Memorandum of Understanding between AEC and IAML has been signed

The European Association of Conservatoires (AEC) held its annual congress in Warsaw 4 - 6 November. The theme of the congress was "Sustainability". I gave a short presentation during Information Forum at General Assembly. My purpose was to inform the delegates that AEC and IAML now have formed a Memorandum of Understanding - a mutual agreement to cooperate in the future. I also gave a summary of the session with "Libraries in Music Teaching Institutions Branch" during IAML:s conference in Moscow, where the AEC president, Johannes Johansson, honoured us with his presence. One very important result of the discussion following the session is that Mr. Johansson has taken action to support librarians working in Italian conservatoires in their fight to properly care for the valuable archives with manuscripts in times of budget cuttings. Finally I suggested some areas where I think the librarian at a conservatoire could play an important role:

• The Bologna Process - the music librarian teaching "information literacy" in a musical context
• Artistic Research - the music librarian helping to bridge the gap between Art and "the Academy"
• Accreditation - the music librarian supporting the work to create relevant ranking lists
• Bibliometrics and quality assurance - the music librarian assisting in making artistic research measurable
• Electronic publishing - the music librarian making the conservatoire “go digital”
• Sustainability – the music librarian advocating for the Arts of Music

Pia Shekhter
Secretary General
Chair of Libraries in Music Teaching Institutions Branch