The origins of this very rich but underused resource go back to the early days of the London County council. It has moved many times through a variety of London locations, including the Centre for Young Musicians at Morley College, where it acquired the 'CYM' title by which it is generally known.
After 15 years attached to Trinity College of Music, the Library, aided by a generous grant from the Wates Foundation, was transferred to a registered charity with a new 'CYM' title - the Community & Youth Music Library. It is now housed in rented premises at Hornsey Library, Haringey Park, London N8 9JA and administered by Roger Taylor (formerly Somerset's Performing Arts Librarian) assisted by experienced volunteers. They are committed to getting its large collection of scores used as widely as possible by choirs and other amateur musicians, young and old, in all parts of the UK. Loans are subject to a small hire charge - £15 per month for a set of vocal scores of a major choral work and £20 per month for a set of orchestral parts. The choral music catalogue includes some 1,800 works, covering most of the traditional choral repertoire.
The Library's catalogues can be viewed on its website, www.cymlibrary.org.uk. For more information or to hire scores, email cymlibrary@gmail.com or ring 0203 602 5214.
Posted: Thu 20th September 2012