Music Librarianship

The job market is excellent for well-prepared music librarians. The best prepared individuals have two master's degrees: one in Music with a concentration in Music History or Music Theory and the other in Library and Information Studies. Thorough preparation also demands first-hand experience of both practical and theoretical matters in the real-world setting of a functioning music library.

About the Program

Founded in 1979, the program at the University at Buffalo provides such preparation. It is rigorous and requires a minimum of four semesters and three summer sessions for its completion; there are no academic shortcuts in the program. There is some flexibility, however, for students to enhance their qualifications through individually designed projects and studies.

The Department of Music and Department of Library and Information Studies provide students:

A wide variety of library and information science courses;
An outstanding music history program taught by a distinguished faculty;
A music complex that includes a 202,000-volume Music Library, with rich collections treating music bibliography, printing, history, and research methodology, and a special archive, "Collection of Source Materials Documenting the History of Music Librarianship in the U.S.";
A curriculum designed to provide experience in that academic Music Library, experience that includes both theoretical and practical work with acquisitions, cataloguing, classification, archives, physical processing, circulation and reference, budget preparation, personnel, library planning and historical research;
A lively cultural and academic community where intellectual curiosity, research, and hard work are expected, encouraged, and supported.

Admissions and Requirements

A student who is not a Graduate Assistant in the Music Library may be required to fulfill an internship in the Music Library.
Students will have joint advisement from the Music Department, the Department of Library and Information Studies, and the Program Coordinator.
Subject to advisement, students may be required to exceed the minimal standards to assure academic preparation. Normally such extended requirements will be taken from the recommended group below.
Financial assistance is available in the form of graduate assistantships offered by the Department of Music, the Department of Library and Information Studies, and the University Libraries. Interviews are required for graduate assistantships in the Music Library.

Course Work

MA in Music History
(32 credit hours required)

MUS 515, 517: Studies in Music History, 2 or 3 semesters
MUS 525-530: Music History Survey, 1 or 2 semesters
MUS 618: Music Bibliography (Required in the first semester of residence)
MUS 625 or 626: Notation
Music Theory Elective
Thesis/Bibliographic Project
Language requirement of the Music Department: reading proficiency in German.

Total: minimum of 28 credit hours plus Thesis/Bibliographic Project

Master of Library Science (MLS)
(36 credit hours required)
Required courses:

LIS 505: Introduction to Library and Information Studies
LIS 506: Introduction fo Information Technology
LIS 518: Reference Sources and Services
LIS 571: Organization and Control of Recorded Information
LIS 581: Management of Libraries and Information Agencies
LIS 588: Music Librarianship I
LIS 589: Music Librarianship II
LIS 526: Practicum to satisfy internship requirements of Music Librarianship Program
Recommended elective courses to complete program:
LIS 517: Information Sources and Services in the Humanities
LIS 563: Digital Libraries
LIS 566: Digital Information Retrieval
LIS 570: History of Libraries and Media
LIS 575: Introduction to Research Methods
LIS 583: Public Libraries or
LIS 584: Academic and Research Libraries

Total: 36 credit hours

Applying

For catalogs and application for the MA in Music History, please contact:

Karen Sausner
Director of Student Programs
University at Buffalo
Music Department
226 Baird Hall
Buffalo, NY 14260-4700
Tel: (716) 645-2758 x1249
Fax: (716) 645-6196
ksausner@buffalo.edu

For the admission/application packet for the MLS program, please contact:

Department of Library & Information Studies
University at Buffalo
534 Baldy Hall
Buffalo, NY 14260-1020
Telephone: (716) 645-2412
lis-information@buffalo.edu
Graduate School of Education

Office of Graduate Admissions & Student Services
Graduate School of Education
University at Buffalo
366 Baldy Hall
Buffalo, NY 14260
Tel: (716) 645-2110
Fax: (716) 645-7937
gse-info@buffalo.edu

For general information about the program or Music Librarianship as a career, please contact:

Nancy Nuzzo
Director, Music & Special Collections
University at Buffalo
Music Library
112 Baird Hall
Buffalo, NY 14260-4750
Tel: 716-645-2924
nuzzo@buffalo.edu