Preservation Committee Annual Report 2023

submitted by Alice Carli

Current Roster

  • Kristi Bergland (2023)
  • Keith D. Eiten (2023)
  • William Sherfey (2023)
  • Enrique Caboverde III (2024)
  • Kevin S. Kishimoto (2024)
  • Alice M. Carli, chair (2025)
  • Stephanie M. Sussmeier (2025)
  • Patrick Layton (2026)
  • Dan Lopata (2026)
  • Sabino Fernandez (2027)
  • Temmo Korisheli (2027)
  • Laikin Morris (2027)
  • Steven Sellers (2027)
  • Christina Gibson (ex officio)

List of Previous Goals and Progress Made

  • Contribute an article on The State of Music Library Preservation to the September 2023 special issue of Notes.
    • This would squarely support Objective 1.1 (Review and update MLA’s Mission and Core Values to reflect MLA’s priorities and promote a culture of inclusivity, innovation, collaboration, and information sharing).
    • The article is complete; our collaborative group nailed it!
  • Overhaul the Preservation Committee web page.
    • This project is intended both to facilitate communications within the Preservation Committee and MLA, and for outreach to libraries, so it will involve multiple objectives of the Strategic Plan (1.1-1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 2.3-2.4, 2.6, 3.4-3.5, 4.1-4.3).
    • The project is in progress – we have worked with the MLA web committee to decide that it sounds like using the WordPress platform and assets associated with the MLA web site will work for us, and we have made preliminary decisions regarding content and arrangement.

List of Future Goals

  • Publish the Preservation Committee web page.
    • This project is intended both to facilitate communications within the Preservation Committee and MLA, and for outreach to libraries, so it will involve multiple objectives of the Strategic Plan (1.1-1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 2.3-2.4, 2.6, 3.4-3.5, 4.1-4.3).
    • Post publication maintenance will become ongoing outreach work of the committee
  • Research the state of commercial library binding and prepare suggestions for individual libraries and MLA as a whole to cope with and respond to the crisis in commercial library binding
    • Goal 2, Objective 6 – this is advocating for our institution and our members regarding an important service to libraries
  • Continue involvement with the MLA Electronic Scores Working Group
    • Goal 1, Objective 1: Developing innovative ways for MLA libraries to license e-scores for circulation can help us promote our core values of advocacy, collaboration, community and inclusion
    • Goal 2, Objective 6: Successfully organizing a means of circulating e-scores from self-publishing composers would greatly raise the profile of MLA among composers