textbooks on music theory.

Printed music

A wide selection of study scores and performance scores from classical music of all periods to popular music of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Reference books

Music encyclopaedias, dictionaries and other sources are available to consult in the library.

Online services

Free public access to the Internet.

Oxfordshire Libraries also provides a free digital reference library in every library and to members at home 24 hours a day, including Grove Music Online. Other music resources include Searchmuze (available at Abingdon, Banbury, Henley, Witney and Oxford Central libraries) and music composing software Sibelius 4, at the Oxford Music library.

Music periodicals

A selection of leading music periodicals is available to read in the library. 

Performance sets

Our Music Performance Sets Service  lends sets of orchestral parts or multiple vocal sets to registered choirs, orchestras and other music making societies in Oxfordshire. Booking fees apply to this service; please contact us for further information.

Music CDs

A wide selection of CDs from classical, folk and rock to jazz and world music. (New releases are subject to a 3-month embargo period, imposed by the record industry.) Hire charges apply to these items. 

Music DVDs and videos

We have rock, pop, jazz and classical concerts, opera performances and documentaries on DVD. Although we no longer purchase videos, we maintain a collection of titles in this format. Ballets and ‘Movie’ musicals are available from the Central Lending Library. Hire charges apply to these items. 

Music societies and clubs

We hold details on music societies who have registered with the library service.

Music tutors

Our list of music tutors can help you to find local tutors for the instrument, age group and standard you require.