Arachnophonia: Unlock the Hidden Gems of The Music Library — More Than Just Books!

Editor’s note: Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student manager Nikoloz (class of 2026) and features an assortment of items you can borrow from the Music Library that aren’t books or CDs. Thanks, Nikoloz!

Unlock the Hidden Gems of The Music Library — More Than Just Books!

We all know that libraries are a treasure trove of books and CDs, but did you know the Music Library offers so much more?
Whether you’re studying, exploring new hobbies, or just looking for some entertainment, the Music Library has resources you might not even know about. Here’s a quick guide to some of the amazing items you can check out and use:

DVDs
Movie night, anyone? You can borrow concert films, musicals, operas, educational documentaries and more from the Music Library. Just remember, these have a shorter loan period (one week), so plan your binge-watching accordingly!

DVD sampler

The Music Library loans out equipment too! Here are some of the coolest items you can borrow:

DVD Players: Don’t have a player at home? No problem—the library has you covered with a portable DVD player you can check out for a week.

We also offer External CD/DVD drives (USB) for in-library use. These can be plugged into the USB port on your laptop once they’re checked out. The loan period for this item is 4 hours.

External CD/DVD drive (USB)

Record Players and more: Love vinyl records? You can find a turntable in one of the study rooms (W201A), and enjoy the warm, nostalgic sound of your favorite albums.

The Music Library also has a portable record player that can be checked out from the library for one week!

Record Player

Did you know the Music Library has a vinyl record collection that can also be checked out? You can browse our vinyl holdings here.

You can also check out a boom box to play CDs, listen to the radio, or use as a Bluetooth speaker.

Boom Box

Laptops: Laptop computers are available for in library use for a 6 hour loan period. Perfect for cramming in some study time or finishing a last-minute assignment.

lenovo laptop

Why Not Explore?

Next time you’re in the library, take a moment to explore these lesser-known resources. Whether you’re checking out the turntable to spin some vinyl, grabbing a DVD for movie night, or borrowing a laptop to finish a project, The Music Library has something for everyone.

Don’t forget to ask the friendly staff at the main desk if you need help finding anything -— they’re there to make your library experience amazing!

Arachnophonia: For the Audiophiles

Editor’s note: Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item(s) in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student manager Esther (class of 2025) and features our new portable record player and an opera LP to go with it. Thanks, Esther!

For the Audiophiles

Vinyl LPs

I love exploring different mediums of storage when it comes to art. I initially became interested in physical art forms because of film photography; as a musician, it was inevitable for me to stumble into the world of sound storage mediums. From VHS tapes to 8-track cartridges to cassette tapes to vinyl records, there were so many different forms of music over the years I did not know about. There seems to be controversy over what form sounds best, but we can respect all the different presentations!

LP stands for “Long Playing” due to the extended playing time (around 22 minutes per side) that resulted from the larger discs spinning at 33 ⅓ rpm. (As compared to EPs which are smaller and held about 10-15 minutes of material per side.) They are also referred to as vinyl records because of the material the physical discs are made of. These discs can transmit sound waves when placed on a turntable because the stylus placed on top of the disc moves through the small grooves along the record. As the stylus is reading, the tip of it vibrates and the microscopic bounces are transmitted along the bar. Ultimately, an electrical signal is generated and is played through the stereo speakers!

I appreciate the history of music storage forms, especially because of the wide availability we have for any song nowadays that significantly contributed to the relationship between the listeners and producers. Though I prefer the pros of digital music over analog with the technology we have today, the nostalgia of LP records is appealing as well. One of my fondest memories of growing up was listening to opera on the cassette tape player with my mother.

So, when I found out about a new addition to the music library — a portable record player — I had to recommend this LP to go with it!

Ten Tenors, Ten Arias

Ten Tenors Ten Arias LP cover

Though you are welcome to play it on your turntable, and in addition to the record player that lives in one of our study rooms, the Music Library also has a portable vinyl player available for anyone to check out for a week at a time!

Record Player