Presenter: Linda Mack
Music Librarian
James White Library
Andrews University
The
Music Materials Center (MMC) of the James White Library at Andrews University is one of two branch
libraries in the system. It is staffed by one librarian and 5-7 (approx.
65 hrs/week) student assistants. The MMC staff is responsible for public
services for the branch, all cataloging procedures for scores and sound
recordings, physical processing of scores, sound recordings, and music
reference books, and all name-title authority work for musical
compositions in the library's OPAC. The MMC staff also contributes time
to special library-wide projects.
This poster session describes how MMC
student assistants' slow time is organized to assist in such projects as:
participating in the cataloging workflow, evaluating and processing gifts,
creating and maintaining specialized lists, ordering new materials,
updating printed reference sources, OPAC music authority cleanup and
record enhancement, research assistant tasks for the music librarian,
non-music data entry in OPAC, and others.
The program makes it possible to provide
quality access to music materials with minimal staff. Student assistants
are assigned to increasingly complex tasks commensurate with their
experience with music and data management. Working with the library
system as a whole decreases the isolation of the branch library staff.
Utilizing the assistants' time efficiently justifies a higher wage. This
and the expanded responsibilities given the student assistants has
resulted in increased job satisfaction and loyalty to the library system.
For further information contact:
Linda Mack
mack@andrews.edu
Music Materials Center
Andrews University
Berrien Springs, MI 49104-0230