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Art & Music
Explore our art and music collections, as well as databases and services that you can access online for free with your library card. Visit the 5th floor of the Central Library to browse the library's most extensive collection of books on art, music, sports & recreation. You'll also find music recordings on CD and vinyl, scores, a listening station, art exhibits, and more.
Art Exhibits
Current
Tattoo exhibit, All Books Are Open curated by artists from Berkeley tattoo parlors, August 2026
Recent
Topaz Toddlers Art Exhibit curated by Dana Shew and Sonoma State University Anthropological Studies Center, July 2026
Cartooning Against Silence: Futile Prayers From An Undocumented Heart curated by Dr. Alberto Ledesma, May-June 2026
The Black Panther Party in Berkeley: An Archival Exhibit and 60th Anniversary Celebration curated by Billy X Jennings, February-May 2026
Roots Unveiled curated by Nimisha Doongarwal, February-March 2026
thoughts of a large red woman, chapter one, interactions. Art by Urbanrezlife, curated by Woman Who Talks A Lot, November 2025-January 2026
Senior Shine: The Golden Years curated by Jay Lotus Allen, July 2025
Transmissions Quilts: A Multimedia Exhibit of Objects, Stories, and Trans Care curated by Cordy Joan, June 2025
Westward Bound: African American Country Music History & Country Lore curated by Vania Kinard, October-December 2024
BPL's Music Collection
The numbering system for CDs at BPL is designed for you to browse by music genre.
Click on "BPL's Music Collection" above to find out how to explore each musical genre online or come browse your favorites today!
Song Index
Our Song Index is a collection of over 270 books of sheet music indexed by song title.
It allows title searches to find lyrics and music to many popular, folk, jazz, Broadway, and religious songs.
Find songbooks, lyrics, sheet music, and scores in our collection. Don't forget to access our online streaming music services!
Careers in the Arts
We have many print resources for working artists, musicians, and actors.
Magazines
Handmade BusinessBillboardSound on SoundOnline resources
Foundation Center Grants to Individuals and Directory Online (available from inside the Central Library only)Museum JobsArt JobsTheatre Bay AreaArt, Music, & Recreation Clip Files
Historic newspaper clippings and ephemera related to Berkeley artists, architects, athletes, cultural institutions, and more are available to browse in the Berkeley History Room by appointment.
Download a list of the file headings for the A&M Clip Files to see what topics are available, and call 510.981.6148 or email to make an appointment.
Music Online from Alexander Street Press
More than 1 million tracks from all genres of music available to stream.
Naxos Music Library
Streaming access to 3 million tracks of classical music. More than 600 new CDs are added to the library every month.
Naxos Sheet Music Publishing
Browse this catalogue of high-quality sheet music editions available for download and print and MIDI. Features a wide range of composers from the 19th and 20th centuries.
hoopla digital
Enjoy thousands of streaming movies, music, ebooks and eaudiobooks.
NOTE on Hoopla App Crashing
Details and updates
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Discover & Go
Berkeley resident cardholders that are 14 years of age and older can spend the day gliding through an art museum, learning more about science, observing animals or playing pinball on a vintage pinball machine!