Sibley Music Library

About the Ruth T. Watanabe Special Collections Department

The Watanabe Special Collections department is proactive in the creation of educational opportunities for its user community. The department holds the collection of rare books and music, the special collections proper, and the Eastman School of Music Archives. In addition, the department provides access to the Eastman Audio Archive. The department's hours are 9am - 5pm each weekday, or by appointment with Special Collections Librarian David Peter Coppen, who may be contacted at 585.274.1335, or by email at dcoppen@esm.rochester.edu. The department offers standard reading services, browsing and music reading privileges by appointment, and research and consultation reference service relating to its holdings. The department's reading room is available for private study of any kind, provided that space is available for departmental use.

The Eastman Audio Archive is the repository for all Eastman School performances (both faculty and student degree recitals) dating back to 1933. Inquiries concerning the Eastman Audio Archive should be directed to David Peter Coppen, Special Collections Librarian and Archivist, at 585.274.1335, or by email at dcoppen@esm.rochester.edu.

The department maintains several special bibliographic tools for use by the public, including the vault shelflist and also a card file of pre-1800 imprints, both of which are organized by two classifications: chronologically, and geographically by place of publication. The department also maintains a specially annotated copy of RISM, annotated with call numbers of local holdings and updated with new acquisitions.

The department's holdings are in no way restricted either to scholarly use or to graduate education. Indeed, statistics show that the single largest category of use is for performance preparation. Undergraduates constitute a significant and growing percentage of users. The department particularly encourages use by undergraduates and for performance preparation. In addition, the department encourages personal contact with departmental staff, and the indulgence of its users' curiosity.