In addition to the facilities you would expect for undergraduate and postgraduate students, the library's historical collections make it a recognised centre for academic research.

The library has over 125,000 items, including significant collections of early printed and manuscript materials. Audio facilities include CD and DAT players and record/cassette decks, a video player and a substantial library of recordings. Students can apply for access to University of London libraries, and an inter-library loan scheme operated by the British Library gives access to still further resources.

The Library also houses a Sir Arthur Sullivan archive, a Sir Henry Wood archive and the Robert Spencer collection of early English song and music for lute and guitar. Among the Library's most valuable possessions are the manuscripts of Purcell's The Fairy Queen, Sullivan's The Mikado, Vaughan Williams' Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis and Serenade to Music, and the newly-discovered Handel Gloria.

In 2004 the Academy acquired Yehudi Menuhin's substantial archive with a generous grant from the Foyle Foundation.

The Orchestral Library - administered by the Concerts Department - has about 4,000 sets of orchestral parts, constantly augmented with new acquisitions. Important collections include the libraries of Sir Henry Wood and Otto Klemperer.

Librarian: Kathryn Adamson
Assistant Librarians: Rosalind Cyphus, Bridget Palmer, Adam Taylor
Library Assistants: Lesley Daniel, Andrew Morris, Claire Sharpe and Ilse Woloszko
Special Collections cataloguer: Barbara Diana

Term-Time Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday: 9.00–18.00
Saturdays: 9.00–12.00 (Junior Academy terms only)

Vacation hours vary and are advertised in the Library Information section in the library's online catalogue.