| From Aretha to Zeppelin, music library has something for everyone BY ADRIENNE FRANK
Photo by Jeff Watts |
With its state-of-the-art technology and extensive collection of tunes, the AU music library is attracting 50 people a day to its new space in the Katzen Arts Center. The library, located in room 150 of the Katzen, boasts cutting-edge technology, including CD burners, two new Macintosh computers, and five iPods, which can be loaned to students for listening assignments and class presentations. “We also have an electronic keyboard, which can be plugged into a computer, and when you play, the program will write the music,” explained James Heintze, assistant university librarian for collections services. “Years ago, that all had to be done by hand.” According to music library specialist Sterling Scroggins, on any given day, the library is bustling with activity. Students will use the Macintosh computers to access their listening assignments, either through iTunes or Blackboard, or check out one of the library’s 15,000 music scores and 3,500 CD titles. And some, he said, just wander in looking for a quiet place to study. AU’s music collection, which includes 28,000 LPs housed in Bender Library’s media services department, includes everything from national anthems from around the world to college fight songs from across the country. All recordings—Broadway musicals, jazz, rock, country, rap, classical, world music, and many more—can be downloaded online through the ALADIN catalog. “A student can be in Katzen and not have to walk all the way to [Bender Library], because they can access everything on ALADIN,” said Heintze. And the collection isn’t aimed at music majors, alone. “The staff in the music library continues to look for new ways to provide services across a broad range of the arts and humanities,” Heintze said. “We can provide sound services for a history class, for example, by putting famous speeches on an iPod. We’re always looking for ways to work with the entire university community.” |
