About Our Libraries
Please click on a link below to learn more about the Libraries at New England Conservatory.
| Harriet M. Spaulding Library | Idabelle Firestone Audio Library |
| Performance Library | Museum Passes |
| Circulation Policies | Hours |
| Facilities | Staff List and Contact Information |
| Floor Directory and Facilities |
Harriet M. Spaulding Library contains 85,000 volumes of music and books and subscribes to over 290 journals, newsletters and newspapers. The library's special collections include early printed editions from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, as well as manuscripts and first editions of works by composers of the "Boston School." All of the Spaulding Library's holdings are searchable in the online catalog system. They are cataloged using Library of Congress Classification.
Spaulding Library, at 33 Gainsborough Street, is housed in the Conservatory's Residence Hall, at the corner of Huntington Ave. and Gainsborough St. Enter through the main door on Gainsborough St., and the library entrance is to the left of the dormitory lobby. Please show a valid school I.D. and sign in at the front desk of the library.
Idabelle Firestone Audio Library contains over 60,000 recordings on LP, compact disc, audio tape, videotape, and DVD. Special collections include all NEC concerts and faculty recitals since 1969 to the present. Currently, 80% of Firestone Library's holdings are searchable in the online catalog system. If you do not find what you need in the computer catalog, please consult the card catalog where older materials can be located.
Firestone Library, at 290 Huntington Avenue, is located in the main Conservatory building, on the other corner of Huntington Ave. and Gainsborough St. Enter through the Jordan Hall door and sign in with the guard. Take a right at the guards' desk, walk past the statue of Beethoven, and continue this hallway until you get to Brown Recital Hall. Take stairway downstairs and Firestone Library will be on your left.
The Performance Library provides scores and parts for all of the Conservatory's orchestral and choral ensembles. These collections include over 10,000 titles. The Performance Library also owns original manuscript parts for orchestral music by New England composers including Amy Beach, George Whitefield Chadwick, Frederick Converse, and others.
To reach the Performance Library, follow the directions to Firestone Library, but when you take the stairway downstairs from Brown Recital Hall, take a right. The Performance Library will be past the lockers at the end of the hallway.
Circulation Policies
Spaulding Library
With a current validated NEC or Fenway Library Consortium ID, most books and scores may be checked out for four (4) weeks. Some items are considered to be research materials and circulate for one (1) week, and only to NEC Faculty, and Graduate & Doctoral students.
Chamber music ensembles that are coached by a faculty member may check out music for the entire semester by filling out a Chamber Music form. These are available at the Circulation Desk.
Reference books, periodicals, microforms, and items labeled "Stacks - Does Not Circulate," Archives," or "Vault" do not circulate.
Overdue Materials: Borrowers are expected to show consideration for their colleagues by returning items on time. If an item is long overdue, it is assumed to be lost and a bill will be sent for the replacement cost, processing fee, and overdue fines.
Hold Requests: To place a hold on items in circulation, patrons use "My Account" in the online catalog. When an item is returned it will be held for ten days and the requester will be notified. Hold Requests will not be accepted for items on class reserve.
Class Reserve: Materials placed on Class Reserve by faculty are held at the Circulation Desk unless otherwise indicated. All items are listed in the Reserve Notebook by faculty member's name and course number. The Reserve Notebook is held at the Circulation Desk. Reserve items may also be searched in our online catalog by faculty member's name or course number. Select "Course Reserve."
Alumni Library Privileges: Alumni may access collections at both Spaulding and Firestone Libraries. Degree-holding alumni may take advantage of borrowing privileges at Spaulding by visiting the library’s circulation desk. Please see Alumni pages for more information.
Firestone Library
Materials in Firestone may only be used inside the library. A valid NEC ID must be presented at the call desk until all materials are returned. A limited circulation privilege is available to faculty and permanent staff members.
Performance Library
All materials in the Performance Library are non-circulating and are intended solely for Conservatory orchestral and choral performance ensembles.
Museum Passes
NEC students gain admission to the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) simply by showing a current student ID. Free MFA admission passes for faculty and staff are available at the Spaulding Library circulation desk. In addition, with student IDs and the library’s admission passes, $6 tickets for special exhibitions are available Monday through Friday, noon to closing, same day only, subject to availability.
The library also has admission passes for the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum for use by current NEC students, faculty and staff; please note that the Gardner Museum requires pass holders to pay a surcharge of $5.00 per person. All passes may be borrowed for 24 hours; they cannot be reserved in advance.
Facilities
There are photocopy machines located on the first and third levels of Spaulding Library and a microfilm/fiche reader/printer is also located on the first floor. Discount copycards can be purchased from a copycard dispenser on the first floor.
Firestone Library contains playback equipment for CD, LP, audio cassette, DAT, DVD, video cassette and open reel. Cassette-to-cassette duplicating is allowed for class assignments only! No other duplicating is permitted in the library.
Spaulding Floor Directory
| Basement: |
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| First Level: | Music Collection: M20-M2198 Oversize Scores (request at Circ. Desk) |
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| Second Level: | Book Collection: A-L & ML1 - ML410.P89 Oversize Books Periodicals Reference Collections |
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| Third Level: | Book Collection: ML410.P9 - Z999 Miniature Scores |
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| Balcony: | Research Collection: M1 - M19 |
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Library Staff, Telephone Extensions, & E-mail Addresses
Staff
Jean Morrow, Director of Libraries
(617) 585-1247
jmorrow@newenglandconservatory.edu
Spaulding Library
Library Circulation
circulation@newenglandconservatory.edu
Library Reference
reference@newenglandconservatory.edu
Richard Vallone, Head of Public Services
(617) 585-1251
rvallone@newenglandconservatory.edu
Maria Jane Loizou, Collection Management Librarian/Interlibrary Loan
(617) 585-1248
mjloizou@newenglandconservatory.edu
Damian Iseminger, Technical Services Librarian
(617) 585-1254
damian.iseminger@newenglandconservatory.edu
Maryalice Perrin-Mohr, Archivist/Records Manager
(617) 585-1252
mperrin-mohr@newenglandconservatory.edu
Sarah Rogevich, Technical Services Assistant
(617) 585-1253
sarah.rogevich@newenglandconservatory.edu
Laura Smolowitz, Bindery Supervisor
(617) 585-1249
lsmolowitz@newenglandconservatory.edu
Jason Coleman: Evening/Weekend Assistant
(617) 585-1100, x2251
jason.coleman@newenglandconservatory.edu
Firestone Audio Library
Patrick Maxfield, Head of Technical Services:
(617) 585-1256
patrick.maxfield@newenglandconservatory.edu
Wallace Corey-Dunbar, Coordinator of Firestone Library Services:
(617) 585-1255
wallace.corey-dunbar@newenglandconservatory.edu
Performance Library
Melissa Steinberg , Librarian
(617) 585-1258
melissa.steinberg@newenglandconservatory.edu
Other Telephone Numbers
NEC Main Switchboard: (617) 585-1100
Harriet M. Spaulding Library (books and scores)
General Information/Class Reserves: (617) 585-1250
Fax: (617) 585-1245
Idabelle Firestone Audio Library (audio and video recordings)
General Information/Class Reserves: (617) 585-1255
Performance Library (orchestra & choral parts)
General Information: (617) 585-1258
Spaulding and Firestone Library Hours*
Academic Year Hours:
Spaulding Library
Mondays through Thursdays: 8:30 A.M. - 10:30 P.M.
Fridays: 8:30 A.M. - 9:00 P.M.
Saturdays: 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.
Sundays: 1:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M.
Firestone Library
Mondays through Thursdays: 8:30 A.M. - 10:30 P.M.
Fridays: 8:30 A.M. - 6:00 P.M.
Saturdays: 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.
Sundays: 1:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M.
*For Library Hours during the summer, vacation periods, or holidays, please consult the Library's main page.
Hours for the Performance Library are available at the Performance Library website: www.newenglandconservatory.edu/performance_library/index.html