Barbican Music Library

We have two electronic pianos available for customers to use, free of charge and we provide headphones in exchange for ID.

Pianos can be booked for up to one hour per day, either on the day or one day in advance. Any un-booked sessions will be available on a first come, first served basis to all users. Sessions may be forfeited if you are more than 10 minutes late. 

Children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. 

For more information, or to make a booking, please call the library, email or enquire in person. 

We do not have a collection of vocal scores and orchestral sets for hire, but we can borrow these from other libraries for your choir or orchestra, via interlibrary loan. We do not offer a postal service, so they must be collected in person. We need a minimum of one month's notice to locate the music and order it for you.

Update 18 December: Please note the date has now passed for orders for music to arrive in time for the first week of January.

Please fill in this form or email Barbican Music Library with the following information:

• Name of your group & where you are located
• Composer, title and edition (where known) of the piece(s)
• Number of copies required (10 minimum for vocal scores; orchestral sets count as one unit so we cannot request specific string numbers)
• Date by which you need the music (minimum of one month’s notice required)
• Date of your performance

Charges are as follows:

Choirs and orchestras based in the City of London

• Vocal scores: £1 per part
• Orchestral sets: £45 per loan 

Choirs and orchestras based within the M25 (but outside the ‘Square Mile’).

Charges are as follows:

• Vocal scores: £1.50 per part
• Orchestral sets: £60 per loan

Barbican Music Library houses the Library of the Gilbert and Sullivan Society which is for reference only.

You can browse the collection on the City of London Libraries catalogue, or search the catalogue and select 'Gilbert and Sullivan Society Library' under the 'genre/area' filter. 

For further information, please visit the Gilbert and Sullivan Society website.

To request an item from the Gilbert and Sullivan Library please call or email the Barbican Music Library in advance of your visit.

Barbican Music Library has indexed each song held in our collection of sheet music anthologies of popular, jazz and folk songs, songs from musicals and films, classical songs and opera arias. Search the song index.

• The Barbican Centre has access guides on their website. Go to page 42-43 to specific guide for Library access: Access guides | Barbican

The Barbican Library is located on Level 2 of the Barbican Centre. The main entrance to the Barbican Centre is on Silk Street.

By train/tube

• Farringdon main line: 0.7 miles
• Farringdon Elizabeth Line: 0.4 miles
• Barbican Tube: 0.3 miles
• Moorgate Tube: 0.3 miles

• There is pre-bookable accessible parking available in Barbican Centre - please visit: Accessible parking | Barbican for more information.

• There is an induction loop at all service points to assist hearing-aid users.

• Paths are paved and smooth.

• The Library is located on Level 2 of the Barbican Centre.
• The simplest route to the Library is via the entrance to to the Barbican Centre on Silk Street: go through the doors, follow the corridor into the Centre, head straight on to lifts or stairs to other levels in the Centre.
• There are other routes to the Library via the highwalks across the Barbican Estate. Visit the Barbican Centre website for more information: Access guides | Barbican
• Library doors are automatic.

• The Library is located on Level 2 of the Barbican Centre.
• There are lifts and stairs to Level 2.
• The Music Library is reached down 22 stairs within the main library. A passenger-operated lift (110 x 140cm) also connects the two floors. It requires the button to be held in order for it to move, however, if you need assistance, staff will be happy to help.

• There are no toilets in the Library.
• However there are accessible toilets and changing facilities in many locations of Barbican Centre.
  • The closest wheelchair accessible toilet to the Library is off Frobisher Crescent - Access by RADAR key. Right-hand transfer. Size 150cm x 173cm. In this small toilet, some wheelchair users may find difficulty turning.
  • There are alternatives on Level 1 and Level 3.
  • For more information and photographs of the toilets please go to: Accessible facilities | Barbican