Students might be surprised to learn about Connecticut College’s “second” library. Tucked into the lower level of Cummings with only a paper sign designating the spot, the Greer Music Library is a hidden gem.
With its shelves of scores, books, and magazines dedicated to the study of music, Greer’s resources are mostly used by people taking classes in the field. Prof. John Anthony holds his class “Making Music at Keyboard” down the hall in the piano lab; listening rooms with CD players, cassette players and turntables are right next-door. The desk holds reserve books for classes as well as the key to the electronic music studio, but what can Greer offer the “musically disinclined?”
“Study space!” revealed Carolyn Johnson, the music librarian. “Greer has the reputation of being a quiet study area. There are two large study tables near windows overlooking Castle Court, a reading nook in the main room and study spaces in a back area of the library.”
During both day and night, one can hear calming strains of classical music playing in the background from practice sessions and students dropping by to study at the desks and chairs. It’s very modest, however, compared to the free-for-all that occurs in Shain every night at 10.
Greer, open seven days a week, is a branch of Shain Library that contains just as many resources. “We have sound recordings covering everything from jazz to musical theater, as well as visual media, e-resources (including audio databases), and computer-based support for the teaching and research needs of users – Sibelius composition software, for example,” commented Johnson. For those wanting a refreshing retreat into the past, Greer houses special collections of sound recordings, like the primarily operatic Hilliar Collection and the Shelley Jazz Collection. The Historic Sheet Music Collection and the L. Mae Stephenson MacIntosh Sheet Music Collection are also available for any possible research needs.
Photo courtesy of Sophia Angele-Kuehn.
Computer workstations, a group study room and a printer and photocopier are offered in the sunny and bright library as well. If there aren’t any classes, the keyboards in the piano lab are open to anyone, with headphones available for checkout at the desk. The two music librarians, Johnson and June Ingram, are also available to advise and enlighten.
Unfortunately, students don’t often utilize Greer’s tools. They either are unaware of its existence or don’t have the time. However, all libraries need patrons to succeed – their existence is based on the people’s needs.
So how does one attract college students? With food and Facebook. Greer has a retro popcorn machine with possible plans in the future of giving away popcorn from time-to-time. They also have a Facebook page with several posts dedicated to “Metro(g)nome,” an origami frog folded from a Spanish Metrocard. Not unlike Travelocity’s famous gnome, the mascot’s escapades are caught on camera in various locations of the library, showing off Greer’s resources.
“The music library is always looking for ideas for events that could take place in the library!” noted Johnson. “The 50th anniversary is in 2019, and we’re already starting to think about what to do for that.”
Nevertheless, peace and quiet can be even more alluring after a hectic day of college life, a fact students only secretly admit. “There’s a nice little room in the back where I’m able to get a lot of work done, and also no one’s ever really here, which is a good thing – it’s really quiet. It seems like the Music Theory book is always here – no one’s ever using it,” remarked Jonathon Gomez-Pereira ’20, whose interests lie in Environmental Studies and German. He added: “It’s a bit more secluded so you don’t see people walking by – it’s just me. I like to study in sort of quiet, solitary spaces, so I think that it’s a perfect place to come in and get my work done.”
Greer is a welcome relief for professors as well. Some faculty from around campus enjoy going to Greer at grading time because it’s peaceful and offers fewer distractions.
Since Cummings Arts Center is less central than Shain, quiet hours are a guarantee. The absence of noise might be concerning, but do students enjoy using Greer? “Definitely. Although I’m not a music major or anything, it’s great that we have a dedicated space for those who are specifically involved in the arts,” said Gomez-Pereira. Students should make use of the music library, with or without a music-related purpose, simply because Greer is there for them.•
