Music and Performing Arts
Borrow music scores and sets
We have a large collection of orchestral sets and vocal scores for orchestras and choirs to borrow for a small charge. We need 3 months minimum and 6 months maximum notice period to manage requests.
How to borrow music scores and sets
Use the online request form to reserve orchestral, choral, chamber and part song sets.
Charges and how to pay
When you make your request online you can also select to pay using a credit or debit card
The total charge for the items you have requested will be added to your library account at the point we process your reservation.
You can pay
- Online using a credit or debit card
- At all libraries: by cash or cheque
- Larger libraries can accept cash, cheque, credit or debit card payment.
Hire charges
The total charge for the items you have requested will be added to your library account at the point we process your reservation.
You can pay:
- At any library: by cash or cheque
- At larger libraries you can pay by cash, cheque, credit and debit card.
Off shelf is a new charge for customers who come into Gloucester Library and select for themselves from the shelf. This has previously been free but the processing of music sets is labour intensive as staff are required to check that all copies are complete and that any marks on the scores have been removed. It also reflects the high cost of buying music sets. The charge is half the cost customers who reserve a music set pay.
Music
Chamber Music set
- £10 for up to a 3 month hire (reserved)
- £5 for up to a 3 month hire (off shelf)
Part Song set (up to 40 copies)
- £10 for up to a 6 month hire (reserved)
- £5 for up to a 6 month hire (off shelf)
Orchestral sets from Gloucestershire collection
- £15 for up to a 6 month hire for performances within Gloucestershire
- £7.50 for up to a 6 month hire (off shelf) for performances within Gloucestershire
- £25 for up to a 6 month hire for performances outside Gloucestershire
- £12.50 for up to a 6 month hire (off shelf) for performances outside Gloucestershire
Choral Music from Gloucestershire collection
- £15 for up to a 6 month hire for up to 40 copies for performances within Gloucestershire
- £7.50 for up to a 6 month hire (off shelf) for up to 40 copies for performances within Gloucestershire
- £25 for up to a 6 month hire for up to 40 copies for performances outside Gloucestershire
- £12.50 for up to a 6 month hire (off shelf) for up to 40 copies for performances outside Gloucestershire
Orchestral sets from Inter-Library Loan (ILL)
- £20 for up to a 6 month hire for performances within Gloucestershire
- £30 for up to a 6 month hire for performances outside Gloucestershire
- Not available for performances out of the country
Choral Music from Inter-Library Loan (ILL)
- £25 for up to 40 copies for up to a 6 month hire for up to 40 copies for performances within Gloucestershire
- £45 for up to 40 copies for up to a 6 month hire for up to 40 copies for performances outside Gloucestershire
- Not available for performance out of the country
Cancellation of Music (ILL)
If the requested music has been sourced by library staff there will be no refund.Lost parts
Lost part from a music score or set
- £15 charge plus item must be replaced with an identical edition and binding
- If you are unable to supply a suitable replacement copy an additional charge of £5 will be incurred
Delivery
Packing and delivery of bulk music sets for collection
- Free when collecting from Gloucester Library
- £5 when collecting from another library in the county
How to order items
Find the music you want
- Search our online catalogue
- Contact the Music Sets department at Gloucester Library - see opening times below
Contact Gloucester Library to speak to Music staff
Please contact us on 01452 426983 or alternatively via email at gloucester.music@gloucestershire.gov.uk
The Music Sets room will be staffed Monday to Friday: 9am-1pm
Customers please note: We are no longer able to offer customers visits outside these hours
Collecting items
You can collect your items in person at Gloucester Library, Brunswick Road, Gloucester. If you prefer, you can request your items be delivered to your local library when you place your order. There will be an additional charge for this.
Please note: Music Sets must be returned to the same library that they are borrowed from.
Community Libraries cannot be used for the Music Sets service.
How long can you borrow items?
Up to 6 months
How quickly will your request be acted on?
We will start the process within 1 working day. The length of time will depend on how straight-forward it is to identify and order your sets. We will contact you if we have any queries regarding your request.
Once we have processed your request we will:
- confirm that we can supply for your required dates
- update library staff at the library you have chosen to collect from
Will we always be able to supply?
We find that in most cases we can supply the items you request. There may be times when it is not possible to supply the number of copies required, or a specific edition. In these cases we will contact you and credit the charges back to your library account.
Who do I contact if I want to cancel my reservation?
Please contact Gloucester Library music service: gloucester.music@gloucestershire.gov.uk or telephone 01452 426983.
If the requested music has been sourced by library staff there will be no refund.
If the requested music has not been sourced by library staff any charges paid will be credited to your membership card.
What if a member of my music group/society loses a part of a set or score?
You will have to pay a penalty charge if a set is returned incomplete.
Lost items must be replaced with an identical edition and bound as appropriate, and we apply a £15 automatic charge for missing parts. The set/ scores will not be discharged from your library record until a replacement has been supplied, and the charge paid for.
We will try to be as accommodating as we can for you during this period. If there are no other reservations on the sets, we may be able to offer an extension on the loan so you can track down the missing parts. Please contact us Gloucester Library music service:
gloucester.music@gloucestershire.gov.uk or telephone 01452 426983.
Music scores for sale
Please see list of music scores for sale.
Prices between £2-£5, as listed.
Please phone the Music Department on 01452 426983 or email on Gloucester.music@gloucestershire.gov.uk to purchase any music.
The sales list will be updated regularly but please note sales are continuous and items listed may not be available if recently sold.
Once agreed, the scores will be available for them to collect from Gloucester Library for 2 weeks.
Play sets
Borrow Play Sets
We have over 1000 play sets in stock for you to borrow or reserve.
The play set collection is located at Gloucester Library and most are available to browse on the open shelves:
- either visit Gloucester library to borrow a play set where the loan is free, or
- reserve and collect from a library of your choice, £8 charge for a 3 month loan.
Reserving a play set
- For Gloucester Library: telephone 01452 426973 during opening hours, or email gloucester.library@gloucestershire.gov.uk
- Visit and reserve at your local library.
How long can you borrow items?
- 3 months, no renewals
Check the catalogue for play sets
Play sets are divided into these categories and codes:
- Full length plays: FL
- Short plays: S
- Plays for women: W
- Plays for young people: Y
- Pantomime and Christmas Panto
Search the catalogueOpens new window by classmark 822 followed by one of the above codes.