Public Libraries Committee Annual Report 2021

submitted by Kristie Nelsen

Current Roster

  • Laurie, Bailey, member (2025)
  • Adam, Berkowitz, member (2023)
  • Emily, Creo, member (2025)
  • Margaret, Gilmore, member (2022)
  • Julie, Hanify, member (2025)
  • Andrew, Kaplan, member (2023)
  • Steve, Landstreet, member (2022)
  • Rebecca, Littman, member (2024)
  • Anne, Myers, member (2025)
  • Kristie, Nelsen, chair (2022)
  • Blair, Whittington, member (2023)

List of Previous Goals and Progress Made

  • Increase awareness of MLA to the wider public library community.
    • Committee members continue to reach out to public libraries. The orchestral collections survey has been delayed due to COVID, but it is hoped that this will happen in the coming year.
    • The committee had hoped the virtual meeting would encourage additional participation by public librarians. Multiple committee members attended the Get Involved session to talk to potential new members, but we did not have anyone stop by our virtual table.  Fortunately, two new interested MLA members contacted the Chair directly about committee membership prior to the meeting, so this time was used to get to know our newest committee members.
  • Promote discussion of public library issues within MLA.
    • 4 committee members participated in a strategic planning discussion with Matthew Vest in November, 2020, as well as MLA Values sessions this summer.
    • Committee members are currently serving on multiple committees including the Music Library Advocacy, Nominating, and Program Committees
    • The Committee sponsored a program proposal for the 2022 meeting. Building a Community-Driven Local Recordings Collection was accepted and will feature 3 public librarians who work with streaming local collections who have never attended an MLA meeting before.
  • Find new ways for committee members and other public librarians to connect during the 2021 virtual meeting.
    • As noted above we had hoped that the virtual format would increase attendance from public librarians, but we did not see any additional attendees.

List of Future Goals

  • Increase awareness of MLA to the wider public library community.
    • This goal relates to the Goal Area: Membership, and the FY19-20 action to increase outreach efforts to organizations that are underrepresented, including those whose holdings reflect many types of music.
    • Committee membership continues to advocate within our public library contacts for MLA participation. The inclusion of public librarians who are not MLA members on a panel at the annual meeting is intended to make new connections and introduce new public librarians to the organization. In working with these panelists, the committee will seek further input on how MLA can better meet their needs.
  • Promote discussion of public library issues within MLA
    • This goal relates to the Goal Area: Organizational Excellence and the FY19-20 action to develop and sustain the necessary resources to ensure the vitality of the Association, its programs and services.
    • Without discussion and content that relates to a broader more inclusive audience, the stated goals around membership expansion are not sustainable. Content that is applicable and useful to public librarians and other underrepresented groups needs to be included in MLA discussions, publications, and at annual meetings. While the committee will continue to independently produce this content, we will also try to partner with other groups within MLA to include this content in a more natural, nonbinary way.