Music Library Collection Development Policy

Summary/Description

The Music Library, a department of the University of North Texas Libraries established in 1941, collects and houses music-related items, including printed and manuscript music, sound recordings in all formats, as well as monographic and serial literature on music. In addition, the Music Library preserves, maintains, and provides access to rare and archival collections of various types of music materials. The Music Library is also responsible for selecting electronic resources related to music in several different formats. Additionally, the staff of the Music Library provides cataloging, reference and instruction, and circulation functions for all collections under the purview of the Music Library.

Purpose

The Music Library serves to support the instructional and research programs of the UNT College of Music by providing materials for students enrolled in the UNT College of Music, and by supporting faculty preparation for these programs. In addition, the Music Library supports, as is possible, faculty in professional research, and serves as a resource for the musical interests of the University of North Texas community and the musical community of the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex.

Selection Guidelines

Selection of materials is based primarily on the instructional and curricular needs of the students and faculty within the UNT College of Music, for artistic expression, performance, and scholarly study and research, in the following broad categories:

• Performing and pedagogical editions of music
• Critical and scholarly editions of music, including collected editions and monuments of music
• Scholarly literature on music
• Musical sound recordings and video recordings
• Electronic resources related to music

Historically, the focus of the collection has been on Western art music. This scope has changed as the College of Music curriculum has broadened to include musics of other cultures as well as popular and vernacular genres. Recent, expanded areas of interest include jazz, American music, world music, twentieth-century music, and early music.

Audience

The Music Library’s primary clientele is the UNT College of Music. With more than 1,600 undergraduate and graduate majors and nearly 100 full-time faculty, the UNT College of Music is a comprehensive college offering study at the bachelors, masters, and doctoral levels within the following divisions: Composition Studies; Conducting & Ensembles; Instrumental Studies; Jazz Studies; Keyboard Studies; Music Education; Music History, Theory, and Ethnomusicology; and Vocal Studies. Centers within the College include the Center for Contemporary Studies in Music Education; Center for Experimental Music and Intermedia; Center for Schenkerian Studies; Texas Center for Music and Medicine; Center for Chamber Music Studies; and The MoUNTain Music Institute.