Use of the Music Library's Collections
A relatively small portion of the Music Library's collections - reference works, music periodicals and loanable music literature - are on view; sheet music, manuscripts, sound recordings and most of the music literature can be ordered for research purposes from the closed stacks using databases and other catalogues.
Sheet music publications are brought to the Fabiania service desk. Exceptions are sheet music items in fragile condition or items published during the 1800s; these are delivered to the Special Reading Room. Sheet music published from 1977 onwards has been catalogued in the Viola database. Sheet music items published during the period 1801-1976 can be found using the Music Library's card index.
Music manuscripts are viewed in the Special Reading Room; a music archives catalogue contains basic information related to composers' scores.
Copies of recordings are brought to the Music Library's listening rooms by special order. Information about music recordings can be found in the Viola database; voice recordings have been catalogued in the Fennica database.
The collections on display at the Music Library can be found in the Helka database; the National Collection's music literature and periodicals are found in the Fennica database.
Raita, the database for digitised recordings, contains information about recordings whose digitised copies can be heard at the Music Library. Users can also listen to copyright-free musical compositions online.
Further information: kk-musiikki(at)helsinki.fi
