MLA Board Statement on COVID-19 and Student Workers

The Board of the Music Library Association strongly encourages academic library administrations to ensure that student workers—often our most financially vulnerable employees—continue to receive compensation throughout periods of closure or reduced service hours related to the outbreak of COVID-19. Furthermore, compensation should not require an employee’s presence on site. Music library student workers, in particular, are often especially vulnerable to loss of essential income due to the many cancelled performances that would ordinarily supplement their student wages, but all student library workers should be afforded the same protection. Whether through remote work options, a stipend equal to their lost library wages, or other creative solutions, it is imperative that libraries and academic institutions financially support our valuable student workers despite the constantly changing landscape.