CMC Vocabularies Subcommittee
MLA Annual Report, July 1, 2021-June 30, 2022

Report title: Vocabularies Subcommittee Annual Report 2022
Submitted by: Janelle West
Email: janelle.west@unt.edu
Group name: Vocabularies Subcommittee

Group Members

• Janelle West, Chair (2026)
• Anne Adams (2023)
• Josh Aldorisio (2025)
• Kristi Bergland (2025)
• Blaine Brubaker (2026)
• Ann Churukian (2024)
• Patty Falk (2024)
• Geo Flores (2026)
• Mary Huismann (2024)
• Allison McClanahan (2023)
• Rick McRae (2026)
• Jennifer Olson (2023)
• Tomoko Shibuya (2026)
• Tracey Snyder (2024)
• Clare Spitzer (2025)
• Mark Scharff, NACO Music Project Coordinator (2025)
• Leo Martin, SACO Music Funnel Coordinator (2026)
• Maarja Vigorito, Library of Congress Representative
• Jay Weitz, OCLC Representative

Previous Goals

1. Continue review of music-related LCSH and LCGFT, and LCMPT terms appearing in monthly LC tentative lists with task group, VS LC representative, and the Music SACO Funnel Coordinator; submit comments to LC when appropriate. Continue with defined projects and ad hoc proposals for LCGFT and LCMPT. Goal areas: Value of the profession. Though not currently a separate, specific goal area in the strategic plan, these vocabularies projects further MLA’s efforts toward Diversity, Equity and Inclusion)
   • Task group has reviewed every monthly tentative list and submitted comments to LC Policy, Training, and Cooperative Programs Division (PTCP) when appropriate.
   • Monthly list review of LCSH has resulted in SACO proposals for corresponding LCGFT/LCMPT terms
   • Project underway to address problematic topical and genre terms related to Minstrelsy
2. Continue to serve as managing body for the Types of Compositions list and vetting body for the Thematic Indexes list (Goal areas: Value of the profession)
   • Types list continues to grow, based on proposals received from catalogers within and outside CMC structure
   • Thematic Indexes website updated to add links to entries for which they are available; 4 entries approved (1 for variant access points only), 1 existing entry updated; 5 active items under discussion
3. Enhance usability of Types of Compositions by adding plural terms, received as request to VS from cataloging practitioners (Goal areas: Value of the profession)—Revise timeline and resume project, working closely with CMC web editors
   • First phase of plurals for non-preferred/variant type terms have been completed and added to the list; another planned enhancement is the addition of Cyrillic when appropriate
   • Corresponding changes to the Principles of the List section of the Types manual are in progress
4. Continue work to provide tools to partially automate creation of faceted subject/genre/medium fields in catalog records (Goal areas: Value of the profession; Education: Technology)
   • Expand scope of existing OCLC Music Toolkit to include formats in addition to scores and music sound recordings: Toolkit has been optimized to run on records for video and on records for which scores, music sound recordings and videos are coded as secondary formats
   • Update plan for keeping mappings current with changes/updates in LC vocabularies: Project underway for updating mappings between new and revised LCSH, LCMPT, and LCGFT, using MCB as the primary resource; mappings updated through 2021 (except for the first three MCB issues of 2021) and under review with the task group
   • Initiate discussions with external cataloging organizations to share mutual work on vocabularies mapping (ALA Core SAC Subcommittee on Faceted Vocabularies (SSVF)) and extending functionality to other subsets of LCGFT (OLAC): Chair of the SSVF was invited to attend the annual business meeting of the Vocabularies Subcommittee to discuss the SSFV paper, “Retrospective Implementation of Faceted Vocabularies,” which resulted in a constructive and informative discussion
   • Explore options to make MLA’s mapping lists and documentation available/downloadable for use with any software/platform: GitHub identified as potentially viable option
   • Significant progress toward resolving mapping decisions requiring review (deferred or complex musical/conceptual decisions): Guiding document reviewed and annotated by outgoing and incoming chairs of the Subcommittee; now under review with the task group; decisions on 048/382 mappings in progress
5. Issue revised MLA LCMPT and LCGFT Best Practices documents, in a web-based format (Goal areas: Value of the profession; Education; [Accessibility and Inclusion])
   • Include requests received through open suggestion box: Suggestions for future revisions of the LCMPT and LCGFT Best Practices have been gathered and prioritized
   • Issue preliminary and final recommendations for revised voice/chorus terms: Crafting of recommendations is underway and nearing completion
   • Near-final drafts for discussion at MLA 2022 annual meeting: Revised timeline projects completion by 2023 annual meeting
   • Review of current document is underway as are discussions regarding revisions, amendments and additions
6. Vocabularies Subcommittee chair succession planning (Goal area: Operational Excellence)
   • New chair successfully recruited and trained.

Future Goals

• • Continue review of music-related LCSH and LCGFT, and LCMPT terms appearing in monthly LC tentative lists with task group, VS LC representative, and the Music SACO Funnel Coordinator; submit comments to LC when appropriate. Continue with defined projects and ad hoc proposals for LCGFT and LCMPT.
    • Goal Area 2: Develop and Retain Membership, Objective 2.4: Support members working in various disciplines within an organization that also includes aspects of music librarianship
    • Goal Area 3: Cultivate Inclusivity, Objective 3.4: Reflect DEIA principles in MLA’s leadership, membership, core values, mission, strategies and operations. Devote resources to clarifying and strengthening the “E” and “I” in DEIA
  • Continue to serve as managing body for the Types of Compositions list and vetting body for the Thematic Indexes list
    • Goal area 1: Organize Strategically, Objective 1.6: Develop a publishing strategy for MLA that defines the roles of official publishing outlets, including open access. Consider a plan that deliberately shifts MLA’s publishing toward open access over time. Support and enhance open access publishing for music disciplines by developing bibliographies of open access projects and initiatives and developing information and support for open access projects undertaken by MLA members
    • Goal area 2: Develop and Retain Membership, Objective 2.6: Promote MLA as being an Association that will advocate for our profession, our members, our users, our institutions and for diversity. Prioritize the visibility and awareness of advocacy efforts
  • Continue to enhance usability of Types of Compositions by to adding plural terms as appropriate
    • Goal Area 2: Develop and Retain Membership, Objective 2.6: Promote MLA as being an Association that will advocate for our profession, our members, our users, our institutions and for diversity. Prioritize the visibility and awareness of advocacy efforts
  • Continue work to provide tools to partially automate creation of faceted subject/genre/medium fields in catalog records.
    • Goal Area 1: Organize Strategically, Objective 1.6: Develop a publishing strategy for MLA that defines the roles of official publishing outlets, including open access. Consider a plan that deliberately shifts MLA’s publishing toward open access over time. Support and enhance open access publishing for music disciplines by developing bibliographies of open access projects and initiatives and developing information and support for open access projects undertaken by MLA members
    • Goal Area 2: Develop and Retain Membership, Objective 2.4: Support members working in various disciplines within an organization that also includes aspects of music librarianship
    • Explore GitHub as option for making MLA’s mapping lists and documentation available/downloadable
    • Reach consensus on mapping decisions regarding deferred or complex musical/conceptual areas
  • Issue revised MLA LCMPT and LCGFT Best Practices documents, in a web-based format
    • Goal Area 2: Develop and Retain Membership, Objective 2.6: Promote MLA as being an Association that will advocate for our profession, our members, our users, our institutions and for diversity. Prioritize the visibility and awareness of advocacy efforts
    • Goal Area 3: Cultivate Inclusivity, Objective 3.5: Prioritize accessibility at all MLA events, in-person and virtual, and in all MLA virtual spaces
    • Include requests received through open suggestion box
    • Issue preliminary and final recommendations for revised voice/chorus terms
    • Near-final drafts for discussion by end of year; publication of revised BPs by MLA 2023 annual meeting