This thesis aims at creating a better understanding on how Swedish public libraries have incorporated recorded music in their collections during the period 1970-2024. In a time when music distribution has changed, it can be difficult for the libraries to find new ways of working with recorded music. Using a theoretical framework drawing from institutional theory and the concept of legitimacy, as well as the library's collection repertoires, a study using documents as material has been conducted. Qualitative text analysis was used to examine governmental, as well as a Swedish library-oriented journal. Spanning through multiple changes in format, digital innovations and societal aspects, the challenges for public libraries have been plentiful. While CD's and youth combined made recorded music a successful library item, the music in digital formats has been struggling to make its way into becoming a consistent digital library service, with the library relying heavily on the material aspects on music as a physical library item. The library as an institution providing musical culture has moved from general education repertoire and alternative repertoire towards demand repertoire and alternative repertoire. This thesis provides useful information on the evolution of recorded music as a library item with omitted political support for digital music distribution.