Board of Directors
The Board of Directors administers and manages the affairs of the Music Library Association, formulates and executes its policies, and realizes its stated purposes. It acts in the name of the Association between its annual meetings, and it may exercise all powers except those which are vested exclusively in the members.
The Board of Directors comprises the eleven officers of the Association. Nine of these officers are elected and are voting members of the Board: President, Vice-President/Past President, Recording Secretary, and six members-at-large; the Administrative Officer and Assistant Administrative Officer are appointed by the Board and may not vote.
Business Office
Special Officers
Current Advertising Manager
Description
The Advertising Manager is responsible for coordinating the advertising for NOTES and on the MLA web site. In this capacity, the Advertising Manager sells advertising space to current, new, and “lapsed” advertisers through direct mail and telephone campaigns and attendance at conferences.
Current Archivist
Melissa Wertheimer
Description
The MLA Archivist is a special officer of MLA whose principal responsibility is to oversee MLA’s archives activities. Duties include serving as MLA’s official contact with the Curator of Special Collections in Performing Arts (SCPA), University of Maryland, owner and custodian of the MLA Archives.
Current Convention Manager
Wendy Sistrunk
Description
The Convention Manager is authorized by the President and the Board to coordinate and oversee the planning of national meetings of the Association.
Current Assistant Convention Manager
Andrew Justice
Description
The Assistant Convention Manager is authorized by the President and the Board to coordinate and oversee the planning of national meetings of the Association.
Current Development Officer
Description
The Development Officer oversees the development/fund-raising functions of the Association, and works closely with MLA’s Board of Directors, Administrative Officer, Business Office, and President to foster a culture of philanthropy that supports fund development and the organization’s mission.
Current Placement Officer
Sara Outhier
Description
The Placement Officer manages the Association’s Placement Service, a clearinghouse for information about positions available and music librarians seeking positions. The Placement Officer disseminates descriptions of those positions via MLA’s website.
Current Publicity Officer
Description
Current Web Manager
Katie Buehner
Description
The Web Manager, working in close collaboration with and utilizing the support of the Web Committee, has final responsibility for overseeing visual design, functionality, and content creation on the Music Library Association’s web presence.
Current Assistant Web Manager
Description
COMMITTEES
Charge
The Archives and Special Collections Committee identifies the concerns and interests of music librarians responsible for archives and special collections; advises the MLA membership on best practices for archival appraisal, acquisitions, processing, arrangement, description, preservation, and access; and provides a forum for information exchange and discussion among music archivists and librarians.
Members
- Adriana Cuervo Committee Chair
- Sofia Becerra-Licha2017-2021
- Maristella Feustle2017-2021
- Beth Iseminger2019-2023
More about this Committee
Charge
The Career Development and Services Committee exists to provide ongoing programs that assist music librarians to secure suitable and relevant employment and to establish and maintain viable and meaningful career paths. The membership of the Committee seeks to provide experienced and unbiased mentoring and counsel on matters pertaining to career development and workplace dynamics. In addition, the Committee monitors developments in personnel-related areas and seeks to provide guidance through individualized counseling and, as deemed beneficial, sponsor or provide relevant Conference programming.
Members
- Emma Dederick and Timothy Sestrick Committee Chair
- Leslie McCall2016-2020
- Catherine Hammer2017-2021
- Shelley Rogers2017-2021
- Janneka Guise2018-2022
- Lisa Hooper2018-2022
- Drew Beisswenger2019-2023
- Joel Roberts2019-2023
- Jessica Abbazioex-officio
- Joy Doanex-officio
- Brendan Higginsex-officio
- Sara Outhierex-officio
- Jonathan Saucedaex-officio
Charge
The Cataloging and Metadata Committee ensures and enhances access to and organization of music and music-related resources based on established and evolving content standards, metadata encoding standards, and vocabularies. The Committee is made up of representatives of the music cataloging and metadata community and represents the interests of this community by sharing our subject expertise in the development and revision of national and international standards and vocabularies for the description of music resources and for the encoding of information about such resources. The Committee maintains active communication with the music cataloging and metadata community and between music catalogers and metadata librarians and the Library of Congress. In addition, the Committee disseminates relevant information on cataloging and metadata to the membership of MLA. The Committee collaborates with the Library of Congress, with committees that are part of the American Library Association, and with other groups in support of the Committee’s charge and the mission of the Music Library Association. The Committee and Subcommittee chairs serve as MLA liaisons to relevant groups, particularly those associated with ALA.
Members
- Tracey Snyder Committee Chair
More about this Committee
Charge
To coordinate the fundraising activities of the Association, including the establishment of annual giving and campaign strategies; to develop expertise in the area of fundraising; and to recommend to the Board specific fundraising ventures and the means to implement them. The committee is responsible for the creation and dissemination of fundraising materials such as brochures, websites, video projects, etc.
Members
- Lindsay Brown Committee Chair
- Corinne Forstot-Burke2016-2020
- Sara White2017-2021
- Z. Sylvia Yang2017-2021
- Mark McKnightex-officio
- Tracey Rudnickex-officio
- Janelle Westex-officio
More about this Committee
Charge
The Diversity Committee will work to advance the organization’s efforts in diversity by encouraging the participation of groups historically underrepresented in music librarianship; including, but not limited to: African Americans, Asian Americans, Latin Americans and Native Americans. The committee will advocate for the recruitment, retention and advancement of members of these groups in MLA and in the profession. Activities will include advising the organization on issues of diversity, monitoring the organization’s efforts in this area, and supporting activities, events and initiatives advancing diversity in MLA. The Chair will also serve ex officio on the Development Committee’s Subcommittee on Diversity Scholarships, the Membership Committee, and the Career Development and Services Committee.
Members
- Joy Doan Committee Chair
- Misti Shaw2017-2021
- Winston Barham2018-2022
- Callie Holmes2018-2022
- Terra Merkey2018-2022
- Sara Outhier2018-2022
- Z. Sylvia Yang2018-2022
- Zachary Tumlin2019-2023
- Nurhak Tuncer2019-2023
- Misti Shaw2019-2023
- Mallory Sajewskiex-officio
Charge
To develop and coordinate continuing educational opportunities for a diverse audience including professional music librarians at all levels of their career and other professionals, paraprofessionals, and students regardless of whether they are MLA members or have a background in music or music librarianship. The committee should pursue both traditional and innovative delivery methods, both in person and digital. The committee will maintain a rotation of educational opportunities related to all aspects identified in the Core Competencies for Music Librarians and other evolving needs of the profession.
Members
- Sonia Archer-Capuzzo Committee Chair
- Sharon Benamou2016-2020
- Kristi Bergland2016-2020
- Timothy Sestrick2016-2020
- Grover Baker2017-2021
- Greg MacAyeal2017-2021
- Lina Sheahan2017-2021
- Liza Weisbrod2017-2021
- Thomas Bell2018-2022
- Heather Fisher2018-2022
- Grace Haynes2018-2022
- Alan Asher2019-2023
- Sarah Cohen2019-2023
- Amy Hunsaker2019-2023
- Beth Thompson2019-2023
Charge
- To identify and evaluate current trends, tools, services, and developments relating to solutions and systems used by libraries and librarians, with special attention to their handling of music materials, incorporating a balance of public services and technical services aspects.
- To identify requirements that are unique or of special concern for music materials for library systems of all types.
- To coordinate and facilitate the exchange of this information.
Members
- Jonathan Manton Committee Chair
- Amy Jackson2017-2021
- Michelle Urberg2017-2021
- Beth Thompson2019-2023
Charge
The charge of the Finance Committee is identical to that of the Fiscal Officer. See section II. E. 12. a. (Board of Directors: Fiscal Officer) of the Administrative Handbook for the procedures and policies to be followed: As chair of the Finance Committee, the Fiscal Officer is responsible for preparing the annual budget and monitoring the Association’s income and expenditures during the fiscal year, which runs from July 1 to June 30.
Members
- Beth Iseminger Committee Chair
- Mark McKnightex-officio
- Janelle Westex-officio
- Tracey Rudnickex-officio
Charge
The Legislation Committee provides current information to the membership regarding the status of legislation and other legal matters likely to affect music libraries. When appropriate, the committee prepares position papers representing the opinion of the membership for government agencies such as the Copyright Office.
Members
- Kyra Folk-Farber Committee Chair
- Kathleen DeLaurenti2017-2021
- Jacey Kepich2018-2022
- Pamela Pagels2018-2022
- Marci Cohenex-officio
Charge
The charge of the Membership Committee will be to increase and significantly diversify MLA’s membership in all categories by reaching out to the broad range of populations we serve, as well as develop and implement an active and successful means of retaining current and future members by identifying and promoting the benefits and added value of membership in our Association.
Members
- Mallory Sajewski Committee Chair
- Kenneth Kauffman2016-2020
- Terry Lewis2016-2020
- Jessica Abbazio2017-2021
- Joe Clark2017-2021
- Renee McBride2019-2023
- Rick McRae2019-2023
- Jessica Abbazio2019-2023
- Joy Doanex-officio
- Lisa Shiotaex-officio
- Terra Merkeyex-officio
Charge
To seek candidates for offices whose terms are next to expire and recommend persons to receive citations.
Members
- Gerald Szymanski Committee Chair
- Abbey Thompson2019-2020
- Laurie Bailey2019-2020
- Vincent Pelote2019-2020
- Melissa Moll2019-2020
Charge
Primarily a) to develop the MLA Oral History Project plan and conduct recorded oral history interviews of MLA members to document the history and accomplishments of MLA and its members and b) to have these interviews transcribed and deposited in the MLA Archives at the University of Maryland for future research and Association use.
To coordinate with MLA chapter and music-related oral history projects to provide opportunities for MLA colleagues to partner with others and to share project ideas, strategies, best practices, and results.
To provide education in conducting oral history projects using established professional practices to the MLA membership.
To promote awareness and use of the MLA Oral History Project materials to the MLA membership as deemed in the best interest of the Association.
Members
- Therese Dickman Committee Chair
- Marci Cohen2016-2020
- Kathleen Haefliger2016-2020
- Treshani Perera2016-2020
- Daryll Stevens2016-2020
- Woody Collahan2017-2021
- Lynne Weber2017-2021
- Robert DeLand2018-2022
- Sara Wallace2018-2022
Charge
To suggest agenda items and set priorities for the board and to lead the discussion on long-range planning.
Members
- Bruce Evans Committee Chair
- Rachel Fox Von Swearingen2018-2020
- Misti Shaw2018-2020
- Kimmy Szeto2018-2020
Charge
The Preservation Committee coordinates preservation activities within the Music Library Association by keeping the membership informed of ongoing research and development in preservation, encouraging appropriate ways of handling music materials, and addressing specific preservation problems. The Committee concerns itself with the preservation of all forms of music materials, print and other media, held by libraries and archives.
Members
- Treshani Perera Committee Chair
- Maria Jane Loizou2016-2020
- Matthew Vest2016-2020
- Elizabeth Berndt-Morris2017-2021
- Jonathan Manton2018-2022
- Peter Shirts2018-2022
- Kristi Bergland2019-2023
- Keith Eiten2019-2023
- Bill Paxson2019-2023
- William Sherfey2019-2023
- Melissa Wertheimerex-officio
Charge
The Program Committee, in cooperation with the Convention Manager, is responsible for preparing the programs for annual meetings and for conducting all business concerning these programs.
Members
- econor Committee Chair
- Joy Doan2018-2021
- Carolyn Dow2018-2021
- Kevin Kishimoto2019-2022
- Kristina Shanton2019-2022
- Wendy Sistrunkex-officio
Charge
Please provide either a template or field name
{@group_charge}Members
- Stephanie Bonjack Committee Chair
- Amy Edmonds2017-2021
- Catherine Hammer2017-2021
- John Redford2017-2021
- Karen Burke2018-2022
- Ana Dubnjakovic2019-2023
- Scott Stone2019-2023
- Katie Buehnerex-officio
Charge
Please provide either a template or field name
{@group_charge}Members
- Kerry Mastellar Committee Chair
- Margaret Corby2017-2020
- Stephen Henry2017-2021
- Jason Imbesi2017-2021
- Amy Jackson2017-2021
- Abbey Thompson2017-2021
- Ray Heigemeir2019-2023
- Katie Buehnerex-officio
- Janelle Westex-officio
- Michelle Hahnex-officio
- Joshua Henryex-officio
- Tracey Rudnickex-officio
Interest Groups
Charge
This interest group focuses on all music of all the Americas. Varied topics include blues, jazz, hiphop, sacred harp singing, spirituals, reggae, the Boston Six composers ( Amy Beach, Arthur Foote, Edward MacDowell, George Chadwick, and Horatio Parker), and composers who specialize in film music, ballets, concert music, operas, etc. Our facebook page is open for all to post performances, symposiums, and other topics of interest.
Coordinator
Sarah Dorsey
Charge
The Bibliography Interest Group provides a forum at each annual meeting for those who: (1) are in the middle of a research project, (2) are thinking of beginning a research project, or, (3) enjoy hearing about the research of other music librarians. Attendees may share about current and possible projects, and glean input and advice from the other attendees, some of which are experienced researchers.
Coordinator
David Hursh
Charge
Welcome to the Blacklight Discovery Platform Group. It provides the MLA community with a forum for discussing the Blacklight Discovery Platform and for sharing and advocating for developments that particularly effect optimal discovery, linkage, and bibliographic display of music materials. This group is intended not only for members from institutions that have already implemented Blacklight (or are in some process thereof) but also for those who may be exploring Blacklight’s features, particularly those impacting music.
Coordinator
More about this Interest GroupCharge
This is a group for people interested in the Digital Humanities.
Coordinator
Francesca Giannetti
Charge
This interest group generates presentations on jazz and popular music topics and discusses resources related to the subject. Some members come from institutions with an emphasis on jazz or pop music; others have a scholarly or personal interest. See our Tumblr, http://mla-jazzpop-rt.tumblr.com, to find out what we’ve been listening to, reading or are otherwise excited to have in our library collections.
Coordinator
Stephanie Lewin-Lane
More about this Interest Group
Charge
The Music Industry and Arts Management Interest Group is a forum for any librarian interested in any aspect of music business, arts management, publishing, music student career preparation, and other related areas.
Check out our resources lists and feel free to contribute. http://bit.ly/2lUxSkM
Coordinator
Veronica Wells More about this Interest GroupLiaisons
Charge
The Archives and Special Collections Committee identifies the concerns and interests of music librarians responsible for archives and special collections; advises the MLA membership on best practices for archival appraisal, acquisitions, processing, arrangement, description, preservation, and access; and provides a forum for information exchange and discussion among music archivists and librarians.
Members
- Adriana Cuervo Committee Chair
- Sofia Becerra-Licha2017-2021
- Maristella Feustle2017-2021
- Beth Iseminger2019-2023
More about this Committee