Are music CDs still relevant?
Part of my job is purchasing music CDs to add to our collection at the library. Two questions I get regularly are “Do people still check out music CDs? With music streaming services, are CDs still relevant?”
The answer is a resounding yes! The library has 282 identified collections, which include everything from books books to DVDs to music CDs, and everything in between. Would it surprise you to learn that in the past 12 months adult music CDs are the 11th most checked-out collection? (Nonfiction books are #1 thanks to memoirs and biographies.) In the last year, adult music CDs were checked out 25,110 times.
How do we determine what to purchase for the music collection? It depends on the type of music. Billboard Hot 100, Metacritic, Rolling Stone Magazine, Pitchfork, Presto Music (classical and jazz reviews) are some of the sources. Our supplier also complies lists based on airplay and sales figures. Aside from the obvious platinum-selling albums, we try to pick a variety of music genres including rock, folk and classical.
Price is also a consideration. We get our budget at the beginning of the year, and it's our job to make sure it lasts through December. Space is also something we must take into account as we are in a constant rotation of adding new material, replacing lost or damaged items, and removing items that no longer circulate.
The music CD collection at the library is the perfect opportunity to try different types of music you wouldn’t normally listen to because you can check out music CDs for free. I have a commute to work, so I make it a point to check out genres of music I know nothing about. Last week I listened to Desert Grooves a blend of Middle Eastern tunes, the album Million Kisses by a Japanese group called Dreams Come True and a group from Africa called Bahidora.
Some of my favorite music CDs in our collection are Legacy with Neil Slater and the One O’clock Lab Band at the University of North Texas (one of the few university ensembles to be nominated for a Grammy), The Tonight Show Band With Doc Severinsen (Volumes One and Two), Schubert’s Symphony in C major and the rock band Styx.
If our collection of 7,547 music CDs doesn’t have the one you are looking for, remember you can always complete a Purchase Suggestion or an Inter-library Loan.
Happy listening!
