Music available for checkout at the A.J. Music Center Library

Variety of genres offered

By: David Wilder

Posted: 9/13/07

The A.J. Fletcher Music Library is now offering more popular music than ever before to students.

It currently offers about 11,000 CDs and 500 DVDs to students.

Media can be checked out for one week and can be renewed up to three times.

The music library specializes in classical and jazz music, but a new course studying American popular music has resulted in an increase of available popular music.

"Now that the School of Music is branching out, we're getting more popular music," said Nara Newcomer, assistant music librarian.

Some of the more popular CDs offered at the music library are Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Elvis and Johnny Cash.

Some staff of the music library feel that there are multiple reasons for students and faculty to use this resource.

Students should come to the music library because "music touches everything and it can be used in most courses," said Harry Frank, daytime access services supervisor.

There is no limit to how much media a student can check out, although the late fee for media is $1 per item, per day.

Students can search for media they would like to check out by using the online Joyner Library catalog or asking a reference librarian at the music library.

"We try to get as close to the new cutting-edge technology as we can," Frank said.

The music library offers audio-visual equipment for checkout, including an iPod stereo for class presentations, video cameras, two video iPods and iMics.

AV equipment can be checked out for a total of 12 hours.

Shipments are delivered at least once a month. The music library also receives gifts from ECU alumni and current students.

Students can also listen to music remotely on multiple online services. These can be found on the music library Web site at ecu.edu/cs-lib/music/index.cfm.

The music library serviced about 1,800 students per week last year.

The online services specialize in classical and jazz music, but also have some ethnic and folk music. Students can log on with their Pirate ID and password.

There are five full-time staff members and 12 student staff members, including both graduate and undergraduate students.

The music library is currently looking to hire work-study students. Students can apply for the job at the Joyner Library administration.

The school of music library is located in the A.J. Fletcher Music Center.

This writer may be contacted at news@theeastcarolinian.com.