New England Chapter Annual Report 2021

submitted by Sandi-Jo Malmon

Current Roster

  • Sandi-Jo Malmon, Chair, (1 year, 2021)
  • Memory Apata, Vice-chair/ChairElect (1 year, 2021-2022)
  •  Lisa Wollenberg, Past Chair (1 year, 2021-2022)
  • Carol Lubkowski, Secretary-Treasurer (Term is 2 years, 2021-2023)
  • Member at Large – currently vacant
  • Patrick Quinn, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Justice Officer – ex-officio (new position; appointed by chair during the summer, 2021 – vote in spring)
  • Jennifer Hadley, Newsletter Editor, (2 year term,  2021 -2023)
  • Emily Levine, Archivist (first appointment was in 2019; extended on a yearly basis)
  • Elizabeth Brenda-Morris, Web Editor (non-voting member , 2 year with renewal, first appointed in 2019)

List of Previous Goals and Progress Made

  • Identify a Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Justice Officer
    • The chapter identitied the need to add an EDIJ Officer.
    • Patrick Quinn has taken on his role; appointed by chair. He will be in this position until Spring 2022 elections.
  • Identifying a single location for the NEMLA Archives
    • After sometime the chapter found a permanent home for the NEMLA Archives.
    • The Boston Public Library has formally agreed to hold the archive.
    • NEMLA Archivist, Emily Levine has worked rigorously toward this end and we are delighted with the progress so far.
    • Work for the future includes moving all material the BPL
  • Oral History Project
    • This project was on hold – plan to re-engage this year.

List of Future Goals

  • Update bylaws to add a new board position Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Justice Office – requires chapter vote (Spring 2022)
    • Under this position the plan is to develop a NEMLA Diversity Committee to address issues of systemic racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion.  The membership and charge for this committee will be determined this year, as we have collected input from NEMLA members and non-member colleagues.
    • Increase outreach efforts to members from underrepresented groups.
    • Within music library collections, identify barriers to collecting works by people from historically underrepresented groups, and support efforts to break these barriers
    • Collaborate with MLA’s Diversity Committee to support their efforts and bring their national-level work to the New England region
  • Move NEMLA Archive to the Boston Public Library
    • Agreement has been written; Details still be to worked out
  • Fill the empty videographer role
    • Identified! Susan Skoog has agreed to serve in this role.
  • Education
    • Diversity training /workshop for members
  • Oral history project
    • Plan to re-engage in this project; plan to include interviews by BIPOC members