Dear MLA readers,
I’m long overdue for a column from the President, and so I write to share news about the board’s recent activities. Before I launch into that let me express what an honor it is to serve as MLA President. Our board and membership continually impress me with your talent, wisdom, and service.
Conference planning:
At the May/June board of directors budget meetings the finance committee recommended (and the board agreed) to keep membership dues stable for FY23 and to increase streaming rates for the convention budget (the convention is in hybrid mode for 2023, Saint Louis). As you’ll read in the minutes (see rates, page 13: ), the hybrid convention model is significantly more expensive than either solely in person or fully virtual, particularly due to streaming technology costs. The Finance Committee and board agreed that keeping the in-person registration rates stable and increasing the virtual registration rates will help offset the costs of the conference. Tables reflecting precise changes are published in the minutes, and you’ll find links to those above and here: https://www.musiclibraryassoc.org/page/Boardminutes.
The board, in consultation with our program chair for MLA/TLA 2023 (Rachel Smiley) and our convention managers (Andrew Justice and Sylvia Yang) voted to approve the following conference lineup through 2026 (alternating virtual and hybrid):
2023: Saint Louis, MO – Hybrid (MLA/TLA)
2024: Cincinnati, OH – Hybrid
2025: Fully Virtual
2026: Salt Lake City, UT – Hybrid
In summary, we made a deliberate move toward alternating hybrid and virtual in response to both the need to control costs (virtual years allow us to recoup expenses from hosting hybrid, which is more expensive) and to the post-conference survey results, wherein members endorsed our shared values of inclusivity and equity. Virtual components allow us to include our members who can’t travel for a variety of reasons including lack of institutional support. Finally, the board also voted to support a pilot institutional group registration (details in progress), in response to feedback from members. Other initiatives are in the works, in response to focus group feedback during the strategic planning process (but too early yet to report – watch this space).
Student member rights and privileges:
The May/June board meetings were eventful. Many of you may recall that in March at the conference business meeting, we discussed the desire many members have for students to have voting privileges in MLA (new business). At the spring meeting the board voted in support of student members being able to vote and hold elected office. Because this required a constitution/bylaws amendment, a ballot was sent to the entire membership in September. MLA members voted IN FAVOR of the proposal to grant voting benefits to student members, IN FAVOR of the proposal to grant eligibility to student members to run for and hold office, and IN FAVOR of the proposal to establish the Student/Early-Career Representative position as an elected, voting board member with a two-year term in the MLA Constitution and Bylaws.
The Committee Recruitment Task Force, chaired by Erin Conor, has recommended a new appointments procedure that (in accordance with our strategic goals) increases transparency, equity, and inclusivity. A new committee management team shall be formed via open call and will feature a common application, and measures to improve equity of representation. Timelines and details are yet to be worked out if we are to implement this effectively and so I ask for your patience as we roll this out. Committee chairs should rest assured that you’ll still have ample input into the recruitment process. A charge will likely be approved in the fall, and membership call to follow. Thank you to Erin and her team: Mary Huismann, Kristine Nelsen, Mallory Sajewski, Zachary Tumlin, and Kristin Wolski.
Publicity and Outreach Officer: After extended recruitment challenges, the board came to the decision to redistribute the work of this position between the newsletter editor (the social media posts), the Membership Committee, and the board (for handling conference exhibits and music librarianship presentations to library school programs).
Strategic Planning: MLA now has an inspiring 2022-2030 strategic plan thanks to Holling Smith-Borne and his fearless task force: https://www.musiclibraryassoc.org/page/Stratplanlanding. All of our work seeks to foster the overarching goals in support of our mission and values: organize strategically, develop and maintain membership, foster inclusivity, and strengthen communications. The board planning officers (Scott Stone and Sonia Archer-Capuzzo) are working to coordinate regular action plans for implementation throughout the association (with regular reporting on a bi-annual basis).
Coming soon:
In closing, a teaser or few: look for forthcoming news about our second climate survey cycle soon. In late July an MLA cohort attended IAML in beautiful Prague and I do hope you’ll contribute a newsletter report if you attended. IAML-US is actively working with the IAML board on the best way to support colleagues in Ukrainian libraries. Many thanks to those of you who are working on your own initiatives (and do get in touch with the board if we can be of service).
And speaking of IAML, please consider joining us for a ‘meet the board’ event October 18. The event will have two focal points (with room for additional topics): the vitality of IAML’s
national branches, and the structure of IAML’s future congresses. The meeting will be scheduled twice during the day to facilitate for members from different time zones to participate.
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZArcOurrzMjE9MDUvJhXp0qn0q_cGytPgBB
Thank you all for everything you do to make MLA a wonderful community of music library stewards.
Sincerely,
Liza Vick, President