Help us create beautiful music together: musical instrument lending library seeks donations

Our Arts and Library Services are asking the public to consider donating any unwanted musical instruments to help in the creation of a new Instrument Lending Library for East Lothian.

The Library Service are adding musical instruments to their lending collections, creating an Instrument Library - where people can borrow an instrument for six weeks at a time, at no cost.

To enable this to happen, they are asking for donations of unused/unwanted instruments which will then be given a service before being added to the library catalogue.

People can drop off donations at Musselburgh, Prestonpans, Tranent, Haddington, Dunbar or North Berwick Libraries, or Library HQ at Dunbar Road, Haddington, during opening hours.

Community Music Development Officer Charlotte McMillan, said: “We need donations of instruments to get started. From clarinets to violins, cornets to mandolins, anything goes! We are also looking for donations of digital equipment for either music production or DJ-ing. If you have any items sitting around unused that need a new lease of life, please consider letting us care for them. We will maintain them and make sure they are put to good use.”

People may wish to borrow an instrument to find out if they would like to learn to play it, to relearn an old skill, to take part in a workshop, or just to have some fun. This project allows our libraries to breathe new life into old instruments, allowing all ages the chance to make music. Along with instruments, borrowers will be issued with a guide to help them start playing and basic instrument care instructions.

This is a fantastic opportunity to re-use instruments and to spread the joy of music. All donations are welcome, but for large instruments such as tubas, cellos and drumkits, or if donating more than a couple of instruments, donors are asked to fill in a form first on our website www.eastlothian.gov.uk/arts or email hannah.mccooke@mepgscotland.org .

This new initiative from our Arts and Libraries Services, is in partnership with We Make Music initiative from the Music Education Partnership Group (MEPG). Founded in 2015, MEPG is a network of music-based organisations with a Scottish focus. It was set up to promote and celebrate the life-long benefits of a music education and to advocate that the transformative potential of music should be experienced by everyone in Scotland. 

The project is funded by Creative Scotland’s Youth Music Initiative through MEPG, with support from East Lothian Council’s Arts Service and Library Service.