Music Library Instruction

The goal of the MLA Basic Manual Series is to present definitive discussion on specific aspects of the music library profession, but this third volume in the series is a bit atypical. Although it focuses uniquely on instruction in the music library, because music library users’ needs, curricular content, or institutional designs differ, it would be impossible to present a single viewpoint on this subject. Because the nature of such instructional programs meshes intimately with the institution itself, to divorce a program from its library would negate the context for its development. As a result, this volume provides three different approaches to instructional programs. Gregg Geary demonstrates how plans for teaching non-music majors about music resources match educational competencies established at the University of Hawaii; Laura Snyder presents the course she helped develop while teaching a graduate-level class on music bibliography at Eastman; and Kathleen Abromeit offers an overview of the program employed at Oberlin Conservatory Library for training undergraduate students to serve as reference assistants. This easy-to-read manual enables the reader to learn about the traits of these programs, adapt ideas to make them applicable to their own settings, and ultimately benefit from the experiences of these authors.