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About Halvorson Music Library

Halvorson Music Library contains approximately 17,000 books, 23,000 scores, 15,500 sound recordings, and 800 video recordings. We also have facilities for individual and group viewing and listening, an electronic piano equipped with headphones, and access to multiple online resources via computer (including Grove Online, Naxos , and DRAM ). The librarian and staff are here to assist you in every way we possibly can. Please bring us your reference questions and comments or suggestions!

Our online library catalog is Bridge, which we share with Carleton College. You can search for all books, sound recordings, videos, music scores, and journal titles owned by all three St. Olaf libraries. Additionally, Bridge provides information about the holdings of Carleton and the Kierkegaard Library at St. Olaf.

The Music Library's periodicals are shelved alphabetically by title. Other materials are shelved according to the Library of Congress classification system. Music videos and all sound recordings are available at the circulation desk.

The Halvorson Music Library is named for Mr. and Mrs. Henry M. Halvorson. Henry Halvorson (Class of 1925) taught music, history, and literature in Minnesota schools before joining the publishing firm of Ginn and Company in Boston. He directed the music department there and edited a complete set of elementary music textbooks. Mr. Halvorson became Vice President of Ginn and Company, and later served as Chairman of the Board of Directors. He was a member of the Board of Regents of St. Olaf College from 1964-1980. The generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Halvorson, along with their keen interest in music and in St. Olaf College, made possible this music library building, to the great and lasting benefit of the St. Olaf community.

Music Library Hours

Please see our hours on the St. Olaf Libraries' Hours Page.

Music Library Services

Reference Service

The Music Library offers specialized and general reference assistance to the St. Olaf College community. The Music Librarian is here to help you with your research needs! Reference hours are posted on the Music Librarian's door. Unfortunately, there are times when the Music Librarian must be out of the office. If you need reference assistance when the Music Librarian is not available, please fill out a Reference Request Form in the Music Library or Ask a Reference Question online. You may also call (507) 786-3362 and leave a message. The Music Librarian will respond as soon as possible.

Interlibrary Loan

If you need a book, music score, journal article, or any other library material that St. Olaf does not own, we will try to get it for you from another library. Please fill out an Interlibrary Loan form available via the Music Library Web page. If the item you need is available at Carleton, request it through Bridge. Shuttles run daily between St. Olaf and Carleton so you should receive your item in 1-2 days. For additional information, please see the Music Librarian.

Library Instruction

As part of the St. Olaf Libraries' Reference and Instruction Program, the Music Librarian provides sequential, course-integrated instruction to most first-year, all sophomore, and most upper-level music students. In these sessions, students learn how to select, utilize, and critically evaluate all information sources, especially music-related print and online resources. For all classes, the Music Librarian provides Course-Specific Research Guides that offer assistance for individual assignments.

Circulation Policies

St. Olaf and Carleton students may borrow materials using a valid College I.D. with a library barcode. Special borrowing privileges are available for Northfield and close vicinity residents as well as St. Olaf alumni who live in the surrounding areas. Please visit the circulation desk for more information.

Loan Periods for Students:

Books	49 days
Scores	28 days
M1-M3 Scores	14 days
Sound Recordings	3 hours (in library)
Videos	3 days
Periodicals	7 days
Closed Reserves (includes reserves sound recordings)	2 hours (in library)
Instruments/Tuners/Metronomes	2 hours

Loan Periods for Faculty:

Books and Scores	1 year
M1-M3 Scores	14 days
Sound Recordings	7 days
Videos	7 days
Periodicals	7 days
Closed Reserves (includes reserves sound recordings)	May take to class or check out for 24 hours
Instruments/Tuners/Metronomes	2 hours

Fines on Overdue Materials:

Closed Reserve Items	$2.00 per hour (up to 2 hours) $5.00 per hour (over 2 hours) Maximum: $29 per item
Recalled Items	$5.00 per day after 3 days of the recall notice

 

Music Library Personnel


See the St. Olaf Libraries' Personnel page.