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The Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound: REMOTE ACCESS

A discovery and access guide to Recorded Sound collections at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts

NYPL Electronic Resources

Articles and Databases

The entire list of more than 800 databases can be searched by subject or keyword.

  • Some are available only from within an NYPL branch - you'll see this next to them 
  • Some are available from home with your NYPL login - you'll see this next to them 
  • Some are open Internet resources that anyone can access - you'll see this next to them world icon

Search Tip: limit the subject to Recorded Sound and Video, Broadcast Radio and Television, or Music.

Please Note: due to the Covid-19 outbreak and subsequent quarantines, we have arranged for remote access to a larger number of our databases that were previously only available within the Library's branches. Some of the newly available links still have the Library's lion symbol so attempts to access those databases are encouraged. For assistance, The Music & Recorded Sound staff are available via email for a consultation at recordedsound@nypl.org or music@nypl.org. 

If you live in NY State & don't have an NYPL library card - you can apply for one and use it immediately!

During our period of closure, New York state residents are welcome to apply for a library card through the SimplyE app for access to an array of digital resources, including e-books, audiobooks, databases, and more. When we reopen, new applicants can visit their local library to obtain and validate their physical library card.

Digital Research Books (Beta)

Digital Research Books (Beta) is an experimental project, now in early Beta testing, that collects digital versions of research books from many different sources, including Open Access publications, into one convenient place to search. 

All the materials in Digital Research Books Beta are completely free to read and most of them you can download and keep, with no library card required. The books are either in the public domain, with no restrictions on your use of them, or under Creative Commons licenses that may have some conditions, but only on redistribution or adaptation. - From the Digitial Research Books website.

Learn more about how to access Digital Research Books here.