Art & Music
including Visual & Performing Arts, Sports & Games
Welcome to the Art & Music department of the Berkeley Public Library. Housed on the fifth floor of the Central Library, the Art & Music department has books, folios, recorded music, sheet music, and magazines. Our reference desk is staffed by subject specialists and our extensive reference collection is available both on the open shelves and by asking a librarian about our indexes and encyclopedias.
Our many offerings include:
- Cultural arts programs
- Music CDs, LPs, and scores
- Online articles and databases
- Magazines
- Song index
- Circulating slide library
- Clip file
- Access to the Foundation Center database of grants for artists and organizations
- Free passes to the Berkeley Art Museum
Cultural arts programs
With support from Friends of the Berkeley Public Library, Art & Music hosts free events throughout the year, from play reading groups and music performances to artists' receptions. For a full listing of upcoming events, visit our calendar.
Music CDs, LPs, and scores
The collection of CDs, LPs, and scores includes classical, country, electronic, folk, gospel, jazz, musicals, opera, rap, R&B, and world music, as well as many other offerings.
- See a full list of genres in the CD collection by call number
- See a full list of genres in the LP collection by call number
Eight CDs or LPs can be checked out at one time. Please note that Art & Music only has music recordings; spoken word and language instruction recordings are found on the first floor.
Online articles and libraries
Listen to African American, world, classical, and American music for free, or find articles and encyclopedias on artists, musicians, and performers. Art & Music's online databases are accessible from any Berkeley Public Library, and current library card holders can access the databases from home. View a full list of art and music databases.
Magazines
Art & Music's extensive magazine collection covers art, crafts, collectibles and antiques, photography, design, architecture, interior decoration, landscaping, music, entertainment, theater, dance, games, and sports. Current issues are available for browsing; up to eight back issues can be checked out. For a list of the magazines we subscribe to, click here.
Song index
The song index is a card catalog of over 200 books of sheet music indexed by song title, allowing for easy searching of lyrics and music to many popular, folk, jazz, Broadway, and religious songs.
Circulating slide library
Art & Music has the only publicly-accessible circulating slide collection in California, containing 25,000 images from early cave painting to contemporary installation art.
Clip file
The clip file is a collection of newspaper and magazine clippings with a special focus on artists, musicians, and architecture in and around Berkeley. Ask at the Art & Music reference desk for access.
Foundation Center databases
Research potential support for your nonprofit organization or your art with the Foundation Center's two databases, Foundation Directory Online and Foundation Grants to Individuals. Access is available only at the Central Library at designated computers; see a librarian for more information.
Free passes to the Berkeley Art Museum
Library card holders can check out up to two passes for free admission to the Berkeley Art Museum. The passes are good for three days.