The Atlantic Chapter Website (www.lib.jmu.edu/users/cockbuba/mla) has been up and running since February 2000. It has evolved several times since then to better serve the needs of our members. The website provides traditional information like a list of officers, committee structure, a welcome from our chair, Listserv subscription information and some announcements. We are also maintaining an archive of chapter meetings and business minutes.

With this newsletter we will be providing the newsletter online as well.  However, the part of our site that has generated the most comment has been our compilation of music bibliographic instruction syllabi. This is a tool used by many MLA members who wish to improve in this area and see what others have done.

The latest addition to the site is an Arts News box showing worldwide current events in the arts. This is updated several times a day so you can check it fairly often to keep up with what is going on.

The future includes a directory of chapter members and specialized resource pages on topics such as a bibliography of children’s fiction related to music, music for weddings, and a review of internet search engines and music. We will be providing these specialized topics pages for librarians (like children’s librarians, public librarians, etc.) who do not have music specialization but provide music information to patrons.

The ultimate utility and future of the webpages will be decided by members. Your suggestions, content, and comments determine what appears on our website. In fact, the specialized pages have come about as suggestions from you. So please help by contributing, and in particular, consider providing a specialized subject page. As always send your correspondence to Brian Cockburn at cockbuba@jmu.edu

James Madison University announces the availability of three special collections. The collections have been physically processed according to contemporary preservation practices, stored in climate controlled environment, and online databases developed. Additionally, a collection-level record for each collection may be found in the library’s OPAC with a link to the online finding aid.

The Paul Lavalle Collection

This was given to the Music Library at James Madison University by Paul Lavalle’s daughter, Suzanne Lavalle Bothamley. The collection consists of hundreds of published and unpublished works arranged or composed by Paul Lavalle as well as a number of published works by various composers from his personal collection. Also included in the collection are articles, programs, and photographs. Web address is www.lib.jmu.edu/music/lavalle.

The Gena Branscombe Collection

The collection from Gena Branscombe’s compositions was received in 1993 from her daughter, Gena Tenney Phenix. The collection contains items consisting mostly of works for solo voice and chorus, as well as articles, photographs and correspondence papers. The only instrumental works in this collection are three pieces for horn and piano. Two comprehensive collections of the published and manuscript works of Gena Branscombe exist in the Music Library at the Center for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center in New York City, and the National Music Library in Ottawa, Canada. Web address is www.lib.jmu.edu/music/branscombe.

The Music Performance Recording Collection

This consists of almost 800 video and sound recordings in Beta, VHS, U-matic, Reel (in several formats), Cassette, and DAT. Performances by JMU ensembles, faculty, guest artists, and festival recordings are included, as well as studio masters for most of the commercially issued recordings by JMU ensembles. The collection will grow by approximately 120 items each academic year. Web address is www.lib.jmu.edu/music/recitals. Questions can be directed to Karen Quesenberry, Library Assistant and Curator for these collections, at quesenks@jmu.edu or call the Music Library at 540-568-6041.

The Atlantic Chapter of the Music Library Association has its own listserv. The list name is ATMLA-L. It is intended primarily for members of the Atlantic Chapter of MLA, but welcomes the participation of other interested parties. The purpose of the list is discussion of local chapter issues and national MLA issues as they affect our activities. To subscribe, send a message to listserv@umdd.umd.edu with the following command in the body of the message: SUB ATMLA-L Firstname Lastname. To send a message to all the people currently subscribed to the list, just send mail to atmla-l@umdd.umd.edu. Send administrative questions to Alice LaSota, the list owner, at al31@umail.umd.edu.

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.

Send comments or suggestions to:  Brian Cockburn