The Library offers access to extensive online and physical music resources, a varied study environment and a range of tailored support to help in the conservatoire's mission in developing industry-relevant, creative and ambitious musicians, performers and entrepreneurs.
Current students and staff can find further information on our SPACE page.
Opening Hours
We will be closed for the Christmas break from 4pm Friday 20th December 2024 until 9am Monday 6th January 2025.
We will be operating term-time opening hours from 6th January to 11th April 2025.
Term time:
Monday to Friday: 9.00am to 7.00pm*
* Monday to Thursday 7.00pm - 10.00pm , Friday 5.00pm - 10.00pm, study space and book returns only.
Saturday and Sunday: 11.00am to 4.00pm.
Vacation time:
Monday Friday: 10:30pm to 4:00pm;
Closed at weekends and bank holidays.
Please note that there will be no study space available for individual external members during examination weeks as follows:
Limited admittance dates:
- 6th - 26th January 2025.
- 1st May - 15th June 2025.
Contact Us
Leeds Conservatoire Library
The Skyline
St Peters Street
Leeds LS9 8BL
0113 222 3458
library@leedsconservatoire.ac.uk
Resources
Our extensive library collection gives you access to:
- Around 8000 books in print format and electronic format *
- 28,000 items of printed music for individual and group performance
- 8,000 CDs, 600 DVDs & 5,000 LPs
- Over 80 scholarly Journal subscriptions in electronic and print format, including a huge range of digitised journal articles in the arts and humanities on JSTOR *
- Access to music streaming sites such as Naxos Music Library, Alexander Street Press and I Like Music For Education - Multi-Genre Streaming Site *
- Access to online reference material from databases such as JSTOR, Oxford Music Online and IPA Source *
- Study areas
- Group study pods
- PCs *
- Catalogue tablets
- Copying and scanning *
- Turntables and CD players
- Stationery shop and binding service *
* Some services are only available to current staff and students.
External Membership
Individuals may become external members of the library. If you wish to join you will need to fill in an online form, when we have processed that we will ask you to e-mail a photograph. When you first come to use the library you will need to bring the relevant identification, depending on your type of membership and payment, if required. There may be a cost for membership, depending on the type of member you are and whether you wish to borrow from the library or not. The table below gives further details.
Please be aware that external members cannot use the library PCs or access electronic resources. SCONUL members can use Eduroam to access the internet, public members will not have wi-fi access.
Membership only gives access to the library, not other areas of Leeds Conservatoire.
Membership types and costs.
Please be aware that external members cannot use the library PCs or access electronic resources, SCONUL members can use Eduroam to get online if they bring their own device.
Membership only gives access to the library, not other areas of Leeds Conservatoire.
People interested in accessing the Jazz Archive should contact the library.
Member |
Reference |
Borrowing |
Alumni | Free | £30 |
SCONUL users | Free | Free if entitled |
Music students:
|
Free | £30 |
Members of the public | £15 | £90 |
Borrowing members are entitled to 10 loan items at any one time, comprising a maximum of 5 books, 5 scores or 10 CDs. External members cannot borrow large ensemble sets, core text items or dvds.
To borrow items, please take them to the library counter. The staff there can also help with any queries you may have.
Items are loaned for: 1 week (CDs); 2 weeks (Books) and 4 weeks (scores).
To renew items you can contact library staff in person at the library counter or by e-mail or phone using the contact details at the top of the page.
Late returns will incur fines of 20p per day or £1 per day if reserved by conservatoire staff or students.
If items become 3 weeks overdue, borrowers will be invoiced for the full replacement cost of the item(s) plus a £5 admin charge. Their remaining membership may be forfeited and they may not be allowed to rejoin.
Library users found in breach of library etiquette, given below, will be asked to leave and repeat offenders may have their membership cancelled.
If you lose your membership card, a replacement will cost £5.
General Principles of Library Use:
Borrowing
- Only items that have formally been issued to a user may be removed from the library
- Only the types of materials listed above can be borrowed. Library staff may at any time withhold from general circulation material that is required by staff or students for a particular assignment
- The library user is responsible for a borrowed item as long as it remains on their record. If a library card is lost or stolen, the user will remain responsible for items issued using it until the library has been informed of the loss
- Current loan terms are advertised appropriately, and the date items are initially due back will be stamped on each item borrowed
- Items can be renewed for a maximum of six weeks, but must then be returned to the library
- Borrowed items may not be taken out of the United Kingdom except with permission from the library manger
Returning
- All items borrowed must be returned to a member of staff at the library counter
- If there is a problem with returning an item, users are advised to contact library staff as soon as possible, so a resolution may be found
Small ensembles
- A set of parts is considered to be one item
- The borrower is expected to check music for ensembles for completeness before issuing, and sets will not be accepted for return unless all parts are present
- If any part is missing on return an invoice for the replacement of the whole set may be raised against the borrower
Library etiquette
- Users must leave the library 15 minutes before closing time, when asked to do so by a member of library staff or security
- Mobile phones must be switched to silent when entering the library, and phone calls must not be made or answered
- Eating or drinking is permitted in the library, but the items consumed must be appropriate to a library environment. Inappropriate items include hot food, alcohol or excessively smelly food. In case of doubt, the judgement rests with the member of library staff on duty. Library users are expected to clean up any rubbish, crumbs or spills when finished
- All users are expected to respect and maintain the quite working atmosphere of the library. Anyone making excessive noise will be asked to cease, and if they consistently fail to comply will be asked to leave
- All users are expected to treat all library staff and library users fairly and respectfully
SCONUL Access Scheme
If you are a member of another participating institution you can use our library through the SCONUL scheme, more information is available on the SCONUL website.
To join the scheme you will need to apply to your home institution, via the SCONUL application page. Once your membership is confirmed, you can apply to become an external member at the conservatoire by filling in an online form. You will be e-mailed once your membership has been set up and asked to supply a photo, then you can bring your approval e-mail and home institution library card to our library counter to finalise your membership.
External Ensembles
External ensembles may register to borrow the library’s orchestral and/or choral scores. There is a joining fee of £15 then charges for borrowing items as follows:
- Large orchestral sets: £30
- Small orchestral sets: £15
- Wind band sets: £15
- Choral sets – up to 30 copies: £30
- Choral sets – 31 or more copies: £50
- Short work choral sets: £15
- Big bands using the manuscript score collection may apply for prices
Sets are loaned for up to 4 months at a time.
If an ensemble is not able to collect the set in person, postage will be charged based on Parcelforce courier charges.
Ensembles run by Leeds Conservatoire staff outside the conservatoire are entitled to a 50% discount on loans and do not have to pay a set up fee. A separate ensemble library account must be set up to issue sets to and borrowers must abide by the rules for external members.
Please contact Rebecca Woods, Ensembles and External Relationships Librarian if you are interested in registering.
Jazz Archive
The library has an extensive Jazz Archive which is open to interested members of the public by appointment.
It contains materials from Ted Heath, Max Abrams and others.
Discover the Jazz Archive