The MLA Citation, the Association’s tribute for lifetime achievement, is awarded in recognition of distinguished service to music librarianship over a career. It is the highest honor we bestow. The 2022 MLA Citation Award recipient is Randye Jones.
The text of the Citation was read at the business meeting on March 5, 2022:
As a true champion of the music of African Americans and of paraprofessionals in music libraries, she has positively contributed to the work of MLA’s members and their patrons. Her decades-long, groundbreaking work has produced a multifaceted body of research and performances of African-American vocal music. Her websites, including “Afrocentric Voices in ‘Classical’ Music,” “The Spirituals Database,” and “Afrocentric Sounds Radio,” document the work of Black musicians and increase access to oft-neglected bodies of literature. Her published articles, presentations at many national and regional conferences, and her first book, “So You Want to Sing Spirituals,” demonstrate the breadth of her authority, as do recognitions of her expertise, such as grants and requests for interviews. She is dedicated to teaching, enhancing the discovery of this repertoire, and providing inspiration for future research, all of which highlight her impact as a dedicated scholar, library manager, and vocalist.
She has been a consistent advocate for paraprofessional involvement in MLA and music libraries and has served as a role model, demonstrating how service by paraprofessionals improves our organization and our field. She exemplifies why we are the Music Library Association, not the Music Librarians Association.
For her leadership in keeping spirituals accessible and for her work to encourage participation by all members, MLA proudly presents Randye Jones with the MLA Citation.