Publications Committee Annual Report 2019

submitted by Liza Vick

Current Roster

  • Liza Vick (Chair, 2018 -)
  • Kathleen Abromeit (Basic Manual Series, 2017-)
  • Dan Boomhower (Basic Music Library, 2006-)
  • Deborah Campana (Notes, 2015-)
  • Marci Cohen (Copyright Website Editor, 2016-)
  • Kathleen DeLaurenti (Open Access, 2017-)
  • Maristella Feustle (Index & Bibliography Series, 2017-)
  • Michelle Hahn (Newsletter, 2015-)
  • Christopher Holden (Music Cataloging Bulletin, 2015-)
  • Stephen Mantz (Advertising Manager, 2019-)
  • Jonathan Sauceda (Technical Reports Series, 2016-)
  • Anne Shelley (Notes e-contracts editor, 2015-)
  • Tracey Rudnick (MLA Administrative Officer, 2018 -)
  • Patrick Wall (A-R Editions)
  • Janelle West (MLA Assistant Administrative Officer, 2016-)
  • James L. Zychowicz (A-R Editions)

List of Previous Goals and Progress Made

  1.  Notes:  When the copyright assignment form for articles is finalized, make similar adjustments to the reviewer forms.
    • The copyright assignment form for articles was finalized and should be in use but we haven’t yet made adjustments to review author forms (the website took priority this year).
  1. A-R / MLA Monographic Series: Revise mission statements for monographic series; consider moving to Open Access after titles have been on the market for several years.

    • We revised author proposal guidelines for all of the monographic series (and held a webinar for new, potential authors). Kathleen DeLaurenti is working with A-R to reach agreement about open access language to insert in contracts (so that older titles may move to OA after several years of sales).

  1. Open Access: Kathleen DeLaurenti and Liza Vick met in May of 2018 and agreed to pursue two  initiatives: Public Domain Song Anthology project (Open Jazz) and Humanities Commons: a sustainable, consortial model for open access journal hosting, conference registration and programming.

    • The Public Domain Song Anthology is close to fruition (fundraising was successful and the volume is being edited).
    • We were overly ambitious last year and time did not allow us to make progress on Humanities Commons.

List of Future Goals

GOALS 2019-20

  1. Website revamp: we have drafts of revised publications pages in Basecamp and are prioritizing Notes and monographic series areas
    • Strategic plan: advocacy (ethical dissemination and evolution of scholarly communication) and the value of the profession (increase the visibility of the association)
  1. We want to do more effective outreach to other arts and library organizations via marketing our books, in particular.

    • Strategic plan: engage with other fine arts organizations.

  1. We appointed a small advisory board to assist Kathleen DeLaurenti as Open Access Editor. Their goals include establishing written guidelines for proposals, reshaping the editor’s charge, deciding upon scope and priorities for this new program, and providing editorial assistance.

    • Strategic plan: advocacy (ethical dissemination and evolution of scholarly communication) and the value of the profession (increase the visibility of the association)