The Music Department has over 250,000 sheet music titles, as well as numerous collections of songs from different eras. We also have guides to finding songs in musical anthologies and collections.
Copyright forms for songwriters are available in the Music Department and in the Government Publications Department. Copyright Forms are also available online from the U.S. Copyright Office website.
Note: The U.S. Copyright Office forms must be printed on BOTH sides of a single sheet of paper to be accepted.
The Music Department has directories with addresses for record companies and labels, independent producers, recording artist management firms, and entertainment attorneys. In addition there are several online sources that offer information on record companies and labels.
The British Library Record Industry Website
The British Library Sound Archive Record Company Information Website
Open Directory Project: Record Labels
In addition to scores, recordings, and books, the Music Department of the Free Library of Philadelphia possesses the following collections:
Vertical File: More than 5000 files on musicians, organizations, orchestras, and various other aspects of music collected from newspapers since 1970, with special emphasis on Philadelphia. For use in the Library only.
Program File: An extensive collection of programs of musical and dance performances dating back to the early 20th century. For use in the Library only.
Libretti Collection: Our Libretti collection may be checked out for a period of 3 weeks.
There is a large collection of sound recordings in the Music Department, but they do not circulate. All Free Library of Philadelphia patrons may listen to recordings using the listening stations in the Department. Patrons are allowed one session per day for a length of one and a half hours.
Compact Discs and LP Records representing a wide variety of styles and artists are available for use in the Music Department of the Free Library. Special strengths lie in Classical, Jazz, and Folk Music. Our recordings do not circulate but can be listened to using the listening stations provided in the Music Department.
The Free Library Music Department owns several reference sources that republish Billboard album and singles charts by both year and genre. In addition to the materials located in the Music Department, there are also several useful online sources that provide a list of reviews and charts for currently released albums and singles.