Improving Representation and Access Through Ethical Description MLA session Friday, March 3, 2023 Summary by Chuck Peters, Indiana University Program slides are available via Humanities Commons, “Improving Representation and Access Through Ethical Description (MLA 2023 session)” Speakers: Allison McClanahan, Indiana University; Kristi Bergland, University of Minnesota; Treshani Perera, University of Kentucky Members of the MLA community discussed ways that they have approached ethical description at their institutions:   Archives of Traditional Music, Indiana University, Bloomington Allison McClanahan (Collections and Cataloging Librarian, Archives of Traditional Music, Indiana University), described areas of focus in improving patron access and use of materials in the library catalog. The ATM, one of the oldest and largest university-based ethnographic and sound archives in the US, includes vocal and instrumental music, linguistic materials, folklore, interviews, and oral history. Ethical description at the ATM includes adding bilingual and dual script description. When possible, the script from the language

The Journey to Enlightenment Continues: Further conversations between public and technical services professionals. Music Library Association Annual Meeting March 4, 2022 Session summary by Nurhak Tuncer During this year’s MLA conference, another eye-opening and informal session was sponsored in collaboration between the Cataloging and Metadata Committee and the Public Services Committee. The speakers and moderators for this session were Victoria Peters, Nara Newcomer, Sylvia Yang, Casey Mullin, Hermine Vermeij, Allison McClanahan, and Andrea L. Beckendorf. This virtual session was divided into six main themes in terms of discoverability and searchability: Name-Titles for Works/Known Items Genre/Form Terms Medium of Performance Terms Faceting Communication/Collaboration Advocacy For each theme, the attendees were grouped into virtual rooms. Then attendees gave their feedback and experiences from their institutions. Specific Integrated Library Systems (ILS) like Alma, Folio, and Sirsi were mentioned under these six themes. Each one of these ILS platforms has its limitations that directly

Session summary Josh Henry began the session with a presentation on ergonomics and how accessibility and usability grew out of that field. Metadata producers are at risk for repetitive stress injuries. Some tips for reducing repetitive motion are to change your posture throughout the day, take breaks, avoid clutter under your desk and in your office, don’t let light reflect off your monitor, and avoid reaching—have the things you use most close at hand. The right kind of chair can help support your back and allow your forearms and wrists to be in a horizontal and neutral position. Your monitor and keyboard placement should allow your shoulders to be relaxed and your arms to be neither cramped nor reaching. In response to questions, Josh mentioned that standing desks can be beneficial but aren’t necessarily better than sitting desks, and that using a regular keyboard and mouse with laptops is better

Keith Knop (University of Georgia) Chuck Peters (Indiana University) Summary by Chelsea Hoover (Syracuse University) In this presentation Chuck Peters, the head of music cataloging at Indiana University, and Keith Knop, the head of music cataloging at the University of Georgia, discussed the process of creating provider-neutral bibliographic records for digital scores, as well as policies and guidelines to consider when creating such records. Chuck opened the presentation by discussing the challenges cataloging digital scores has presented. Among the challenges of cataloging digital scores has been the lack of music-specific guidelines. Furthermore, Chuck noted that various methods of discovery and acquisition, such as vendor supplied or composer supplied scores, as well as various licensing, circulation, and access decisions, have impacted how these scores have been processed and cataloged. Chuck observed that while the music-specific documentation for creating provider-neutral records for digital scores has been lacking, general cataloging guidelines and procedures,

Music Library Association Annual Meeting 2020, Norfolk, VA Summary written by Chuck Peters, Indiana University Session presenters: Tracey Snyder, Cornell University; Angela Pratesi, University of Northern Iowa; Kate Lambaria, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Allison McClanahan, Indiana University; Lisa Wollenberg, University of Hartford Sponsors: Cataloging and Metadata Committee, Instruction Subcommittee, Reference and Access Services Subcommittee In this session, cataloging, reference, and library instruction experts were given the opportunity to interact. Through a guided discussion of their respective challenges, opportunities, and successes, participants focused on the primary goal of improving patron outcomes in the library. Those attending the session were seated around tables arranged by brand of integrated library system (ILS), and/or discovery layer. Each table included attendees with an assortment of job responsibilities, to enhance the discussion. Allison McClanahan, Collections and Cataloging Librarian, Archives of Traditional Music, Indiana University, and Lisa Wollenberg, Public Services Librarian, University of Hartford, assisted with

Music Library Association Annual Meeting 2020, Norfolk, VA   Summary written by Kristi Bergland, University of Minnesota Session presenters: Daniel Pitti, University of Virginia; Lynnsey Weissenberger, Irish Traditional Music Archive   In this session, Daniel Pitti spoke about the resource Social Networks and Archival Context Cooperative (SNAC), which was created to describe corporate bodies, persons and families, and link the relationships between them and the documentation of their lives and work held in archives around the world. In a pre-recorded presentation, Lynnsey Weissenberger described the linked data tools developed at the Irish Traditional Music Archive through the LITMUS project to describe and visualize the complex relationships within Irish traditional music and dance. Daniel Pitti is the Director of the Social Networks and Archival Context Cooperative, University of Virginia Library. He began his presentation with an introduction to SNAC, a “cooperatively maintained resource for the description of corporate bodies, persons and families

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