Library Services
Reference Assistance
The Music Library staff are available to answer reference questions and to assist with faculty and student research. In-person reference assistance is available at the library's service desk, and questions can also be answered over the phone, by e-mail, or online via the library's "Ask Us" reference service. You can also schedule a consultation for in-depth research questions. Contact the Education and Outreach Librarian to set up an appointment.
Access and borrowing policies
This page provides important information on a number of library policies, including access and borrowing privileges, loan periods, renewing and recalling library materials, billing, user responsibilities, conduct, computer usage, food and drink, and collection development policies.
Online tools
Renewing items online
Users can request a renewal (an extension of the loan period) of items on their account by clicking on “Account login” in ACORN. Please note that items that have reached their renewal limit or have been recalled by other users are not eligible for renewal. Items that have reached their online renewal limit may be renewed at the library's Service desk.
If you have are having trouble logging in or do not have a VUnet ID, assistance is available by calling (615) 322-7695.
Interlibrary Loan (ILL)
Vanderbilt faculty, staff and currently enrolled students (including their spouses and domestic partners) can request materials through Interlibrary Loan. Interlibrary Loan is a service through which library materials not owned by Vanderbilt can be borrowed from other libraries across the globe. Many library catalogs and databases, including WorldCat, a combined catalog of many of the world’s libraries, provide an Interlibrary Loan request feature.
Request an Item for Purchase
Users can request that the Music library purchase materials for the collection through a Purchase Request Form. Library staff will evaluate requests and contact the requestor if the item falls outside the scope of the Music Library’s collection guidelines (see the library’s Collection Development Policy) or if the item is currently unavailable. Acquisition of requested materials generally takes 2-6 weeks. Users with urgent requests should also make an interlibrary loan request for the needed item.
Scheduling the Seminar Room
The Music Library’s seminar room may be reserved by Vanderbilt students and Blair faculty for study sessions, group viewing/listening sessions, or meetings. The room is equipped with a flat-screen HDTV, a combination DVD/CD/VCR/Blu-ray player, a cassette deck, laser disc player, and a digital projector. It seats 8-10 people.
Reservations for the room should be made at least one day prior to when it is needed. Reservation requests are processed Monday through Friday; requests submitted on the weekend will be processed on Monday morning. To avoid any delay in the reservation process, please fill out the request form in its entirety. When the room is not in use, it is available on a first-come, first serve basis. Semester-long Blair courses are not scheduled in this room unless the request is made by the Executive Secretary to the Dean of the Blair School of Music.
To reserve this room, please make a request through our calendar reservation system. Use the calendar to select your desired date, and place a check in the boxes next to your desired times. Click "Continue," and fill out the following table. A library staff person will confirm your reservation as soon as possible.
Technology Resources
Hardware and Software
The Wilson Music Library has a broad range of hardware and software available for use by library patrons, including viewing and listening stations, copiers, printers, etc. A comprehensive list of these resources and information on accessing them can be found through the Heard Library website here.
Wireless Access
Vanderbilt faculty, students, and staff can configure their laptops for wireless access with the use of their VU Net IDs and passwords. See the Information Technology Services webpage for configuration information. Visitors not affiliated with Vanderbilt do not have access to our wireless network.
To gain access to the wireless network, you will need to obtain the appropriate SSID. Browse to Information Technology Service's SSID page for instructions on configuring your laptop to use the SSID. You will be prompted for your VUNet ID when you attempt to connect to this page. You will also need to register your agreement with a statement of computer privileges and responsibilities before accessing the configuration instructions.
Note to users: Although wireless access is supposedly found throughout the library, coverage can be spotty.
Wired access
Not counting the network ports in use at the public workstations, there are a total of 23 public access network ports located throughout the library, and marked with pink dots. They are found at the following locations:
- Study carrels near the scores (10)
- Study tables near the scores (4)
- Study tables near the stacks (3)
- Reading area adjacent to the current periodicals (4)
- Seminar room (2)
Users with properly configured laptops and connection cables should be able to access the network. Help with configuring your laptop can be found through the Information Technology Services (ITS) Help Desk.
Laptops
The Music Library has two Dell laptops available for check-out to students and faculty. See Policies and FAQs for Circulating Laptops for more information. These laptops contain Microsoft Office Standard (Word, Excel, Access, Powerpoint, etc.).
Printing through VUprint
The Vanderbilt University Libraries offer printing from public workstations for a nominal fee. Students, faculty, and staff pay five cents per page when paying with Commodore Cash. Visitors can purchase disposible printing cards at the reference desk in values of $1, $2, or $5. For complete information on VUprint, see the VUprint Information Page.
Faculty Tools
Faculty tools include Faculty Delivery Service, instructions for putting items on Course Reserve, and Student Library Instruction services. These are further explained here.