Texas Chapter Annual Report 2023

submitted by Blaine Brubaker

Current Roster

Chapter Officers:

• Blaine Brubaker, Chair (2023)
• Charles (Charley) Roush, Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect (2023)
• Madelyn Washington, Past Chair (2023)
• Beth Farwell, Secretary/Treasurer (2023)

Membership Committee:

• Charles (Charley) Roush, Chair (2023)
• Kristin Wolski, Member (2023)
• Steven Sellers, Member (2023)
• Leonard (Leo) Martin, Member (2023)
• Alexa Frederick, MLStEP Texas Chapter Liaison (2023)

Nominating Committee:

• Madelyn Washington, Chair (2023)
• Rahni Kennedy, Member (2023)
• Megan Cooper, Member (2023)

Special Officers:

• Kristin Wolski, Web Editor (2023)

List of Previous Goals and Progress Made

• 1. Reformat Texas Composer Database for online access and discoverability
  • Discussed this project at the Spring 2023 business meeting and debated different formats for online access, including open access platforms
  • Led to starting a Chapter Grant Planning Group, which will potentially explore opportunities regarding the Texas Composer Database
• 2. Add a section for Best Practices in Hybrid Meetings in the TMLA Officer Handbook using open access tools
  • Redeveloped the TMLA Conference Handbook to specifically focus on planning a hybrid conference
  • Will host the conference handbook through Google Drive shared link for all chapters and organizations to access
• 3. Engage the MLStEP Texas Chapter Liaison, Mr. Leonard Martin, in the activities of the Membership Committee
  • Leo Martin participated in the Fall 2022 Membership Committee Drive. Been an active member in the Membership Committee since, even after rolling off as MLStEP Texas Chapter Liaison
  • 2023 MLStEP Texas Chapter Liaison Alexa Frederick was onboarded as a member of the Membership Committee when they began their term as MLStEP Texas Chapter Liaison. It is planned to have the Liaison as a Membership Committee member every year to assist in raising the voice of TMLA student members and their needs

List of Future Goals

• 1. Continue outreach efforts to various Texas academic institutions to promote music librarianship as a potential career through the TMLA Membership Committee
  • Supports Goal 2 – Develop and Retain Membership
    • Objective 2.2 – Offer mentorship and networking opportunities for members at all stages of career similar to the programs for new members or early career professionals
    • Objective 2.6 – Promote MLA as being an Association that will advocate for our profession, our members, our users, our institutions and for diversity. Prioritize the visibility and awareness of advocacy efforts.
• 2. Create web accessible versions of the TMLA Conference Handbook and TMLA Officer Handbook using Google Drive
  • Supports Goal 3 – Cultivate Inclusivity
    • Objective 3.4 – Reflect DEIA principles in MLA’s leadership, membership, core values, mission, strategies and operations. Devote resources to clarifying and strengthening the “E” and “I” in DEIA.
  • Supports Goal 4 – Strength Communication
    • Objective 4.1 – Decide the official platforms that the organization will use to communicate and host communication among members. Consider ways to approach norms of behavior in these spaces and which spaces will have a Code of Conduct or be moderated.
• 3. Explore methods to engage first-time TMLA conference attendees, both online and in-person, with ongoing conference go-ers, including online meet-ups and meetings to meet with specific groups (i.e. student members)
  • Supports Goal 2 – Develop and Retain Membership
    • Objective 2.2 – Offer mentorship and networking opportunities for members at all stages of career similar to the programs for new members or early career professionals.
  • Supports Goal 3 – Cultivate Inclusivity
    • Objective 3.5 – Prioritize accessibility at all MLA events, in-person and virtual, and in all MLA virtual spaces
• 4. Host more hybrid workshops during the year for TMLA members, including talks on open access projects and Identity, Diversity, Equity, and Access discussions
  • Supports Goal 2 – Develop and Retain Membership
    • Objective 2.2 – Offer mentorship and networking opportunities for members at all stages of career similar to the programs for new members or early career professionals
    • Objective 2.3 – Explore education and networking opportunities beyond annual and chapter conferences. Sustain member contact throughout the year. Formalize more opportunities to meet virtually and more frequently.
    • Objective 2.5 – Encourage member retention through targeted programs and support for member engagement at all career levels.
  • Supports Goal 3 – Cultivate Inclusivity
    • Objective 3.1 – Offer a regular training program for all levels of MLA membership on DEIA and anti-bias
    • Objective 3.2 – Draw on member expertise by offering informal educational workshops, webinars, and panels that make use of virtual meeting platforms. Offer a program of virtual workshops that are led by underrepresented groups in our membership.
• 5. Connect with museum curators, performing arts librarians, music subject liaisons in academic and public libraries, and others in non-Music Librarian specific roles to promote MLA, TMLA, and its benefits
  • Supports Goal 2 – Develop and Retain Membership
    • Objective 2.2 – Offer mentorship and networking opportunities for members at all stages of career similar to the programs for new members or early career professionals.
    • Objective 2.4 – Support members working in various disciplines within an organization that also includes aspects of music librarianship.
    • Objective 2.5 – Offer mentorship and networking opportunities for members at all stages of career similar to the programs for new members or early career professionals.
    • Objective 2.6 – Support members working in various disciplines within an organization that also includes aspects of music librarianship.
  • Supports Goal 3 – Cultivate Inclusivity
    • Objective 3.7 – Offer targeted conference programming, pathways to involvement, and enhanced outreach efforts to members of underrepresented groups including people of color, public library employees, and support staff. Draw on MLA chapter expertise to encourage involvement in national participation.