Walter Gerboth Committee Annual Report 2018

submitted by Sonia Archer-Capuzzo, Chair

Current Roster

  • Sonia Archer-Capuzzo, Chair (2019)
  • Molly O’Brien (2020)

  • Lina Sheahan (2021)

List of Previous Goals and Progress Made

  • Develop additional ways to draw more eligible applications through outreach/publicity: Working with the Publicity and Outreach Officer, expand promotion beyond traditional email list and social media venues. Ideas: 1) direct contact at MLA meetings or by correspondence with groups that include a  high percentage of early-career members, such as MLA student group, MLA new/members first time attendees, MLA and MOUG conference travel grant recipients; 2) explore promotion timed with other library or music research grant CFPs; 3) explore promotion avenues with LIS educators/continuing education.
    • Calls for applications for the 2019 award were sent to MLA-L, MOUG-L, IAML-L, the American Musicological Society, and ALA-L. Five applications for the 2019 award were received by the due date, which is a higher number than in recent years. Other ways of promoting the award have yet to be explored. This is a project that we will likely begin pursuing in fall/winter 2018-2019, after review of the current round of applications has been completed.
  • Develop additional ways to draw more eligible applications through application details: Provide clarification of eligible types of expenses in the call for proposals; consider including sample application.
    • This was completed in 2017.
  • Develop additional ways to draw more eligible applications through criteria: Explore revision of early career definition as first 5 years to reflect changes in library profession; any other necessary clarifications or revisions.
    • This was completed in 2017.

List of Future Goals

  • Continue to work on improving outreach/publicity: Working with the Publicity and Outreach Officer, expand promotion beyond traditional email list and social media venues. Ideas: 1) direct contact at MLA meetings or by correspondence with groups that include a  high percentage of early-career members, such as MLA student group, MLA new/members first time attendees, MLA and MOUG conference travel grant recipients. 2) explore promotion timed with other library or music research grant CFPs. 3) explore promotion avenues with LIS educators/continuing education.

    • Related MLA Strategic Plan Goals: Organizational Excellence, Value of the Profession
  • Develop succession plan documentation, to be stored in Google Docs, which can be passed down each year to the new Chair of the Committee to make the annual change in leadership run smoothly.
    • Related MLA Strategic Plan Goals: Organizational Excellence