• 2003 Annual Meeting
  
• From the Chair
  
• Member News
  
• East Carolina Univ. Receives Gift
  
• Minutes of Meeting in Durham, NC

The 2003 SEMLA Annual Meeting was held at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University. For three days, October 23-25, meeting attendees had the opportunity to hear wonderful presentations, see the beautiful Chapel Hill and Duke areas, and enjoy delicious food.

The opening reception, generously sponsored by the Music Library Service Company, was held in the UNCChapel Hill Music Library, within the Louis Round Wilson Library. Attendees sampled delicious treats and toured the new Music Library facilities. Also, SEMLA’s beautiful redesigned Web site was unveiled courtesy of Webmaster Lynn Jacobson (Jacksonville Public Library).

Friday’s sessions were held the Pleasants Family Assembly Room in the Louis Round Wilson Library. Dr. Joe A. Hewitt, University Librarian and Associate Provost at UNC-Chapel Hill welcomed the group and shared information about the University’s libraries.

First up was the panel session, “Country Music in the Academy,” moderated by Philip Vandermeer (UNC-Chapel Hill). Steve Weiss, Curator of the Southern Folklife Collection at UNC-Chapel Hill, provided a fascinating look into the origins of the Southern Folklife Collection. He also discussed interesting gifts and general information about the collection.

Jocelyn Neal, Professor of Music at UNC-Chapel Hill, presented information on country music courses in colleges and universities. Her presentation included discoveries about current academic offerings in country music and issues she deals with when using country music in her classes.

Gary Boye, Music Librarian at Appalachian State University, concluded the panel session with information on collection development for country music. He showed the group some older recordings as well as CD box sets. His list of “Top 20 Recommended CD Box Sets in Country Music” can be found at: http://jpl.coj.net/semla/conference2003/country_CD_sets.doc.

Meeting attendees then divided into groups for tours of the Southern Folklife Collection. Curator Steve Weiss and assistant Kelly Kress each led a group for an interesting look at an important collection.

After lunch, Kirstin Dougan from Duke University presented “Metadata for Music Librarians.” Included was a definition of metadata, how it is being used, and specifically how music librarians can use metadata. Some of the major metadata schemes, such as Dublin Core, MODS, and OAI, were briefly explained. This presentation can be found at: http://www.lib.duke.edu/music/ SEMLA2003.

David Hursh from East Carolina University then gave the presentation, “Calling All Academic Library Reference Desks: A Research Project Overview and Refresher.” The presentation described a research project to gather information related to reference desks in music libraries. The resulting article from this research project will be published in Music Reference Services Quarterly, volume 8, issue 3/4.

The last presentation of the day was “Music in Non-Music Libraries: Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary” by Joan McGorman from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. She talked about the music collections in the library, the courses offered at the Seminary and how this impacted the music that was collected.

At the end of the day, the group was offered an optional tour of the newly renovated R. B. House Undergraduate Library at UNCChapel Hill before a delicious banquet at the Top of the Hill Restaurant in Chapel Hill.

For the last day of the annual meeting, the group moved to the Thomas Room in the Lilly Library at Duke University. Dr. Thomas Wall, Director of Public Services at Duke, welcomed the group, talked about Duke’s libraries, and gave a brief history of the University.

The presentations for the last day dealt with “Refreshers/New Directions” in several different areas. Gary Boye from Appalachian State University was first with his presentation, “Online Pathfinders for World Music: New Directions in Collection Development and Bibliographic Instruction.” He described the processes used in his library to create a good collection in world music. He also showed maps he created which are useful as collection development tools and for bibliographic instruction. The world music guides with maps can be found at: http://www.library.appstate.edu/music/research.html#world.

Next was a presentation on Journal Finder by Beth Bernhardt at the University of North Carolina–Greensboro. Journal Finder is an integrated search interface that allows users searching for serial publications to determine if the library has electronic access to, or a print copy of, a serial. It also indicates which other libraries own print copies. Copies of articles can be ordered and sent directly to the user. More information about the Journal Finder is available at: http://journalfinder.uncg.edu/uncg/.

“Conventional Terminology in the Description of Sound Recordings,” by Alan Ringwood from the University of South Carolina, was the last presentation. The MLA Subcommittee on Descriptive Cataloging has proposed changes dealing with the addition of conventional terminology to chapter 6 of AACR2. Alan outlined these proposed changes and informed the group how these changes, if implemented, would affect music cataloging.

The group then walked over to the Biddle Music Building for tour of the musical instrument collection.

Sarah Dorsey (UNC-Greensboro) started off the business meeting by reading “Two Kinds of Intelligence” by thirteenthcentury poet, Rumi. Joyce Clinkscales from Emory University told the group a little about what could be expected at the annual meeting next year in Atlanta. Look for more information and dates for the annual meeting to be announced on SEMLA-L. A big SEMLA welcome was given to first time attendees Kirstin Dougan Duke University), Matt Nelson (UNC-Greensboro), David Guion UNC-Greensboro), Betsy Dain (National Humanities Center), Catherine Pellegrino (UNC-Chapel Hill), Tracy Waterman (UNCChapel Hill), and Mary Rose Atkins (Winthrop University). SEMLA also welcomed first time attendee Richard Hodges (Louisiana State University) who received this year’s SEMLA travel grant to attend the meeting. Election results were announced with congratulations going to David Hursh (East Carolina University), our new Secretary/Treasurer and Lenny Bertrand (Tulane University), our new Member-at-Large.

Several topics were discussed during the business meeting, including the 2006 national meeting in Memphis, which SEMLA will hosting. Money is an important issue and we have some money the bank, but we will need to think of ways to raise more. We also discussed what sort of gatherings and activities SEMLA may plan for the national meeting, which is especially important since that will be MLA’s 75th anniversary. A task force will be in charge of updating A Directory of Music Collections in the Southeast United States. Other topics included library school liaisons and updating the SEMLA Chapter Officer Handbook. The group also discussed how election ballots are submitted. We discussed traditional mail and. e-mail, and whether wording would have to be changed in the bylaws to include e-mail. Laurel Whisler (Furman University), Program Committee Chair, Diane Steinhaus (UNC-Chapel Hill), Local Arrangements Chair, John Druesedow (Duke University), and many others who helped make a fantastic meeting were heartily thanked by the entire group.

As part of her final duties as SEMLA Chairperson, Sarah Dorsey gave fun gifts to outgoing and incoming officers. Stephen Mantz Davidson College), outgoing Secretary/Treasurer, received a paddle ball; Rashidah Hakeem (University of Mississippi), outgoing Member-at-Large, received bubbles; and incoming Chairperson Diane Steinhaus received a toy cell phone, in case she needs to call Sarah every once in a while. More gifts were distributed as Neil Hughes (University of Georgia) thanked Sarah for her hard work and presented her with a Wonder Woman address book. Lois Kuyper-Rushing (Louisiana State University) also thanked Sarah by reading an original poem. Finally, Lois and Diane gave Sarah a pair of earrings that were, of course, mismatched.

A delicious close to a delicious meeting was generously provided by Duke University in the form of lunch from Bullock’s BBQ.

Greetings and Happy New Year to all SEMLA-ites SEMLAnians?)! I write as your new, “drier” Chair, attempting to follow in the “wet” and inspiring footsteps of the sometimes late and always great Sarah Dorsey (University of North Carolina Greensboro). I think I’ll leave that metaphor alone for a while. Didn’t we have a great Fall meeting in Chapel Hill and Durham? Lee Richardson (University of North Florida) has ably written about it elsewhere in this issue, but I must add my comments and kudos as well. SEMLA seems incapable of putting on a poor show! A huge thank you goes to Laurel Whisler (Furman University), Chair of the Program Committee, and her colleagues Brenda Gale Beasley (Middle Tennessee State University), Catherine Gick (Vanderbilt University), and Philip Vandermeer University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill) for presenting us with a stimulating variety of papers and panels on a wide variety of topics that made me proud of my profession and my colleagues. I never knew how interesting Metadata could be . . . (of course, the Krispy Kreme may have helped). Even though I chaired the Local Arrangements Committee, feel justified in boasting about what a great job the Committee did because it was truly a team effort. From Duke we had the able assistance of Kirstin Dougan, John Druesedow, and Lois Schultz; and from UNC–Chapel Hill, Catherine Pellegrino, Jill Shires, and Philip Vandermeer. Co-hosting a meeting comes with its own special “challenges,” and this worthy group met and surpassed them all (including getting the Durham and Chapel Hill Visitors Bureaus to talk to one another!). And on top of that we’re all still friends! “Thank you” is definitely not enough to say to Lynn Jacobson (Jacksonville Public Library) for designing the conference Web site, and especially for so graciously accepting the constant flow of additions and changes to it leading up to the conference! While I’m thanking people, I’d like to add a special thank you to Music Library Service Company (MLSC) and Dana Jaunzemis, proprietor, for footing the bill for our lovely opening reception. Dana not only runs a classy business, she is particularly devoted to the well being of SEMLA. If you don’t already do business with MLSC, I encourage you to begin!

Congratulations to our newly elected officers and thank you to Brenda Gale Beasley and Guy Leach (Georgia State University) for running—don’t think this is the last you’ve heard from us! Coming on to the Board as Member-at-Large is the “Digital King” Lenny Bertrand (Tulane University), and as Secretary/Treasurer, David “Separate and Distinct” Hursh (East Carolina University). Welcome to the Board! We also said good-bye to Member-at- Large Rashidah Hakeem (University of Mississippi) and Secretary/ Treasurer Steve Mantz (Davidson College) at the Fall meeting. These faithful colleagues have labored long and hard over the last two years in many capacities, and I’m sure I don’t know even the half of it—many thanks! This was the third year of offering the SEMLA Travel Grant to a colleague just beginning his/her career in Music Librarianship, and the first year it has been funded 100% by SEMLA! Richard Hodges, an active musician and Library School student at Louisiana State University was this year’s recipient— congratulations and welcome, Richard!

Our unstoppable Web Task Force has been hard at work and at the Fall meeting unveiled our newly designed (and very classy) Chapter Web site. Thank you, Lynn Jacobson (chair), Alicia Hansen (Loyola University), and Lee Richardson!! And as they are true SEMLA-ites, they asked for more work and are now in the process, with the added assistance of Steve Mantz, of updating the 1984 edition of Directory of Music Collections in the Southeast United States.

Now that I’m in this seat I get to see even more clearly just how amazing SEMLA is, and I have the regular pleasure of telling you all about how wonderful y’all are. I am continually impressed with the dedication and competency (not to mention great humor) our members show toward each other, our organization, and the profession, and I can’t wait to see y’all in DC for MLA’s annual meeting in February! Our chapter meeting is scheduled for 7:00- 9:00 PM on Friday, February 13. And then we’re on to Emory University in Atlanta for our 2004 annual chapter meeting—look for the conference preview in the August issue!

Due to the generosity of a daughter and grandson, former East Carolina University Professor David Serrins will continue to share his love of music with music students for years to come. In September 2003, ECU alumni and Greenville residents, Joan and Scott Respess, donated the compact disc collection of their father and grandfather to the Music Library. This academician’s collection of approximately 800 titles is notable for its multiple interpretations of major orchestral works by various conductors and ensembles, as well as its concentrations in the music of Mahler and Mozart, two of Mr. Serrins’ favorite composers.

Mr. Serrins, a native of Oil City, Pennsylvania, received his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Florida–Coral Gables, and his Master of Music degree from UNC–Chapel Hill. Before coming to ECU in 1962, Mr. Serrins taught music in the Charlotte area public school system and served as principal oboist of the Charlotte Symphony. He was also one of the founders of the Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra. He is credited with establishing quality orchestral program at ECU during his five-year tenure. In a March 3, 1967 letter to Serrins, East Carolina College president Leo Jenkins congratulated him heartily for a superb concert and told him how pleased he was to have him at ECC. Later that year, Serrins heeded the call to return to his alma mater, UNC–Chapel Hill, where he served as oboe professor and symphony conductor until his retirement in 1985.

Mr. Serrins died on November 10, 2002 at the age of 82. According to all accounts, Mr. Serrins’ teaching and music-making were characterized by a rare passion and the ability to communicate that passion to his students and listeners. According to ECU music professor emeritus Paul Topper, Serrins “was a musician to the bone.” Joan and Scott Respess gave the collection to ECU because they are alumni of the school and they wanted their father’s legacy to continue where his university teaching career began. The Music Library staff is most grateful for the gift because it has in a short period of time added a quantity and quality of listening materials to the Music Library’s collection that would otherwise have taken years to assemble.