That is not to say that every subject is collected at research level. The history of organs is collected at level 3F, music education at 2E, and all dance materials, except those in the history of dance, at level 3E. Dance history is collected more broadly. The library acquires important titles in all western European languages and in those non-western languages that support the University's area studies programs. For selecting 20th century compositions, Music Department faculty and the Music Library selectors compile a dynamic list of composers whose works particularly interest faculty and students working and studying at Cornell. Selectors buy the publications of works of these composers according to one of three levels assigned in the list.
Selectors purchase music by women art music composers, of whatever time period, as it is available.
For some works the library has a whole history of editorial practice represented on the shelves. While most of the music of other cultures does not appear in print manifestations, the library attempts to acquire what is available. We try to determine what music is having an influence on our culture and to acquire works by most of the leading groups as it becomes available in anthologies. We buy even more selectively in the popular musics of other cultures. The policy for buying recordings of contemporary music parallels that for printed music except that the library has blanket orders for several major series of contemporary American music.