Minutes of the Greater New York Chapter of MLA
March 29, 2006: Fales Library, Department of Special Collections, Bobst Library, New York University, NY
Attendees: John Andrus, Karl Baranoff, David Brown, Gary Cantrell, Mi-Hye Chyun, Heidi Gottman, Ruth Henderson, Peter Hirsch, Marguerite Iskenderian, A. Karel, Carrie Magness, Jack McCleland, Amanda Maple, Gisele Schierhorst, Matt Snyder, Jon Stroop, A. Toulas, Patricia Thomson, Kent Underwood, Barbara Walzer, Janet Weaver, Rachel Wetstein, Sinae Yoon.
The meeting began at 10:10 AM. A continental breakfast was provided compliments of the Dean of Libraries, Carol Mandel. Chapter Chair Gisele Schierhorst publicly thanked Music Librarian Kent Underwood for hosting the meeting and Vice-Chair Peter Hirsh for organizing the program. Thanks were also extended to Secretary/Treasurer Mi-Hye Chyun for agreeing to administer the chapter listserv from Westminster Choir College/Rider University, and to Webmaster Jon Stroop for redesigning the chapter's web site.
Marvin Taylor, Head Curator of the Fales Library, gave a presentation which focused on the history of the "Downtown," arts and was highlighted by primary sources from the Fales collections. Kent Underwood's presentation, "Revisiting Downtown," addressed the historical and geographical distinctions between "Downtown," and "Uptown," contemporary music.
A business meeting was held at 12:30 PM. Vice-Chair Peter Hirsch revisited some of the items originally proposed at the Memphis meeting. It was suggested that the chapter reach out to public library personnel in our chapter area who may have questions concerning music reference service, or the processing and development of music collections. A call was made for volunteers from the chapter to contact local consortial organizations (such as the Long Island Libraries Resource Council) and open up a dialogue. It was suggested that Darwin Scott from Brandeis University come to speak to the chapter and share his experience in carrying out a similar initiative.
Mi-Hye Chyun announced that the new chapter listserv is hosted by Rider University and managed by Mi-Hye Chyun. The address is: gnymla-l@rider.edu. If you'd like to leave or to be added to the list, please contact Mi-Hye at chyun@rider.edu. If you have any questions related to the web page, please contact Jon Stroop at jstroop@princeton.edu.
There is no screening mechanism amongst the members and it is encouraged to use the new listserv to share any information.
Some of the ideas for future meetings were to visit new Morgan Library, Vassar College , or joint meeting with another chapter.
Due to the current positive status of the chapter treasury, a motion was carried out that the membership dues be suspended for the 2006-2007 fiscal year. A majority of the chapter voted in favor of this motion. Suggestions were made to use the existing funds for scholarships, or travel for first-time attendees to the national meeting. The business meeting adjourned at 1:30 pm.
After a break for lunch and a visit to NYU's Grey Art Gallery, the chapter reconvened at the ARChive of Contemporary Music (54 White Street ) at 3:30pm. The ARchive is a non-profit organiztion which collects, preserves, and provides information about popular music of all cultures and races throughout the world from 1950 to the present. Founder and director Bob George gave a tour of the facility, which houses America 's largest collection of popular recordings (more than 1.6 million discs). The chapter meeting ended around 5:00 pm.
Secretary/treasurer's report
(The chapter's account is with Bank of America):
- Balance as of February, 2006 $3,185.68
- March, 2006
Deposit (dues): $40.00 3,225.68 - April, 2006
Deposit (dues): $50.00 3,275.68 - Current Balance as of April, 2006: $3,275.68
