MLA Survey of Personnel Characteristics
Information Sheet

You are invited to participate in the 2009 MLA Survey of Personnel Characteristics

In 1997, a study was conducted by the Working Group Surveying Music Library Personnel Characteristics of the Music Library Association (MLA).  The study had three broad objectives: 1) To provide a statistical snapshot of the organization’s members and the types of libraries in which they are employed, the varieties of responsibilities in which they are engaged, levels of education, and many other facets of their employment, 2) to confirm “commonly held assumptions” about outside activities engaged in by MLA  members, and 3) to discern reasons why music librarians choose not to join the organization or allow their memberships to expire. The summarized results of this study were published by chair David Lesniaski in Notes in 2000.

This research project will replicate the original study with some revisions to the original instrument to address the needs for clarification and additional study articulated by the working group.  The study seeks to ascertain the degree to which this personnel profile has changed in the last decade and to test theories about how the profession has evolved since the original study.  Simultaneously, the current demographic make-up of the profession will be studied and compared to the results of the original survey in order to ascertain trends in representation of ethnic minorities in music and fine-arts librarianship.  These numbers will be contrasted with national trends in the library and information profession and to representation of traditionally underrepresented ethnic minority groups in the constituencies we serve. 

Both of these objectives are significant and have been endorsed by the Board of the Music Library Association and select members of the Working Group that conducted the original study. 

Participation in the study is completely voluntary and anonymous.  You need not be a member of MLA to participate.  Participation is encouraged from anyone interested in music and performing arts librarianship. The survey will be available to respondents from January 30, 2009 to March 16, 2009.  Data analysis for the study will take place in 2009.  Results will be made readily available to the MLA Board, membership, and all interested parties.  Dissemination of results will be made through presentations and publications contingent upon acceptance of proposals and abstracts for those events. 

For information and participation, please see:

[insert Survey Monkey URL]

Questions?

Please contact the principle investigators:

Mark A. Puente
[full contact information]

Susannah Cleveland
[full contact information]

You must be 18 years of age to participate in the study.