We Make Music Instrument Libraries

We Make Music Instrument Libraries 

We Make Music Instrument Libraries is a brand new initiative to get musical instruments into public libraries across Scotland, so people will be able to borrow them for free, just like taking out a book! 

Crowdfunder Update

This crowdfunder started in June 2022 and we raised enough money and instrument donations to get over 150 instruments into nine libraries across Fife, North Ayrshire and Edinburgh. The first instrument libraries included the Jenny Lee Library at Lochgelly Centre in Fife, Kilwinning library and Harbour Arts Centre in North Ayrshire, and six libraries in Edinburgh covering different areas of the city: Craigmillar, Drumbrae, Muirhouse, Wester Hailes, Moredun, and the music library in Central library. 

All these libraries are now loaning out instruments as part of their service, and we are delighted that several more libraries are joining the programme too:  Armadale and Blackridge libraries in West Lothian, Kilbirnie library in North Ayrshire, and Hawick library in the Scottish Borders. We are also starting to run music workshops and events in the different libraries, and are building an online resource so people can learn at home.  

With new libraries joining and more music happening in the libraries, the demand for instruments is growing! As a result, we have kept this crowd-funder page active so people can continue to support with donations of musical instruments or money.

What will the instrument libraries do:

Instrument Libraries will stock a wide variety of instruments from guitars, keyboards and ukuleles, to violins, trombones and orchestral instruments, as well as music software and midi keyboards so people can make music on library computers. Each library is paired with a local music project or the local authority’s instrumental music service, and all of the libraries are keen to build links with other music groups, schools, community projects and venues.  

We want to fill these libraries with as many musical instruments and learning resources as we can.  All money will go towards buying, repairing and servicing donated instruments and getting them into the libraries in good condition. We also want to buy music software and midi keyboards for making music on library computers. Once the instruments are in the libraries, we want to offer music workshops and introductory lessons, develop online resources, and organise live music events in and around the libraries. The more money we raise and the more instruments people donate, the more music libraries we can open up around Scotland!

How to Support

You can contribute in 2 ways:

1 - Donate some money or sponsor an instrument here on Crowdfunder.  Any contribution is hugely appreciated - have a look at our rewards page for more info.

2 - Donate a musical instrument - if you have a musical instrument lying around that you'd like to donate to the libraries, we would love to hear from you! Please contact [email protected] and we can organise it from there.

Libraries, Music Projects & Community Groups - If you would like to link-up with any of the existing libraries or start a new one in your local area, we'd love to hear from you too! Please contact [email protected].

Events

We organised a series of launch events and music workshops in and around the libraries and are planning lots more as the project develops! 

Previous events included Make Music Day on 21st June 2022 with a number of live music performances in several libraries, a Street Band Takeover at Hidden Door festival on 12th June 2022, and several live music performances in Lochgelly centre for their library launch on 17th November 2022. 

Upcoming are two new launch events in North Ayrshire on 27th Jan 2023 and Edinburgh on 28th Jan 2023, and we hope to do lots more in 2023!

Our Team

The people involved in organising the project come from a mix of local authority library services, community music groups, schools and music education projects.  

They include:

• We Make Music Scotland - a charity advocating for accessible and high-quality music education in all its forms across Scotland.
• Tinderbox Collective - a community of young people, musicians, artists and youth-workers.
• OnFife Library Service
• North Ayrshire Library Service
• Edinburgh Library Service
• Live Borders
• Fife Instrumental Music Service
• North Ayrshire Instrumental Music Service
• St Andrews Music Participation Group (StAMP) - music education and brass-bands project based in Fife.
• North Edinburgh Arts - cultural centre in Muirhouse, North Edinburgh
• Tutti Music - music project in Armadale and Blackridge libraries.

Rewards

Have a look at the rewards section of this campaign for details about the different rewards available. Any contribution is hugely appreciated. 

Note: the live music rewards have now finished, but a big thanks to these groups for supporting the campaign:

Hidden Door Festival, 12th June (Edinburgh Instrument Libraries Launch) - 20 tickets available.

Tinderbox Orchestra @ the Edinburgh Fringe (Aug 5-7, 10-14, 17-21) - 20 tickets available.

Pianodrome Live @ the Edinburgh Fringe (Aug 5-29) - 10 tickets available.