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BCCF Virtual Library Project

The BCCF has invested money in the purchase of sets of music for the use of member choirs, and will continue to do so, as funds permit. Since there is restricted space for the storage of these sets, they will be housed in the libraries of the borrowing choirs, and tracked by the BCCF office. The following guidelines apply:

  1. Applications either to purchase music, or to borrow music already in the BCCF Virtual Library should be submitted as early as possible in order to allow time to order music, or time for the choir to make alternative arrangements if the music is already in the Virtual Library, but in use by another choir.
  2. Choirs must have current BCCF membership to qualify.
  3. The selection committee will meet to consider requests for purchase at the beginning of March (for use in the fall), and again in July (for use in January). Applicants should use Form A for this purpose. Only one request may be made each year; the selection committee reserves the right to give preference to choirs making their first application. No more than 25% of the budget will be used for any one choir's request. A proportion of the money allocated each year will be assigned to Canadian repertoire; similarly, a proportion will be assigned to non-SATB repertoire. Applicants will be informed by mid-month of the status of their request in case they need to make alternative arrangements.
  4. Music already in the Virtual Library may be requested by the use of Form B or by application to the BCCF office in writing. These applications will be taken in the order they arrive; in fairness to other users, choirs may be restricted in the number of sets they may have in use at any one time. Choirs using BCCF Virtual Library music have two months after performance date to collect, sort and assess the set before making it available to another choir.
  5. Music must be programmed for public performance. The concert programme should acknowledge the loan: "Music on loan from the B.C.Choral Federation Virtual Library".
  6. Choirs must accept responsibility for shipping music on to the next user. Music should be insured when shipped.
  7. When BCCF music is purchased, a minimum set of 50 copies will be ordered, irrespective of the size of the choir making the request. Larger choirs may apply for a bigger set, but must be aware that they may have to purchase the extra copies themselves; smaller choirs must accept and store the unneeded copies.
  8. Sets of music should remain intact and not be split up (see above). The applying choir is responsible for housing the music securely until it is requested again.
  9. New music should be labeled as BCCF property, and the copies numbered in ink. Any marks added by choir (additional numbers on covers or music markings in the score) must ONLY be in pencil, and all such marking should be erased after use.
  10. Borrowing choirs are responsible for ordering and replacing any missing, permanently marked, or damaged copies. Photocopies are not acceptable replacements. In the case of POP music (music that is permanently out of print) it is the responsibility of the borrowing choir to contact the copyright holder and arrange for replacement copies.

Application deadlines for music purchase:
March 1 (for use in September) and July 1 (for use in January)

You can view the current list of Virtual Library contents (PDF format; last updated September, 2006).

General Music or Christmas Music or Fraserview Otavos or Fraserview Collections and Cantatas

Note: In order to read the downloaded files, you will need to use Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not already have this software it is available from Adobe at no charge.

BCCF Library Database Project

The BCCF is compiling the library lists of member choirs. We hope that choirs will allocate their budgets to the purchase of new music, while making some of their stored music available to their fellow choirs. We request that choirs NOT try to make up a program of music that is all borrowed from other sources.

  1. Choirs applying to use the Library Database must also be willing to have their own libraries listed.
  2. Photocopies are at no time acceptable on a library listing.
  3. Any loans or exchanges between choirs are arranged independently of the BCCF. Choirs without specific loan policies may use a standard agreement form that the BCCF office can supply.
  4. Choirs searching for specific music should contact the BCCF Librarian either directly or through the BCCF office. When the music has been tracked down, the applying choir will be put in touch with the choir possessing the music. All further negotiations are between choirs.
  5. Currently ONLY the BCCF music is listed on the BCCF web page. By request of participating choirs, individual libraries are not listed.

Applications for purchase of new music through the BCCF Virtual Library, or for information about borrowing music already in circulation, should be made to:

BCCF Library Resources
P.O. Box 4397
Vancouver BC V6B 3Z8

For further information, contact the BCCF office:
(604) 733-9687 / (604) 733-4026 (fax)
BCCF@BCChoralFed.com

The BCCF Librarian is Brigid Coult:
(604) 272-4216 / (604) 272-4217 (fax)
brigid@uniserve.com