Historical collections of international significance
Whether you’re an undergraduate or postgraduate student, you’ll find everything you need for your day-to-day lessons, recitals and research in our Library. It’s a place to immerse yourself in the past and discover ideas for the future.
The professional library staff team will help you to make the most of these valuable resources.
Students can also apply for access to the University of London Library and the British Library.
The Library contains over 200,000 items, including remarkable collections of performance materials: 16th-century lute books in the Robert Spencer Collection, autograph manuscripts by Purcell, Sullivan, Vaughan Williams, Kenny Wheeler and other leading composers, and marked scores from the collections of Henry Wood, Nadia Boulanger, John Barbirolli, Yehudi Menuhin, Otto Klemperer and Charles Mackerras.
The Orchestral Library, run by the Concerts Department, has approximately 4,000 sets of parts, constantly augmented with new acquisitions. Important research collections include orchestral sets from the libraries of Henry Wood and Otto Klemperer.
Our Catalogue
With over 200,000 items, the Academy library contains remarkable collections of performance materials.
Special Collections
Special Collections
The Special Collections and Archives were awarded Designated status in recognition of their significance by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (now part of Arts Council England).
The Special Collections and Archives were awarded Designated status in recognition of their significance by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (now part of Arts Council England).
Archives
For enquiries concerning past students:
- For students who left before 1945, contact library@ram.ac.uk.
- For students who left after 1945, contact registry@ram.ac.uk.
For verification of Royal Academy of Music qualifications gained, past results and references please contact registry@ram.ac.uk.
Choral Library
The Choral Library contains an extensive range of choral sets, which are included in the online catalogue. For a fee, these are available for loan outside the Academy. Enquiries should be addressed to choral@ram.ac.uk
External Users
The Library is available for external users with particular research needs that cannot be met by the public library service. It is normally available by appointment only; please contact library@ram.ac.uk
Donations
The Library is unable to accept donations to the loan collection at present, but we might be able to suggest other possible recipients. Please contact library@ram.ac.uk
Contact Us
Contact Us
The Library
Royal Academy of Music
Marylebone Road
London
NW1 5HT
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7873 7323
Email: library@ram.ac.uk
Librarian: Adam Taylor
Assistant Librarian: Rosalind Cyphus
Library Assistants: Lesley Daniel, Amy Foster, Claire Sharpe and Ilse Woloszko
Special Collections Cataloguer: Rosalind Cyphus
The Library
Royal Academy of Music
Marylebone Road
London
NW1 5HT
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7873 7323
Email: library@ram.ac.uk
Librarian: Adam Taylor
Assistant Librarian: Rosalind Cyphus
Library Assistants: Lesley Daniel, Amy Foster, Claire Sharpe and Ilse Woloszko
Special Collections Cataloguer: Rosalind Cyphus