Brown University community members and individuals with a University Library reader's or borrower's card are welcome to use Orwig Music Library for research and as a place to study. 

The Virginia Baldwin Orwig Music Library (“Orwig”) provides complete circulation services for its collections. Loan and fine policies are consistent with those of the University Library, except as noted on the Orwig Music Library Access & Use page. Materials to be borrowed should be brought to the circulation desk. Library employees can assist with locating material, retrieving material, and requesting items that are currently unavailable at Orwig from another source. Materials borrowed from Orwig may be returned to the Orwig, Rockefeller, or Sciences libraries.

Music books and scores shelved in the open stacks circulate outside the library. Reference materials and periodicals do not circulate outside the library.

Sound recordings and videos may be requested at the circulation desk. Users may borrow sound recordings upon presentation of a valid Brown ID.  Exceptions may apply for rare or fragile materials. Non-Brown users may use sound recordings and videos in the library after consultation with a staff member. Non-Brown users may not check out materials for use outside the library.

To ensure compliance with United States copyright regulations, the copying, including digitizing, of sound recordings is not permitted in Orwig Music Library; exceptions for the purpose of music criticism must receive the approval of the Performing Arts Librarian.

Media Circulation

Faculty

Brown University faculty members may check out media from the Orwig collections for one month.

Staff, Graduate Students, and Undergraduate Students

Non-faculty members of the Brown University community may borrow media for one week.

Alumni and Community Members

Alumni and members of the community who are not Brown affiliates may use Orwig media materials on-site with the permission of the Performing Arts Librarian.

The Orwig Music Library has a small computer cluster that includes four machines for use by students, faculty, and staff with a Brown login; one guest machine; and a black-and-white printer. The Brown-only machines include the music notation software Sibelius. The computers and printer are managed by Brown OIT.

To ensure compliance with United States copyright regulations, the copying, including digitizing, of sound recordings is not permitted in the Music Library; exceptions for the purpose of music criticism must receive the approval of the Performing Arts Librarian.

The Library does not permit the use of library computers or audiovisual equipment to copy commercially produced audio or video recordings of any format.

Required readings, scores, and listening assignments for course reserves are available online through Course Reserves and the media library in Canvas. Orwig maintains a small physical Course Reserves collection of materials and equipment needed for Music Department classes. Please visit the Orwig circulation desk for more information.

No food is allowed in the music library. Beverages must be in covered, spill-proof containers. Library staff reserve the right to ask users to refrain from beverage consumption that may pose a risk to library collections. 

There is playback equipment for 33⅓ rpm discs, cassette tapes, VHS tapes, DVDs (all regions), Blu-Ray discs, and CDs located in various parts of the library. Please ask at the circulation desk. If you need to play back a 78 or 45 rpm disc, please contact the Performing Arts Librarian for assistance.

There is a scanner-copier in the Orwig reference room. It has the capacity for black-and-white photocopying and color scanning. Scans are sent via email.

There is a room with a piano in the basement of Orwig for the purpose of score reading. It is available on a strictly first-come, first-served basis.

Brown graduate students writing a dissertation or thesis, Brown undergraduate students writing a thesis, and Brown faculty members may apply for the use of a study carrel in the Orwig Music Library. Carrels are located in the Upper Reading Room and the Lower Reading Room. To apply, please visit the Orwig circulation desk.