ABSTRACT
Delivering good patron service should be important to any library, but why is superior service so vital to music libraries, in particular? Music libraries hold a great variety of materials, in many different formats, that may or may not circulate to different user populations. The multitude of formats (book, score, microform, sound recording, videorecording, etc.) and languages can complicate navigation in the OPAC, slowing patrons from obtaining what they really need. Further, collections may have different classifications and/or call number systems, based on format (including differences between materials housed in open and closed stacks). There are also the usual difficulties with equipment needed for music library access: listening stations, video rooms, microform readers, copiers/scanners, and the like, which often require staff assistance. And, finally, music libraries employ the language of music (and foreign-language equivalents) that may not be familiar to many users. Faced with these hurdles, music libraries need to concentrate on providing the best possible service, to ensure that patrons see the music library as a useful resource, and a positive experience.
