IAML (UK & Irl) Branch News & Announcements

30 April 2025 The Branch AGM took place online.

22 January 2025 The Branch Executive Committee met online. Next meeting in person Thursday 22nd May

23 October 2024 The Branch Executive Committee met online. Reports were heard from the committees. Other topics for discussion included:

  • how the Branch can provide clearer directions to useful resources relating to music libraries in an easily accessible way.
  • a proposed music cataloguing course administered by the Branch as a way to expand the reach and accessibility of our training programme.
  • feedback from a recent meeting of Arts Council England/Making Music concerning music provision in libraries.

25 July 2024 It is with much sadness that we pass on the news of the very recent death of Malcolm Jones on Tuesday 23rd July after a stroke. Malcolm, a former Branch President (1986-1989) and Honorary Branch member, was a dedicated and most respected music librarian and Branch member; most recently looking after our performance sets catalogue Encore21, future proofing it in its current format for all to consult. He will be sadly missed by us all. We send our sincerest condolences and deepest sympathy to all his family, friends and colleagues at this sad time.

June 2024 The Annual Bursaries Report of the Music Libraries Trust for 2024 was published. The MLT offer several bursaries which give valuable assistance to those wishing to attend courses and events relating to music librarianship.

22 May 2024 The Branch Executive Committee held its annual in-person meeting at the British Library.

24 April 2024 The Branch Annual General Meeting took place online via Zoom.

5 – 7 April 2024 The Annual Study Weekend took place at Radisson Blu Hotel, Leeds. Copies of presentations are available to logged in members

24 January 2024 The Branch Executive Committee met online. Topics for discussion included:

  • how to improve the ability of the new website to resist a cyber attack in light of the British Library’s recent experience and the need for a disaster recovery plan.
  • progress on the new membership area of the website, including membership fees for 2025.
  • an update on the current Encore 21! survey which asks users for their thoughts on improving the sustainability of this resource.

25 October 2023 The Branch Executive Committee met online. Reports were heard from the committees including an interim report from the Cambridge 2023 committee. A final report will be produced in 2024. Other topics for discussion included:

  • the relocation of the Branch’s physical archive from the University of Cambridge to the University of Huddersfield, which we hope will happen in 2024
  • progress made on the new website toward including the introduction of a new membership area which will allow members to manage their own profile and increase engagement with the Branch.
  • Branch membership is also being discussed to see if there are any ways to increase and widen membership to related music organisations such as charities, societies, music publishers etc which may be mutually beneficial to the Branch
  • the management of Encore21! and how the Branch can futureproof this resource for us all for the future given the rising costs of web hosting fees

2 August 2023 Excellence Awards were presented during a session of the IAML international Congress in Cambridge,

The recipient of the personal award was Nia Daniel from the National Library of Wales / Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru.

Four institutional awards were made from six applications received:
– The Barbican Music Library, London.
– The Royal Northern College of Music Library, Manchester.
– The Gerald Coke Handel Collection at the Foundling Museum, London.
– The Jerwood Library of the Performing Arts, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance, London.

4 July 2023 International IAML has published a Letter of concern to IFLA on the World Library and Information Congress in 2024 concerning IFLA’s proposal to stage that Congress in Dubai, which contradicts both IFLA’s own principles and IAML’s convictions on diversity, equality and freedom of expression.

3 July 2023 The Branch Twitter (subsequently renamed X) feed on this website has ceased to function following Elon Musk’s latest bizarre decision to restrict viewing of posts only to logged in users. The entire block will be removed in due course. To access ‘tweets’ it is necessary now to login directly to X on an individual basis.