One of U of T’s best kept secrets is the Hart House Record Room, a massive repository of roughly 4000 vinyls and 300 CDs, located in the 3rd floor North Sitting Room at Hart House. For the past three years, student curator Valentine Garfinkel has been the person responsible for organizing the records, spotlighting potentially unnoticed titles, and acquiring new albums to diversify the collection. The Varsity spoke with Garfinkel to find out more about this amazing hidden gem.

V: How long has the Record Room been around?

VG: The Record Room has been around since the mid 1950s, originally as two separate rooms, one housing classical music, the other everything else.

V: What kinds of records can be found there?

VG: All kinds of stuff, from all kinds of eras, in all sizes and colours. We are exceptionally strong in classical, jazz and pre-90s pop. However, over the past few years the Room has been actively updating its collection, focusing on acquiring avant-garde music, traditional world music, underground DIY, local indie releases, and also hiphop. If names like John Cage, Wolf Eyes, Magik Markers, James Chance, Creeping Nobodies, or Steve Reich mean anything to you, you’ll be very intrigued by recent new arrivals to the room.

Very recently, thanks to a generous donation from Marvin Green, the Room has come into possession of nearly the complete discography of the Music Gallery Releases. The Music Gallery is a world-renowned local centre for the production and promotion of experimental music that has been in existence, in one form or another, since the mid ‘70s. During its heyday the Gallery also had a record label, which released about 30 titles. These releases don’t only document incredible Canadian experimental musicians (CCMC, John Oswald, Glass Orchestra) but also Native throat singing traditions, and even Whale music. We’ve got all those albums.

V: How do students gain access to the collection?

VG: To get a Record Room membership you have to go through a quick orientation with me during my office hours, which are Mondays from 3-5 and Wednesdays from 3:30-5. Or you can set up an appointment with me at recordroomcurator@gmail. com.

V: When is the room open?

VG: The room is open as long as Hart House is open. Hart House is open from 7:00 AM to Midnight, 365 days a year.

V: Finally, how did you score this sweet job?

VG: By raising my hand. So kids, the moral is, always remember to stretch