Preservation Committee Annual Report 2021

submitted by Treshani Perera

Current Roster

  • Treshani Perera, chair (2022)
  • Jonathan Manton, member (2022)
  • Peter Shirts, member (2022)
  • Kristi Bergland, member (2023)
  • Keith D. Eiten, member (2023)
  • William Sherfey, member (2023)
  • Kevin Kishimoto (2024)
  • Enrique Caboverde (2024)
  • Alice Carli (2025)
  • Stephanie Sussmeier (2025)
  • Christina Taylor Gibson, ex-officio (2024)

List of Previous Goals and Progress Made

  • Elizabeth Berndt-Morris completed her term at the end of the MLA 2021 conference. Alice Carli and Stephanie Sussmeier joined the committee in April 2021 for a four-year term (2021-2025). New MLA Archivist Christina Taylor Gibson began her three-year term as the ex-officio member in the committee.
  • The virtual business meeting was held on March 23, 2021 at 2:00pm ET. Committee members finalized the following goals for 2021: publishing and publicizing the 2021 survey report, Music Preservation Resources webpage updates (on the MLA website), updating the committee handbook. Three subcommittees were formed, and work is expected to complete before the MLA 2022 business meeting.
  • The committee sponsored two program sessions at MLA 2021: 1) “Digital Preservation 101” workshop presented by committee member Jonathan Manton and guest speaker Katherine Fisher. About 65 attendees. 2) “Binding and Preservation of 21st Century Music Scores in Circulating Collections” panel discussion moderated by Treshani Perera and featuring Alice Carli, Chuck Peters, and HF Group representatives as speakers. About 135 attendees.
  • In May 2021, the “Report on the 2019 Survey on Quality of Binding and Physical Condition of Books and Scores” was published on the committee webpage. Subcommittee members Peter Shirts (lead), Keith Eiten, and Bill Sherfey worked with MLA publicity officer and other related professional organizations to publicize the report within MLA and IAML, the greater library binding community, and the music publishing industry.

List of Future Goals

  • Updating the “Music Preservation Resources” webpage on the MLA website.
    • This goal aligns with Core Values Expertise (“fosters excellence in music librarianship through the professional development of its members”) and Advancement of knowledge about music (“promotes research and scholarship by members and non-members on all topics pertaining to aspects of music”).
    • Subcommittee members Kristi Bergland, Kevin Kishimoto, Enrique Caboverde, Alice Carli, and Stephanie Sussmeier met in August 2021 to discuss next steps for updating the Music Preservation Resources webpage and identify a new layout for the web resource.
  • Update the committee handbook to reflect administrative and structural changes made since 2011 (date of creation).
    • This goal aligns with Core Value Fairness and Transparency (“exercises fairness in its decision making and transparency in its operations”).
    • Subcommittee members Treshani Perera and Jonathan Manton will begin review and editing in October 2021.
  • Special topic presentation or discussion during the MLA 2022 business meeting.
    • This goal aligns with Goal Area: Education (“professional development programs foster excellence in those who work with music collections”).
    • Possible topic: Handling and care of fragile/damaged physical items and related staff/patron education.