Music Library Association-Atlantic Chapter

The University of Pittsburgh University Library System (www.library.pitt.edu/) cordially invites you to attend the annual meeting of the Music Library Association Atlantic Chapter in Pittsburgh the weekend of November 17-18, 2000. Come join us and see all that Pitt (http://www.pitt.edu) and Pittsburgh (www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us) have to offer! Our sessions will take place in Room 232 of the Cathedral of Learning (http://www.pitt.edu/~natnlyrm/countries/cath-tour.html) on the Pitt campus.

Friday, November 17, 2000

Saturday, November 18, 2000

We are currently working on tours of Heinz Hall and the Benedum Center, home to the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the Pittsburgh Opera. Closer to home are the Nationality Rooms in the Cathedral of Learning (http://www.pitt.edu/~natnlyrm/countries/natrooms.html), the Darlington Memorial Library (http://www.library.pitt.edu/libraries/darlington/darlington.html), and the Center for American Music (http://www.library.pitt.edu/libraries/cam/cam.html).

Accommodations

In the name of the MLA Atlantic Chapter, I have booked a block of 20 rooms (10 singles and 10 doubles, both of which can accommodate 1 to 4 people per room) at the Holiday Inn Select–University Center (100 Lytton Ave., 412-682-6200). This hotel is right across the street from the Cathedral of Learning where our meeting will take place. The cost, single or double, is $102 per night (Pitt corporate rate). There is also the Wyndham Garden Hotel (3454 Forbes Ave., Oakland, 412-683-2040), a short walk from campus. Single or double rooms are $95 per night (standard) or $124 per night (executive). A little further away (six blocks) is the Hampton Inn (3315 Hamlet 412-681-1000). Their Pitt rate is $89, single or double.

Transportation

Getting from Pittsburgh International Airport to Oakland can be expensive. Cabs are about $30– $35 one-way. The hotels above are served by the Airlines Transportation shuttle, 412-471-8900. They are located on the baggage claim/ground transportation level of the airport. One-way service is $12.50, round-trip is $21. A cheap alternative is to take the 28X Airport/Oakland shuttle for $1.99 each way. Drop-off is at Webster Hall, a short walk from the Holiday Inn Select hotel.

Entertainment

Pittsburgh has more cultural activities than some expect! On any given night, you can find an interesting mix of music, dance, theater, and art presentations in several venues. A few suggestions:

Dining

The Oakland area of Pittsburgh offers a rich array of restaurants. Sample foods from around the world in a small area around the Pitt campus. Pan-Asian, Korean, Moroccan, Indian, Italian, American, fast food, coffeehouses, cafes: there’s something for everyone! A stroll down Craig Street on the Fifth Avenue side of campus, or down Atwood Street off Forbes Avenue will serve up many choices of venues in which to dine, unwind, or just chill out! We hope you all can join us for this exciting meeting in Pittsburgh.

Chapter Report

The annual Fall meeting of the Atlantic Chapter was held November 17-18, 2000 in Pittsburgh. Many thanks go to Jim Cassaro, Music Librarian at the University of Pittsburgh, for 
organizing and hosting our meeting.

Session I was entitled "The Mysteries of Pittsburgh Explained I." Jim Cassaro talked about the University's Theodore M. Finney Music Library and Kathyrn Logan, Head of the Music and Art Department at The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, talked about the activities at her institution. The members learned about the history of the libraries, the various clientele served, and types of queries received. Members also got to see some of the wonderful treasures housed at The Theodore M. Finney Music Library. Those interested were invited to a tour of the Art and Music Department at The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh the next afternoon to learn more of their services and see some of their treasures.

Session II was entitled "Music Libraries in the Service of…" Members heard from Brian Kern, Technical Services Librarian in the Cataloging Department of Muskingum College, on "Sound Recording Archives and Recording Companies", Mark Kanny, Music Critic with The Pittsburgh Tribune Review, on "Music Critics", and Jim Cunningham, Director of WQED-FM Radio, on "Radio Stations". Each speaker talked about how they use music libraries to help them with the work they do and how important our work is to their success.

A reception took place in the Stephen Foster Memorial Room at the Center for American Music. Members had an opportunity to enjoy a variety of objects beautifully arranged in display cases.

Session III was entitled "The Mysteries of Pittsburgh Explained II." This session featured Antoinette Powell, Music Librarian at Carnegie Mellon University, and Dr. Deane L. 
Root, Curator of the Center for American Music. Again, each speaker talked about the history of their institutions, the type of patrons they serve and the kinds of questions they receive. At the end of the session, members were invited to the Center for American Music for a tour and description of the treasures of the Stephen Foster Memorial Room and holdings of the Center for American Music.

The annual meeting ended with the chapter's business meeting. Topics discussed included the selection of a nominating committee to find candidates for a new chapter chair, the chapter newsletter in its new electronic format at http://libra.jmu.edu/users/cockbuba/mla/mwsltr_fall_2000.htm, ATMLA-L, the chapter's new listserv, and local arrangements planning for MLA 2004 in Washington, DC.

Future annual meetings of the Atlantic chapter will be hosted by the University of Virginia in Fall 2001 and the University of Maryland in Fall 2002. 

Donna Fournier
MLA Atlantic Chapter, Chair