IAML International Association of Music Libraries

Minutes of Council Meeting held 18 and 23 of July 1999 in Wellington, New Zealand.

Participants (in both sessions unless marked by I or II)

Present: Frederic Bacon-Shone, observer; Chris Banks, Chair, Working Group on Hofmeister XIX; Zdravko Blazekovic, observer; Margaret Brandram, observer (II); Maureen Buja, observer; Jolanta Byczkowska-Sztaba, observer (II); Maria Calderisi, observer; Anders Cato, Chair, Cataloguing Commission, Chair, Working Group on UNIMARC (I); Richard Chesser, observer (II); Inger Christiansen, President, Norwegian Branch; Hugh Cobbe, observer (II); H. Robert Cohen, RIPM; Lenore Coral, observer; Joana Crespi, President, Spanish Branch; Roger Crudge, observer; Mary Wallace Davidson, observer (II); Stefan Domes, observer (I); Mary Kay Duggan, Chair, Commission on Service and Training; Johan Eeckeloo, Belgian representative (II); Inger Enquist, observer (I); Imogen Fellinger, Chair, Working Group on Music Periodicals (I); Michael Fingerhut, observer (II); Roger Flury, President, New Zealand Branch; Massimo Gentili-Tedeschi, Vice President, IAML, Chair, IT Committee; Aurika Gergeležiu, representative, Estonian Branch; Giorgina Gilardi, observer; Julianna Gócza, representative, Hungarian branch; Antony Gordon, Chair, Audio-Visual Commission; Ágnes Gupcsó, observer; Alison Hall, Secretary General, IAML; Dominique Hausfater, President, French Branch; Veslemöy Heintz, Past-President, IAML; Ruth Hellen, President, UK Branch; Liesbeth Hoedemaeker, observer (I); Berit Holth, observer (II); Stanislaw Hrabia, representative, Hungarian Branch (II); Joachim Jaenecke, Vice-President, IAML; Kauko Karjalainen, Chair, Broadcasting and Orchestra Libraries Branch; Ann Kersting Meuleman, Chair, Research Libraries Branch; Hiroko Kishimoto, oberver; Christine Korff, observer (I); Wolfgang Krueger, President, German Branch (II); Jutta Lambrecht, observer (I); Seija Lappalainen, representative, Finnish Branch; Catarina Latino, observer (I); Miriam Lehotska, representative, Slovakian Branch; Thomas Leibniz, Austrian representative (I); Anne Le Lay, Chair, Copyright Committee; Anders Lönn, Chair, Constitution Committee, President, Swedish Branch; Barbara Dobbs Mackenzie, RILM; Timothy Maloney, representative, Canadian Branch (I); Eglė Elena Marčėnienė, Lithuanian representative; Marie-Claude Méplan, observer (II); Joop Meuleman, observer (I); Aleksandra Meznaric Karafin, Croatian representative (II); Emilia Rassina, President, Russian Branch; Brian Redfern, observer (II); Katre Risalu, observer (II); Federica Riva, Chair, Libraries in Music Teaching Institutions Branch; Don L. Roberts, Past-past President, IAML; John H. Roberts, Vice-President, IAML, Chair, Publications Committee; Zandra Sandberga, Latvian representative (II); Anneli Sepp, observer (II); Martie Severt, Treasurer, IAML, representative, Dutch Branch; Susan T. Sommer, Editor of Fontes Artis Musicae; Susanne Staral, Chair, Bibliography Commission; Carolyne Symes, representative, Australian Branch (II); Pam Thompson, President, IAML; Yasuko Todo, representative, Japanese Branch; Judy Tsou, Chair, Archives and Documentation Centres Branch, Chair, Working Group on Archival Registration (I); Rigbie Turner, observer (II); Sherry Vellucci, President, US Branch; Kirsten Voss Eliasson, Vice-President, IAML, Chair, Public Libraries Branch, President, Danish Branch; John Wagstaff, observer (II); Chris Walton, President, Swiss Branch (II); Pietro Zappala, representative, Italian Branch (I).

The President, Pamela Thompson, welcomed participants to Edinburgh, with a special welcome to first-time attendees to Council. There is an excellent attendance of 300 participants, plus 50 accompanying persons, which, with exhibitors, brings the total number up to about 400. There were, unfortunately, some who had to cancel. She asked Council for permission for observers to speak, which was granted.

1. Minutes of the previous meeting in Wellington, New Zealand

The minutes of the previous Council meeting in Wellington, New Zealand, have been sent out to all participants.

2. President's Report (Pam Thompson)

The President noted the deaths of Dorothy Freed, who greeted us all so enthusiastically in Wellington last year, and who was very influential in the creation and generation of activities of the New Zealand Branch, and of Paola Bernardi. This year has been a very exciting one for her, including many invitations abroad. The Baltic--Nordic conference in Tallinn in October, which had over 130 attendees, was very successful. There were many new, and enthusiastic delegates, and, for some, this was their first meeting ever of this kind. Congratulations to all those involved are in order, and we hope there will be more meetings. She also visited the University Library at Tartu, and the Lithuanian Academy of Music, and many other music libraries, in Vilnius. She attended the IMC General Assembly in Petra, Jordan, in September 1999, and a meeting of international organisations in Amsterdam, June 2000. She was also invited to present a paper at an international meeting at the Tchaikovsky Conservatoire in Moscow in April 2000, and to a national meeting of Russian music librarians preceding it. It was wonderful to meet so many new people.

Last year, Dr. Marinelli of IRTEM was attempting to obtain funding for his Memory of the World project, which aims to protect and preserve all music materials. This is presently on hold, due to his ill-health, but he does have considerable association support. We were approached by the EU regarding participation in the PULMAN project, which aims to document existing standards and guidelines for libraries in Europe. The first proposal was rejected, but was resubmitted, and we wait to hear the result. It is an ambitious project, but one in which music libraries should be involved. She was unable to attend an ISMN meeting in Berlin, but hopes IAML's involvement will continue. She was asked by the conservatory in St. Petersburg to write a letter in support of a music library consortium. Finally she thanked the national branches for all their information and involvement during the year, especially their newsletters. It is good to hear what is happening around the world.

3. Secretary General's Report (Alison Hall)

The Board held it's first meeting of the second milennium (or if you are of the view that this does not begin until 2001, then the last meeting of the first milennium!) in Utrecht, February 11-12, 2000, generously hosted by our Treasurer, Martie Severt. All members were present. Quite the highlight of our stay was a visit to the Museum of Mechanical Musical Instruments in Utrecht, arranged for us by David Thompson, the President's husband. If you've been there, you'll know how wonderful it is. If you haven't, don't miss the opportunity, should it arise. I know that I, and probably the other Board members would be very interested in seeing a session on this topic presented at a IAML conference one day.

The President reported on her hectic and varied schedule, including rave reviews on the Nordic-Baltic conference, and pretty good ones for the IMC meeting in Petra.

The Treasurer 's report revealed no surprises, unless one includes the continued robust performance of the interest on the offshore account. Progress has been made in our endeavours to move money in our offshore account into a more secure account, and overall, income exceeded expenditure by DEM 81,815.00. The Treasurer has set up a new database for the membership, which is proving to be a great success. There was discussion about possible enhancements to the List of Members, such as home as well as institutional addresses, when supplied, and/or listing institutional affiliations for individual members, and giving a personal contact for institutional members

As a result of the strong interest on the Outreach Fund 2, DEM 10.200.00 will be available for the 2001 congress in Perigueux. It was felt that the guidelines for the use of this fund needed some expansion, and that they should be included in both the Guidelines for organising conferences and those for Branch and Commission Chairs. The President and Treasurer will work on the former, and the Secretary General will work on the latter.

Very little has been heard from any national branches, so I don't know if there have been any new officers. I have received several Newsletters etc., which is always interesting, including the first issue of the new look Danish branch publication, which looks promising.

There have been more than the usual number of inquiries about membership in IAML, and mostly from people in countries where there is not yet a national branch. This is interesting and encouraging to note that our fame is spreading far and wide! (Armenia, Yemen, Mauritius, Republic of Ireland)

A small army of IAML-UK people have been energetically beavering away with arrangements for this meeting, under the redoubtable leadership of Roger Taylor, the process accompanied by intriguing rumours about bagpipes, kilts, and haggis. We look forward to seeing which is truth, and which fiction, and also look forward to an exciting conference and whisky tasting. Arranging the programme this year was an exercise in delicate balance, to put it mildly, with more than the usual number of sessions that, while not exactly plenary, were desired, with good reason, to be as unopposed as possible. All this gives rise to questions about how many sessions can be comfortably accommodated during the week, and, by extension, how many Branches, Commissions, Working Groups, R-Projects and Committees IAML can sustain, assuming they are all putting on sessions.

A new luncheon venture is being launched this year, in that the UK branch has been able to provide a room and bring in lunch (£10.00 a head) for the lunches for national branch representatives, and for planning for next year's conference, which are intended to be working meetings, but don't quite succeed in a restaurant. We hope this will work out, and that future national branch hosts will be able to arrange something similar.

The list of nominations so far received for the Presidential and Vice-Presidential nominations was read out. Nominations are open until the second Council meeting on Friday.

The President mentioned that the Secretary General's term had been renewed for a further and final two year term until 2003, by which time a replacement must be found. Council agreed to allow the Board to strike a search committee.

4. Treasurer's Report (Pam Thompson for Martie Severt)

The Treasurer apologised for being obliged to miss the meeting in Wellington, thanked everyone for their postcards, his predecessor Pam Thompson for all her assistance, and national branches for all their work. Income for the 1999 year was more than anticipated, as all national branches have paid for 1998 and 1999. The offshore account continues to yield high interest, thus benefitting Outreach Fund 2, which also benefits branches hosting conferences. The auditors have advised us to put some of this money into a guaranteed capital investment account, in which the capital is safer, even though the return may be a little less; this transfer is in progress. His budget was overspent, due to the purchase of a new database, which will be able to produce the new List of Members easily and cheaply, and also offers the option of adding additional information. He asked members to be sure to inform him of all changes and additions to the List, but reminded us that more information means more paper, and therefore a higher cost. The delays in the production of Fontes means there is more than anticipated on hand at this point, but it will be spent later on when we catch up with production. This is reflected in the budget for 2000. Few donations have been received to Outreach Fund 1, but there have not been many demands upon it. Outreach Fund 2 contains DEM 30,000, the interest from which is designated for assistance to attend IAML conferences. Regarding the free memberships to IAML, which run for five years, and are expiring, some have been renewed, some did not respond, and there are a few new ones. Total membership is about the same. He mentioned that members joining in 2000 will receive copies of Fontes for 1999/3-4, as compensation for the late arrival of the issues for 2000. The Council accepted the report.

The President said how good it had been for the UK Branch to access to Outreach Fund 2. In total there was £2,300.00 from Outreach Fund 2, £500.00 from the UK Branch and £1000.00 from voluntary donations, which was used to assist eleven people. She wished France good luck for next year.

The President asked Council to approve an increase in honoraria for the Treasurer, Secretary General and Editor of Fontes , from DEM 3000 to DEM 3500, effective 2001, recommended by the Board. Council approved. The President then thanked the three officers for all their hard work for IAML during the year.

5. Fontes artis musicae (Susan T. Sommer)

1. Print Fontes

   The Editor apologised for publication delays, as things had been even worse for her last year, as she had to handle two full time jobs. She hopes things will be back on schedule soon, and promised that we would see Fontes again. 1999 has two double issues, the first of which has been mailed out, and the second is in the second proof stage, waiting for the index to be proofed. It contains papers from the San Sebastian meeting, and Recent publications in music for 1998 and part of 1997. 2000/1 is at the first proof stage, and will be proof read here by the authors. It contains articles about music libraries in the UK, and a tribute to John May. Copies can be made if required of articles concerning session in this conference, as this issue should have appeared before this meeting. 2000/2 includes minutes and reports from the Wellington meeting, and will go to the printer soon. 2000/3 will be on Russian music libraries, prepared by Russian music librarians, and translated by the President, Pam Thompson. There is considerable material in hand for 2000/4. The year 2001 will include an anniversary issue, looking back over the years IAML has existed, edited by Maria Calderisi Bryce. IAML is very fortunate to be getting John Wagstaff as its new editor; he is very welcome, and he and the Editor will be working together to ensure a smooth transition. The Editor thanked Dominique Hausfater, Gertraut Haberkamp and Maureen Buja for their editorial assistance.

2. Electronic Fontes

   The inclusion of Fontes in an electronic database is an issue that has been discussed for several years, and the Board feels that this is a move IAML should consider seriously. No reply has been received from Chadwyck Healey, but H.W. Wilson say that we are free to delay access, and that rights are non-exclusive, so we could take up other offers. There is no charge to IAML, in fact, we will receive royalties for use of Fontes. Fontes would appear in the Library Literature Index (toc) and full text in Library Literature and Information Science and Omnifile. Susan Sommer felt this was an excellent idea, as users have the expectation of going to the electronic source. Massimo Gentili-Tedeschi expressed concerns about this access causing a drop in membership, however it appears that MLA has not experienced any membership loss as a result of electronic access to Notes. Lenore Coral suggested casting our net broadly, and looking into services provided by OCLC. Fontes should be listed under Music as well as Librarianship. Regarding the availability of older issues, this would depend, amongst other things, on what A-R have available in electronic format. What is actually made available will probably vary from one provider to another, as firms may decide to pick up only the articles, for example, and not items like the Council minutes. The Board will go ahead and negotiate a contract with H.W. Wilson, including a delay in its appearance for a suitable period, and will also look at firms who have contacted us in the past.

6. IAML Newsletter (Pam Thompson)

The President remarked that the Newsletter will not exist unless people write things for it. The Editor cannot write it all. After having had two trial issues, it seems to be a worthwhile thing to do, as it imparts news quickly, and brings people up to date. She thanked the Secretary General for putting out the Newsletter, and said she had agreed to continue editing it. The Secretary General mentioned that she had negotiated with her institution to have it reside on their server. This is an opportunity to include shorter and more informal items of news. Other suggestions for content included job changes, names of new staff members, new special collections, conferences, and changes in national branch officers. As time goes on, there are certain issues to be addressed, such as an honorarium, frequency, and if this is what IAML really wants.

7. Electronic communications

1. IAML-L (Anders Lönn)

   Anders Lönn reported that membership of the list remains steady at about 380 subscribers, and explained that one reason why we do not have more in that in some cases, people do not have individual email addresses only a group address. Instructions for subscribing are on the home page. He reminded members to remember to unsubscribe, set nomail if away, to inform him of changes of email address, and encouraged them to send messages to the list. He mentioned that the commands for subscribing, etc. depend upon the software used to manage electronic lists, so they are not universal. The President suggested that having written instructions on a piece of paper that can be picked up would be useful, and that perhaps this information could also be included on the back page of Fontes.

2. IAML Home Page (Massimo Gentili-Tedeschi)

   Massimo Gentili-Tedeschi said there had not been much further development, apart from a new navigation bar. He has received many updates in information from National Branches, and thanked people for suggestions for new links. New software allows him to do new things, such as managing databases. He has had the idea of creating a form for Calls for papers, for conferences, which would be transmitted to the Secretary General. It would ask for name, institution, title of paper, and a short description. Those who sent out calls for papers had had good results. The President mentioned that the UK Branch had received many requests from people wanting to give papers, during the last few months, even weeks before this conference. This is not meant in any way to undermine the authority or responsibility of the Chairs, but, people are more likely to receive funding for a meeting if they are speaking at it, and, if you want to speak, your proposal has to be sent in early. The translation of all pages into French and German is not complete yet. The Secretary General mentioned that she has electronic versions of the Constitution in French and German.

8. IAML's relationships with other organisations

The President said that the Board would like to have a short session of some kind in France to which to invite representatives from organisations with whom we have been linked over the years, to speak briefly about their future plans.

1. International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA)

   The Secretary General reported that we have received all the usual papers etc. The President has written to their new Secretary General, and IFLA will be sending someone to Perigueux next year. Gerry Ostrove will be going to IFLA in Jerusalem in 2000, and IAML UK has offered to be involved in Glasgow in 2002.

2. International Music Council (IMC) (Pam Thompson)

   The President attended their general assembly in Petra in September 1999, which was an extraordinary meeting, hosted by the National Music Academy of Jordan, which had royal patronage, and a lot of private sponsorship. There were many events, concerts, excursions and banquets. She was very encouraged by the tone of the meeting, and what seemed to be serious attempts at change. The new-ish president, Frans de Ruiter (Netherlands) worked very hard during the meeting to ensure that there was something that could be agreed upon by the end, and agreement was reached on a new strategic plan, and a direction in which to move. The main result of the meeting was a decision by the Council, agreed upon by all, to concentrate only on issues of global interest, such as copyright, education, interculturalisation, globalisation, musicians' rights around the world, and technology. They also want to tie in with the year of music and peace. Elections to the executive committee saw many new, young people. Interest shown by Unesco in Jordan was very rewarding, as they offered to set up a transfer station for music materials for Arab countries, if we can get them there.
   She also attended a meeting of international organisations in Amsterdam. A handbook is being produced on the globalisation of music, and there is the intention to develop a bibliography, a journal and a web site. There will be a special conference in Amman in October 2000. Regarding IMC finances, there were no proposals to increase their dues, but the suggestion was made that members might wish to double their dues in recognition of their 50th anniversary. The Board proposed that IAML consider sending a one off donation of around $3-400 USD. It was asked, if, given their debts, this would be a repeated request, and the President replied that it would seem to be only for this one occasion. The Council's main strategy will be sponsored concerts, by which they hope to raise money. If all the international organisations have something, collectively it would probably help. The President proposed sending $300.00. Council voted on the proposal and it was carried, 17 votes for, 1 against, and several abstentions. The IMC is promising sound financial management, and have managed to reduce their debts from $84,000 to $72,000. Having now attended a few meeting, the President feels that, although it is not an ideal organisation, the IMC should exist, as there should be an international body representing music. It is at least demonstrating better management, and does have a strategic plan. Any organisation is only as good as its members, and we are a member. We do have a link to their web site, and have contributed to their journal Resonance. The Council hopes to send someone to Perigueux.
   Lenore Coral expressed concern that no one would be going to the meeting in Amman, as someone should be there representing IAML's interests in the copyright field.

3. International Council on Archives (ICA) (Inger Enquist)

   We continue to receive ICA publications. Inger Enquist attended a seminar in Stockholm on archival description, and will go to their Congress in Seville, Spain in September, 2000. There is a Congress every four years.

4. International Association of Sound Archives (IASA)

   There has not been much formal communication with IASA. We will invite their President to come to Perigueux. We will definitely meet jointly with them in Oslo, where they would like to have a really integrated meeting, not two separate streams. We are unclear as to their intentions for Tallinn. There are now many new people in IASA, and much has changed.

5. International Standards Organization (ISO)

   After many months of negotiation, IAML has at last achieved liaison status for the Library Statistics Working Group, and Lenore Coral is our representative. After some difficulties, she eventually received some documents, which she returned with comments and suggested changes. She was unable to attend a meeting in Berlin in May, but has been sent more documents, which she will also comment on, once they reach her in readable form. The text has been improved to be more friendly towards music materials, however, the result will be more general than specific, and will never be totally satisfactory, as no one counts in the same way.

6. European Bureau of Library, Information and Documentation Associations (EBLIDA)

   We continue to receive material via Richard Chesser.

7. International Association of Music Information Centres (IAMIC) (Joachim Jaenecke)

   Joachim Jaenecke attended a IAMIC meeting in Budapest in June 2000, attended by 52 people from 30 countries. He tried to discover when a joint conference with IAML might be next held, and the first possible year would be 2005, in Warsaw. He suggested that all national branches should invite IAMIC people to speak at their national meetings, and also at our international meeetings. Someone from IAMIC will join us in Perigueux.

9. R-projects

1. Répertoire international des sources musicale (RISM) (Klaus Keil in absentia)

   New publications.
   Series A1 sup. 14, which will be the last one. RISM is preparing a register of publishers and publishers' locations. A2 7/5 is a CD-ROM with 32,0000 records.
   Series B; M. Huglo, Les manuscrits au processionale, v. I, Autriche Ó Espagne. Sonderband of library sigla.
   Inforism is available via the internet, and will appear shortly in print, but will not be free of charge.
   In international cooperation, a questionnaire sent out to RISM Lõndergruppen in 1999 indicated that projects to catalogue music manuscripts are far too slow. Some countries have so few staff that the task of cataloguing manuscripts up to 1800 would theoretically last about 200 years. We have to consider how to establish new projects. Also, results of projects in some countries do not reach the Zentralredaktion, so the exchange of information needs to be improved. RISM has established a working group aimed at making data available in different formats, so that it can be exchanged.

2. Répertoire international de littérature musicale (RILM) (Barbara Dobbs Mackenzie)

   Since their move to the new building during July 1999 (which will eventually provide an excellent working environment when finished), RILM has been plagued with technological problems, which have caused much delay, additionally, they are converting the in house database to a Windows interface. As a result, they have been unable to update the online version for a few months, although the work has been done in the office. Half of vol. 31 is completed, and v. 30 will be out in August, and CUM 6 (the last one) by the end of the year. V. 31 will appear in late Fall. There are three new committees, in Africa (University of Ghana), India (in Pondicherry) and the Vatican. Financially RILM is stable, book subscriptions are down, CD-ROM is static and online increasing. Access via NISC and OCLC is undergoing a revamp. They are pursuing full text links via NISC and OCLC, and increasing conference participation to stay abreast with the challenges of new technology. They are disposing of inventory, due inadequate storage space.
   Retiring members of the Commission Mixte Lenore Coral and Richard Andrewes were thanked for their contributions, and new members, Veslemöy Heintz, Massimo Gentili-Tedeschi and Chris Banks were welcomed. Continuing members are Susanne Staral and Teresa Abejon.

3. Répertoire international d'icongraphie musicale (RIdIM) (Veslemöy Heintz)

   RIdIM was originally located in New York, but has had little financial support for several years, and has struggled on with help of Zdravko Blazekovic, and is looking for a new home. The French are keen to establish a centre in Paris, but have to find a host institution, and funding, so it is hoped that a centre will emerge. Rules of Procedure are being worked on. Council was asked to approve expenditure by IAML of a sum up to $1000.00 USD for technological development for a database. A matching amount would also be put up by IMS. This was approved.

4. Répertoire international de la presse musicale (RIPM) (H. Robert Cohen)

   Eleven volumes have appeared last year, 8 in French, 2 in Polish and 1 in Spanish, for an overall total of 133. Two new major grants have been obtained, and in July, RIPM online and on CD-ROM was released. There are plans afoot to incorporate full text in the future.

10. Reports from Working Groups and Committees

1. Working Group on Music Periodicals (Imogen Fellinger)

   The Österrichische Nationalbibliothek list of music periodicals, 1945-1980, with additions and corrigenda, has been continued to 1998-99. It is hoped that someone can be found to do further work on the Canadian union list, first issued in 1981, and the second edition of the Finnish catalogue is being prepared in electronic form, and will include yearbooks. A catalogue of New Zealand periodicals is being prepared with annotations, and also a list of Portuguese music periodicals. New compilers are also needed in Sweden and the Netherlands.

2. Working Group on Hofmeister XIX (Chris Banks)

   Work to obtain funding for the data conversion continues via the Staatliches Institut für Musikforschung (SIM), with the focus on developing a web version of the data. In June 2000 an updated application was submitted to the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), under a new funding programme, and initial discussions between the DFG and the SIM are encouraging. The application is now to be expanded in the light of these discussions, there is a meeting planned for September, and it is hoped the revised version will be ready by October. Chris Banks extended her thanks to Dr Zannos.

3. Copyright Committee (Anne Le Lay)

   There is no big news to announce in the Copyright field. It appears that more differences between different kinds of music libraries in different countries are emerging, so the Committee is going to pursue the path of arranging joint sessions with the various Branches and Commissions, in order to move from a general background to more concrete work.

4. Working Group on the Registration of Music Archives (Judy Tsou)

   At the Wellington meeting, the Board rejected the establishment of a formal home for the project with the Research Libraries group, citing the reason as high costs, and advised the group to pursue a search for other venues. Discussions have ensued with Barbara Mackenzie, regarding the Barry S. Brook Center for Music Research and Documentation. The plan to establish a sample database did not materialise, largely due to time constraints, but it is hoped that the forthcoming year will see more activity. The group agreed to use the RILM thesaurus, and to make the database available in IAML's three official languages, though countries with other languages will be able to make their own local versions. Due to increased demands on time, Judy Tsou has handed over the chairmanship of the group to David Day, who has been involved since the start.

5. IT Committee (Massimo Gentili-Tedeschi)

   The first meeting of the group will be devoted to databases, to show how they can be created, and how users can input online. This is a new idea for the IAML website. Massimo would like to have input from IAML members.

6. Constitution Committee (Anders Lönn)

   The change in the Rules of Procedure for elections of Chairs of Commissions and Branches regarding the secret ballot if there is only one candidate for the office of Chair, is being addressed. This was probably initially introduced to encourage more than one candidate to stand, but it does not seem to have worked terribly well. Terms of office, probably 5 years, will be introduced for committee members. Thanks were given to Anders Lönn, who is stepping down as Chair. His place will be taken by Richard Chesser. Geraldine Ostrove also joins the committee replacing Malcome Turner. Other continuing members are Wolfgang Krueger and Catherine Massip, plus the President and Secretary General ex officio.

11. Reports from National Branches

Australia (Judith Foster for Caroline Symes)
Australia has the problem of being a large country with a very scattered membership, so the executive moves from one state to another. Right now, the Executive is in Victoria. In 1999 the Music Council of Australia asked the branch to develop a proposal to recreate the post of Music Librarian at the National Library of Australia, which has been without a music specialist for many years. This activity was endorsed by other organisations. It subsequently happened that the National Library decided to advertise the position of music curator, which has now been filled, but it is hoped that previous lobbying for this had some effect on this decision. The web site has a new home (www.iamlaust.org) and the branch is developing a listserv together with the New Zealand branch. Outreach is going on to East Timor, whose whole infrastructure has been destroyed, and a programme is being developed with the Catholic Church in East Timor, to send materials, and to work with Timorese musicians to build up lost resources. The Sydney Conservatorium is the clearing house. Sales of the Union Catalogue of orchestral and performing parts go well, and the journal and newsletter, Continuo and Intermezzo are thriving. IAML Australia is encouraging members to apply to their state for funding to attend meetings. The Wellington conference gave some Australian members a chance to attend IAML for the first time. Quite a number of major institutions in Australia are moving to new or different premises.

Austria (Thomas Leibniz)
Though currently Austria has no national branch, but the situation may change in a couple of years. Some developments that may lead to more cooperation amongst music libraries is the cooperative cataloguing venture between the Österrichische Nationalbibliothek and the university libraries; the online catalogue at the Österrichische Nationalbibliothek includes printed music holdings for that library, also the Phonothek, the Mozarteum, and the University of Music. There has also been a joint meeting of music cataloguers. Listed on the ONB home page is Infonet Austria, which gives many institutional holdings arranged by subject (www.infonet.onb.ac.at) There has also been some cooperation regarding the estates of composers and musicians.

Belgium (Johan Eeckeloo)
Sadly we have to forget the good news from last year about a cooperative web cataloguing project, as it died due to lack of money. However, Belgium is becoming more aware of its own composers and musical life, especially in the 19th and 20th centuries. An information centre for Flemish music (Muziekcentrum van de Vlaamse Gemeenschap) has been established with emphasis on contemporary and popular music, a Centre for the study of Flemish 19th and early 20th century classical music (Studiencentrum Vlaamse Muziek), the Foundation Paul Gilson (1865-1942) and a scientific project has been started in the library of the former Belgian broadcasting orchestra, now housed in the Royal Library. The most important annual event was the opening of a museum of musical instruments in Brussels (MIM), a large and important collection.

Canada (Timothy Maloney)
CAML membership has increased to over 100, finances are in good shape, the web site has been expanded and redesigned, now including, for example, full text book reviews from the Newsletter. New initiatives include the establishment of the Helmut Kallmann award for distinguished service to music libraries, which will be awarded this year for the first time, and a growing relationship with the Canadian University Music Society (CUMS). The two organisations are now officially affiliated. In November 2000, CAML will join with 15 other music associations for a joint conference in Toronto, called Musical Intersections. The first official Directory of Music Collections has been published, and the Newsletter has a new format and is aiming for total bilingualism. The President wrote to the outgoing National Librarian, Marianne Scott, thanking her for support given to CAML, and to the incoming National Librarian, Roch Carrier. She has also asked Canada Post if they can produce more musical postage stamps.

Croatia (Aleksandra Meznaric Karafin)
The full importance of music libraries in musical life and education in Croatia still has not been fully recognised. There are however, a number of significant music collections. Some are small, and part of private collections, some are part of monastery collections, and only partially explored. Work is in progress to document them. The most significant music libraries in Croatia are in Zagreb, namely the National Library, the University Library, the Academy of Music Library, and the Public Library. The catalogue of the National Library is available on the internet. The others are still suffering from lack of space, and an appreciation of the importance of the collections. There are small libraries in music schools, and orchestral collections, the Institute of Ethnology, and the Archive of Croatian Composers Society. Music librarians are members of the Commission for Music Libraries, of the Croatian Library Association. It is hoped to get more participation from librarians from the east of the country, which was more affected by the war.

Czech Republic (Zuzana Petraškova)
Sadly, no one from the Czech Branch is unable to attend, so they have sent written greetings. Two new institutions are thinking of joining the branch. In September a seminar was organised on the education of music librarians and specialists.

Denmark (Kirsten Voss Eliasson)
This has been a very active year. Ten Danish librarians attended the Nordic-Baltic conference. In the annual meeting in November 1999, held in the Royal Library in Copenhagen, the constitution was changed, and new Board members were elected. It was decided to spend a lot of money on a new journal, and it has not been difficult to find articles. There is now a new library act, which declares that public library services must be free of charge, and that all libraries should handle music materials, which will create the huge task of educating those who have not previously handled them. Previously, only about one-third had music materials. Fortunately the Danish government is providing money for training. The Danish Library Association will devote a special issue of their journal to Danish music libraries.

Estonia (Aurika Gergeležiu
The Baltic-Nordic conference was the branch's main occupation during the year, which turned out very well, with an attendance of 130 people. It was held in Tallinn, but had an international organising committee. This was the first opportunity for many people from Baltic and Nordic countries to attend an international conference, and grants were available for attendance. Key topics included copyright, new technology, acquisitions, automation, education and training, and dissemination of information. There were library tours, overviews of the music libraries in each country. It is hoped that more such meetings can be held. Photographs of the event can be seen on the Estonian home page (www.utlib.ee/fonoteek/emky). Dates for the 2003 IAML conference are still subject to negotiation, and should be available by the autumn.

Finland (Seija Lappalainen)
This has been an excellent year for the Finnish Branch, with the Baltic-Nordic meeting in October, and their 20th anniversary in April 2000. There was a celebration of the long-time cooperation between Finland and Estonia, and two publications produced. Seija Lappalainen attended a meeting in Moscow.

France (Dominique Hausfater)
The Branch's primary activity has been preparations for 2001. The Ministry of Culture has been very helpful and cooperative, and people in Perigueux are very enthusiastic. Information can be found on the French web site www.aibm-france.org/ In February a meeting was held in Alsace, dealing with the internet, and bibliography, and included Ian Ledsham talking on his distance education course. A directory of French music libraries has been produced, and a new edition of Printed music, by Michelle Lancelin.

Germany (Wolfgang Krueger)
The annual meeting will be held in Leipzig in September 2000, a city known for its good music libraries and as the birthplace of Johann Sebastian Bach. It will be the 250th anniversary of his death. The meeting will be held with the participation of IASA members from other German speaking countries (Austria and Switzerland). Discussion will include the establishment of a discography of historical sound recordings, and opening archives of broadcasting stations to the public. Topics will include papers on different institutions, sound archives, databases, and service on the internet. Publications include a Bibliography of music librarianship 1949-1999, with about 2000 entries, and an Index of Nachlasse in German libraries, with about 1,400 entries. A search is in progress to find a new publisher to replace the Deutsches Bibliotheksinstitut, and there is discussion as to whether to issue the journal Forum Musikbibliothek in print or electronic form. An electronic discussion list has been launched.

Hungary (Julianna Gócza)
It is always difficult for Hungarians to participate in international conferences, the last occasion being in 1997. A new Board was elected at the end of 1999, and Janos Karpati has stepped down. A Hungarian home page is in preparation. Two acts issued by the Ministry of Culture, one about the protection of cultural property, and the other plans to include music library training as part of higher education, in which the branch has played a key role. RILM and RIPM work continue, but RISM work has ceased, due to lack of money, but it is hoped that this can be remedied. A grant from the Japanese government has enabled the enlargement of the Academy. In the spring on 2001, there will be an exhibition of 1000 years of Hungarian musical history, involving the whole Hungarian musical community, and two international conferences will be held at the Franz Liszt Academy.

Italy (Pietro Zappala)
The reason that Agostina Zecca Laterza is unable to be at this meeting is that she has just started cataloguing the library of the Naples conservatory. Membership of the branch is stable, though activities are a bit quieter, and courses for librarians have not been organised this year. RILM has been revived, with a new coordinator. There are 12,000 records for manuscripts in the SBN database, and cataloguing of librettos has begun.

Japan (Yasuko Todo)
The biggest branch news is the establishment of a fund to support colleagues attending IAML meetings for the first time. In the light of an economic recession affecting music libraries, it is hoped that this fund will help young music librarians interested in attending IAML conferences. Two study meetings were held this year, featuring papers on iconographical research on the Suwa Temple in Nagasaki, and bibliographical resource sharing via the internet.

Latvia (Sandra Zandberga)
Thanks were given to IAML for the opportunity to participate in this conference and to give the first report from Latvia. Latvia is a small country with a population of about two and a half million. The main activities of musical life are centered in Riga, the capital. The three main music libraries in Latvia: the National Library, which has the most valuable music collection of classical and and national music, and is the legal deposit for Latvian composers. We have to thank Latvian librarians for preserving their colletions during the Soviet occupation; the Latvian Music Academy, used mainly by students; and the Riga Music Library 'TILTS' (meaning 'bridge') , founded in 1991, the only public library specialising in music scores, sound recordings, and books on music. Last summer it opened in new premises. In 1998 a centre for traditional music was organised within this library, and it now has an unique collection. The Association of Music Librarians was founded in 1998, and now has fifteen members, and meetings are organised every month. The main aim at the moment is to create a music union catalogue.

Lithuania (Eglė Elena Marčėnienė)
As yet there is no national branch in Lithuania, as there are presently only three members. Lithuania has over 150 libraries with music holdings. The National Library, the Vilnius University Library, and the Lithuanian Academy of Music and the Lithuanian Academy of Science have the most important research library collections. The largest public library holdings are found in five regional public libraries. The Music Department of the National Library provides professional assistance, and has a computer catalogue of over 200,000 items, created by scanning in catalogue cards, using the UNIMARC format. They are included in the Lithuanian national database. The main academic library is the Academy of Music in Vilnius. Thanks to Soros funds, which enabled them to install automation and to establish an information centre for contemporary music. The main problems for libraries in Lithuania are economic ones, and there is a need for librarians to learn how to benefit from international programmes, and there was a grant from Japan last year, for audio and video equipment. However, perhaps Lithuanian music libraries need to cooperate more, and a music section on the Lithuanian Library Association is in the process of being formed. Materials in research libraries need to be documented and researched by music specialists. Lithuania has been involved in RILM work for a number of years. The Baltic-Nordic conference was much appreciated, and it is hoped that more libraries will join IAML, in spite of financial difficulties. They are very appreciative of the donated music materials programme, and very pleased to be able to attend this conference.

Netherlands (Martie Severt)
The branch held elections recently, as several Board members left their library jobs. They were happy to find several new members from Public Libraries, as the Branch is very focussed on Public Library work. There were two meetings held, one dealing with changes in library work. A web site and a mailing list have been started, and two working groups were established to deal with the inter library loan of printed music between public libraries, and education and training,as there is no longer any formal training for music librarians in the Netherlands. It seems that public librarians are not as committed as others to attending meetings like IAML, partly for financial reasons, but partly due to lack of information, so there are plans to try to remedy this. The Newsletter will contain more information about this sort of thing. Several important collections are being moved to new locations; the Dutch Public Library Association has given the branch a grant of 4,000 guilders to assist with branch activities.

New Zealand (Roger Flury)
It is very sad to report the death of Dorothy Freed, founder of the New Zealand Branch, about whom many tributes were received. It is especially nice that she was able to see the realisation of her dream of having a IAML conference in New Zealand. Angela Annabel and John Thompson, two active members, also died. There is now a new Branch Executive. The revamped branch journal, Crescendo, is going ahead well, supported by the Lilburn Trust and Blackwells in Oxford. It helps to keep the scattered membership in touch. The web page, a spin off from the 1999 conference, is flourishing, and financially things are in good shape. It is hoped to use money from the IAML meeting for activities to benefit the branch. There is now an Australasian music interest group on the internet. He thanked Brian Pritchard for his work editing the New Zealand issue of Fontes.

Norway (Inger Christiansen)
Ella Arntsen, founder of the Norwegian IAML branch, died in June of this year. Continuing the saga of the new opera house, an architectural firm has now been chosen by competition, Snøhetta, who have designed the new library in Alexandria. The site is next to the fjord, so something like the Sydney Opera house would have looked good, but the building will be quite modest. The opening is planned for 2006, so it will not be finished for the IAML meeting in Oslo in 2004. The national music collection has moved, and is temporarily housed in a new building for about five years, while the old building is extended and rebuilt. The branch web site has moved to www.musikk.no/nmbf, and the Newsletter, now coming out three or four times a year, has received some financial support. A system for shared cataloguing for music materials in research libraries has been developed. The Branch is trying to improve education in music librarianship. Fifteen branch members attended the Baltic-Nordic meeting in Tallinn, and the branch national meeting dealt with the separation between the University and National libraries. The IAML conference in Oslo in 2004 will be held jointly with IASA, and IAMIC has also been invited. It will probably start on June 20th. There is a correction to last year's report: A Union catalogue for printed music has been available since 1990. Access through the web version as part of the national bibliography now has more than 118,000 items from more than 60 different libraries.

Poland (Stanislaw Hrabia)
Thanks were given to IAML-UK for support to attend this meeting. he most important activity, was the publication of the successful 1998 guide to music collections in Polish music, a completely new version of the one previously issued in 1992. Each chapter describes a particular collection, and all types of music libraries are included. Some sections have been translated into English. Two new new institutions have become members of IAML. RIPM participation continues, mainly with work done by Barbara Zakrewska Nikiporczik and Robert Cohen, the RIPM director, has visited Poland to lecture on the project. This was an important factor in obtaining funds for RIPM. There is now a branch web site.

Russia (Emilia Rassina)
The creation of the Russian branch, which is also the Music Libraries Section of the Russian Library Association, has been a great stimulus for Russian music libraries. About 100 libraries are in the Section, but only the largest ones have joined the IAML branch. Articles have been written on music libraries for the Russian issue of Fontes, which are being translated into English by Pam Thompson. A database of Russian music libraries is being created at the Taneyev Music Library, in the Tchaikovsky State Conservatory in Moscow, which also hosted a seminar on News in music librarianship and informatics, as well as round tables of Moscow and St. Petersburg libraries. An international conference was held at the Taneyev Library, devoted again to Russian and foreign archives, and the research Music Library of the St. Petersburg Conservatory held a conference called Petersburg readings, on the 160th anniversary of Tchaikovsky's birth. Three librarians from the Taneyev Library did some work abroad at the Royal College of Music, London, the BibliothÞque de la France, and the National Library in Warsaw.

Slovakia (Miriam Lehotska)
This report covers the period 1998-2000. In 1998 and 1999, some branch problems were discussed at two meetings, the main issues being reductions of staff and budgets. As a result, IAML work depends solely on the personal activities on branch members. Since April 2000, the new RILM committee is located at the Institute of Musicology, at the Slovakian Academy of Sciences. For RISM, it is planned to transfer all collected data from music manuscripts since 1600 into the PiKaDo database. In 1998 the Music Museum of the Slovakian National Museum organised a conference on Documentation of historical musical sources and preservation, and their presentation in new editions and exhibitions. A report is in preparation. During 1999 and 2000 the branch organised special meetings on the musical life of famous people of Slovakia, and the art of folk music and its access. Publication of reports of these meetings is planned. There are presently thirty eight music libraries in Slovakia, however, as a result of financial cuts, some of them are no longer independent, and have been joined with others.

Spain (Joana Crespi)
The annual meeting took place in Renteria in November 1999, and celebrated the 55th anniversary of Eresbil, the archive of Basque composers. Elections took place. There were sessions about music on the internet, and electronic formats for editing music scores. The working groups held their own sessions on bibliography (in charge of producing BIME), sound archives, orchestral archives, libraries in music teaching institutions, publications. BIME can be compared to a Spanish version or RILM. The working group on sound archives is preparing a document on the Spanish musical inheritance. However, a discography of Spanish sound recordings is proving difficult to realise. The group on orchestral archives is working on a project to clarify the situation in the whole of Spain, and to create a database. To celebrate 100 years of Cuban independence, the publications group has published a catalogue of music holdings the Tacon Theatre in Havana. The AEDOM bulletin appears twice a year. Courses have been organised in cataloguing music manuscripts, and on scores and sound recordings. A symposium was organised on musical editions in Spain. An ISMN office is to be established in Spain.

Sweden (Anders Lönn)
The State Music Library is the centre for the R-projects, and other activities relating to music libraries, which is why the branch itself does not engage in a large amount of work. The branch is thinking about producing a directory of Swedish music libraries. There has been a National Central Union Catalogue in Sweden since 1960, to which music libraries are gradually becoming part, and most of them are now providing cataloguing for it. Over the years, the Swedish branch has been helping to fund participants to attend IAML each year. This year the Swedish branch met outside of the country in Malmø and Copenhagen, and managed to get funds to bringt wo Latvian colleagues to the meeting.

Switzerland (Chris Walton)
The most significant event has been the adoption of a common system - Aleph - by the German Swiss libraries, which has the great benefit of giving them all a common cataloguing format, US MARC. All libraries were converted at the same time, from a wide variety of formats like a joint parachute jump, and as preparations for this event were mixed, so were the results. Some landed successfully, some made it just in time, and others simply splattered. No responsibility is acknowledged. Music libraries had little to say about the process, and, as a result, will be spending the next three years cleaning up. The fact that the system refused to print out automatic reminders on Saturdays, lead to the discovery that Aleph had been programmed not to work on the Sabbath. The branch held a conference on musicology and music libraries, and closer cooperation with music faculties is anticipated. There has been cooperation between Swiss IAML and Swiss RISM. The Swiss home page is about to be launched, in four languages. Finally, the music library at Bern has still not been reorganised, and the Zürich Zentralbibliothek has appointed its first composer in residence.

United Kingdom (Ruth Hellen)
This has been an exciting year for music libraries in the UK. Funding was obtained for Ensemble, a collaborative retrospective cataloguing project, involving universities, conservatoires, and eventually public libraries, and for Encore, a project for a web-based catalogue for performance sets. A lot of credit should go to Malcolm Jones. The Surrey performing arts library, threatened with dispersal, was saved from extinction by the offer of accommodation in a vineyard, and the Henry Watson Music Library, also threatened, has been saved, thanks to a very high profile campaign including support from Sir Peter Maxwell Davis. Vikram Seth mentioned Westminster Music Library in his book Unequal music, and praised the Henry Watson Music Library for their service. He has given permission, to quote from his book 'Music to me is dearer even than speech'. Aside from all this, the main preoccupation of the branch has been with the Edinburgh conference.

United States (Sherry Vellucci)
Thanks were extended to Phil Schreuer, outgoing Treasurer, who made a significant contribution to the branch. A new Treasurer has taken office, who has also contributed to the launching of a web site. Efforts have again been focussed on outreach via the Donated music materials programme, and in the last mailing materials were sent to 86 institutions in 34 countries. The branch was able to partially fund 10 members to attend IAML this year. A IAML poster session was put together for the MLA meeting in Louisville in February, to try to raise awareness of IAML, and it will go on the road to the Gesamt conference in Toronto in November. All IAML members are cordially invited to attend the MLA meeting in New York next year, February 21-24 2001. A generous amount of funding has been received both for the Neil Ratliff Outreach Fund, and for the fund for the conference in Berkeley. Planning continues apace for the meeting in Berkeley in 2002.

12. Candidates for Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections

President:
Joachim Jaenecke
John Roberts

Vice-Presidents:
Jon Bagüés
Inger Enquist
Roger Flury
Aurika Gergeležiu
Dominique Hausfater
Ruth Hellen
Federica Riva
Kirsten Voss Eliasson

13. Report from the Publications Committee (John Roberts)

RISM Series C (Western Europe) is still almost finished. There remains one country from which to receive revisions. It is hoped that camera-ready copy will be sent to Baerenreiter within the next few months. There will be two volumes, not including Italy. A treatise by Heinichen will be issued in the Documenta Musicologica series (a joint project with IMS), in this Fall.

The state of RISM Series C, Directory of Research Libraries: Western Europe, is just as imminent this year as last. The directory is completed, and now requires review and proofreading. Those involved in this should let John Roberts, Lenore Coral, or Maureen Buja know if they have problems with the exiting process. We want to get the manuscript as accurate as possible, and hope to see the finished version presented to Baerenreiter soon. John thanked Maureen and Lenore for their hard work in assisting Elizabeth Davis.

14. Outreach (Joachim Jaenecke)

In April 1999 letters describing IAML's outreach activities were sent out to 27 Goethe Institutes in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe. No responses were received. In April 2000 similar letters were sent to 20 German embassies in the same areas, and replies were received from Armenia, Egypt, Cambodia, Morocco, Mongolia, Peru and Cyprus, giving addresses of 12 music libraries in those countries. These were approached directly, including information about the Edinburgh conference, and as a result two libraries in Erevan are interested in becoming members of IAML. Outreach Fund 1 (materials) contains about 5,000.00 DM, and Outreach Fund 2 (conferences) was used for the first time last year in Wellington, when 1,500.00 DM was made available to assist attendance. This year in Edinburgh about 7,500.00 DM was available, and next year over 10,000.00 DM will be available. At the end of April letters were sent to all national branches asking for reports on outreach activities during the last two years, and responses were received from outreach Australia, Finland, Germany, Japan, Norway, Poland, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The Board is taking a look at revisions to the guidelines to the Outreach Funds.

15. Future conferences (Alison Hall)

2001 France, Perigueux. 8-14 July
2002 Berkeley, CA, US. 4-9 August
2003 Tallinn, Estonia
2004 Oslo, Norway
2005 Poland
2006 Sweden

The President thanked all members of Council for their work for IAML during the year.
The meeting was adjourned