CollectionsWalter H. Rubsamen Music Library Collections

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Music Collections

The UCLA Library subscribes to almost every major online resource for music, including article databases, e-books and audio.

With approximately 80,000 books, 115,000 scores, over 100 journal subscriptions, more than 200,000 sound recordings as well as visual media and an exhaustive collection of facsimiles of music scores, the resources for music research support the study of music, musicology and ethnomusicology.

The Walter H. Rubsamen Music Library has recently shifted priorities towards materials related to underrepresented musicians and composers and local music-making communities.

Selected Collections

  • CDs in the Music Library
    Avalon
    Avalon houses streaming audio and video collections at UCLA.
  • Sheet music
    Contemporary Music Score Collection
    Includes digital, open access scores published by the Walter H. Rubsamen Music Library in eScholarship.
  • Donovan Meher Collection logo
    Donovan Meher Collection
    Documents rock music from approximately the 1980s to 2010.
  • We're Desperate : The L.A. Scene (1976-79) album cover
    Southern California Punk Collection
    Covers punk music of primarily L.A. and Orange counties ranging from the 1970s through today. Includes sound recordings, videos and books.
  • Hip hop group N.W.A.
    Los Angeles Hip-Hop Collection
    Chronicles the varied hip-hop scenes of Los Angeles county, from progenitors the Watts Prophets in the 1960s through to artists of today.
  • photograph of the cabinet with books in the Music Library reading room
    Music Library Reading Room Cabinet
    These cabinets contain our large collection of score facsimiles, as well as a few rare items, such as the multi-media Paramount Records box sets.
  • A collection of music albums and movie discs displayed on a table, including vinyl records, CDs, and Blu-ray cases with various cover art styles.
    Select Sounds
    A Music Library Community Collection of sound recordings selected by UCLA community members.
  • A collection of colorful K-pop albums and photobooks laid out on a light surface, including boxed albums, photocard sets, and booklets.
    K-Pop Collection
    Covers K-pop recordings with a focus on groups from or influential to Southern California.

Endowments

Endowments that help build the collections supporting student teaching and learning and faculty research include:

  • Professor Richard Hudson Endowment for Music (advanced research resources)
  • Joan S. and Ralph N. Goldwyn Endowed Jazz Collection (jazz performance and research materials)
  • The Hugo and Christine Davise Fund for Contemporary Music (collections and projects related to music after 1900)
  • Henry J. Bruman Endowed Collection Development Fund (Germanic cultural material)

If you would like to contribute, even in a small way, to the Music Library’s more than seventy-five years of service to the UCLA and Southern California music communities, visit Give to the UCLA Library.

Other Music Related Collections at UCLA

  • Magnetic media on table
    UCLA Ethnomusicology Archive

    A research archive dedicated to the study of musical traditions from around the globe, including more than 150,000 audio, video, print and photographic items.

  • Music of India Ensemble performing on stage
    Performing Arts Special Collections

    Performing Arts Special Collections has extensive rare and antiquarian books and scores as well as archives of individual musicians and musical organizations.

  • Music Research Guide

    Find online resources for music research available at UCLA, including articles, journals, audio, video, scores, sheet music and more.

  • LSC Music Resources

    Library Special Collections holds primary source materials in a variety of formats pertaining to music, composers, the music industry, musical theater and more.