Music Collection Development Policy

I. Introduction

A. Purpose

This policy outlines in a detailed form the principles of collection development that are defined by the Music Library and is a supplement to the Egbert Starr Library Collection Development Policy. Collection policy is coordinated with the special collections residing in the Flanders Ballad Collection and the Vermont Archive of Traditional Music. Only areas that differ or expand on the latter will be addressed in the Music Library policy. The policy communicates the collection policies and goals of the Library to library users and librarians. The document is to be used as the basis for decision making for the selection of individual items for the collection and for the allocation of funds. It also informs librarians in the processes of deselection and collection evaluation.

B. Institution and Clientele

Middlebury College is an undergraduate liberal arts institution with an intensive study program in foreign languages operating in the summer. The music department offers the B.A. degree. The Summer Language Schools and the Breadloaf School of English offer advanced degrees. The library serves four principle groups: students, faculty, staff, and the greater community. These groups have differing, yet overlapping, needs for library materials and service in the area of music. Some of these needs as they relate to music are: study and instruction, performance and composition, research and information, cultural and esthetic enlightenment, and entertainment and recreation. The library's primary clientele is undergraduate liberal arts students whose needs encompass all of the categories enumerated above but with an emphasis on study, performance, composition, and research. Among the undergraduate students, the library serves both music majors and non-majors. The music major has the opportunity to explore virtually any aspect of music but the department emphasizes composition, performance, ethnomusicology, and music history and theory. Courses for the non-major are generally introductory in nature and serve to fulfill the broad educational needs of the liberal arts curriculum. In addition, the institution has a strong interest in promoting interdisciplinary studies. Students at the Summer Language Schools may use music to compliment their study of a language at the undergraduate level. Summer language offerings at the graduate level sometimes focus on a musical topic as a means of advanced instruction in the culture associated with a particular language. The Middlebury College faculty are chosen for their excellence as teachers and scholars. Teaching is considered the primary responsibility of the faculty. Faculty research is intended to enhance the teaching mission of the institution and the faculty. The library's collection is also available as a resource to College staff and the Middlebury community. These groups are important to the College community and are encouraged to make use of the music library collection which is primarily designed to serve the instructional needs of students.

C. Mission and Goals

It is the mission of the Music Library collection development and management program to select and maintain a collection of library materials related to the instructional, research, intellectual and artistic interests of students and faculty.

1. To acquire all library materials necessary for instructional purposes.
2. To acquire research materials to support teaching.
3. To develop a strong reference collection designed to assist individuals in locating materials necessary for their research and information needs and to prepare students who may continue with graduate work in music.
4. To develop a collection of performance materials for all vocal ranges and for each instrument of the orchestra including chamber works, but excluding collections of parts for large ensembles.
5. To develop a music collection in various formats that fulfills human needs for artistic expression and recreation including a representation of popular music.
6. To acquire music materials that will enhance the study of foreign languages and cultures represented in the Middlebury College curriculum.

D. Intellectual Freedom and Censorship

The Music Library will observe and apply to music materials the principles outlined in The Freedom to Read statement, the Library Bill of Rights, the Intellectual Freedom Statement, and supporting documents as appended to the Egbert Starr Library Collection Development Policy.

E. Overview of the Collection

1. History of the Collection

The Music Library collection was developed both by Starr Library and the Music Department with the Library being responsible for acquiring books, periodicals, and study scores and the Department acquiring recordings and performance materials. With the construction of the Christian A. Johnson Building and the growing recognition of the Department for the need of greater library resources and a librarian to administer those resources, the Music Library developed into a branch library in 1971-72 where all of the scores, recordings, reference books, and current periodicals were kept. In 1992 the Music Library moved to the Center for the Arts where all library materials relating to music were brought together for the first time. The collection has grown significantly over the last 25 years from a small departmental collection to a library offering a full range of services to the entire College community. The Music Library has taken advantage of new technologies as they emerge. This has led to the collection of a wide variety of library materials in various formats including books, periodicals, microforms, printed music, sound recordings (LPs, CDs, cassettes), video recordings (VHS cassettes and laser discs), and computer software (floppy discs and CD-ROMs). The collection has always existed to support curricular offerings at the College, but there have also been special programs that influenced collecting in certain areas not immediately reflected in the curriculum. The Composers' Conference & Chamber Music Center was started in 1945 and was run by Alan Carter, chairman of the College Music Department. The Composers' Conference & Chamber Music Center used the Department's chamber music collection throughout the years and the Music Library was involved in the administration of this program from 1971-83. The program then moved to Wellesley College. During this period the Music Library acquired a representative collection of chamber music including multiple copies of parts of works from the standard repertory. The Flanders Ballads Collection came to Middlebury College in 1941 and was actively maintained through 1960. Over the next fifteen years, little attention was given to the archive which was housed in Starr Library. Renewed interest rescued the materials from neglect beginning in 1975. Work on expanding the Collection was recognized in 1986 with the establishment of the Vermont Archives of Traditional Music under the curatorship of Jennifer Post. The two collections were moved in 1992 to the Center for the Arts and are administered separately from the Music Library. These two collections are the College's most important special collections in music and are know nationally and internationally for their unique contribution to our understanding of folk music in New England. The Special Collections Department of Starr Library also contains some materials on music including a 13th century gradual, some 19th century music imprints, and 20th century first editions of music. The College Archives maintains the documents of the Music Department.

2. Areas of Emphasis

The Music Library collection maintains a strong core collection in the history and theory of Western music. For an institution of its size, it has developed a strong collection of the monuments of music and collected works of composers. The Music Library maintains a commitment to this area of emphasis. Other emphases have changed over the years as curricular offerings reflected the unique talents and expertise of the College's music faculty or have been influenced by institutional programs and policies. Some recent areas of interest have been: American music, twentieth-century music, music by women composers, musical composition, jazz, opera, and ethnomusicology. The Music Library will support the emphases of the music curriculum through the introductory study level.

3. Collection Locations

Library resources in music are located in the Music Library. Music materials may also be located in various special collections if it is important to maintain the provenance of the material in the collection.

F. Organization of Collection Management and Development Program

1. Staffing

The Music Librarian has the principal responsibility for the determination and implementation of the program. Collection policies are created through consultation with the music faculty and the Collection Development Librarian. Decisions related to special materials are coordinated with the Abernethy Curator and Archivist, and the Curator of the Flanders Ballads Collection and Vermont Archives of Traditional Music. The collection policies for books, serials, and microforms are jointly administered by the Collection Development Librarian and the Music Librarian. The acquisition of serials is subject to review by the Serials Review Committee. The acquisition of materials in all other formats collected by the Music Library is directly administered by the Music Librarian.

2. Liaison with User Groups

The Music Librarian is responsible for maintaining a close working relationship with the music faculty to insure that current collection policies result in selection decisions that adequately reflect curricular offerings. The Music Librarian is also responsive to collection needs as perceived by faculty and students in other departments. Active solicitation of other user groups will generally not be undertaken as it falls outside the mission of the Music Library.

G. Relationship to Other Policies

The collection development policy must be reviewed in light of related library policies as they currently exist and/or are developed, such as: Starr Library, Flanders Collection, Vermont Archives of Traditional Music, and Special Collections collection development policies; gifts policy statement; circulation, inter-library loan, preservation, replacement, and deselection policies.

H. Cooperative Collection Development Agreements

Because Middlebury College is a residential college and is geographically isolated from other academic or research collections, it is important to develop a strong library collection, to make appropriate use of inter-library loan, and to take advantage of future technological developments that will increase access to music library materials. For these reasons cooperative collection development agreements will not be pursued.

II. General Collection Management and Development Policies

A. Format of Material

1. Books

The Music Library adheres to the extensive guidelines enumerated in the Starr Library Collection Development Policy. Emphasis in that document is given to material of lasting and scholarly value.

2. Periodicals

The Music Library follows the Starr Library Collection Development Policy (section L) regarding serials. The Serials Review Committee will apply those guidelines to recommendations made by the Music Library and Department Faculty in determining appropriate titles for the collection.

3. Newspapers

Newspaper subscriptions are subject to review by the Serials Review Committee. In general, the Music Library will recommend acquiring one major national newspaper and one local newspaper in order to have current reporting on musical and other cultural events.

4. Textbooks

Because the Music Department offers introductory courses to a large number of students, textbooks will be acquired with more frequency than for the general library collection. Nonetheless, the selection guidelines for exceptions in the Starr Library Collection Development Policy (section N) will be followed. The Library collects textbooks used in all Music Department courses.

5. Reprints and Reissues

Reprinted books and music are acquired when needed if there is not a work available representing current scholarly opinion on a subject or a recently prepared edition. Reprints will also be selected for works that are considered major studies in their time and whose content has not been totally superseded by more recent studies. No distinction will be made between recent and reissued recordings and visual materials. The selection decision will be made solely upon the content and quality of the performance.

6. Dissertations and Theses

Generally not acquired. See Starr Library Collection Development Policy (section E).

7. Paperbacks

See Starr Library Collection Development Policy (section F, paragraph 2).

8. Microforms

See Starr Library Collection Development Policy (section I).

9. Pamphlets and Newsletters

These materials are acquired if they are free and are related to some aspect of the curriculum. They are located in the vertical files. Catalogs from publishers, recording companies, instrument manufacturers, and audio equipment are retained for no longer than five years.

10. Printed music

a. Reference scores

Priority will be given to acquiring sets of the complete works of the major composers from all periods of Western music history. Secondarily, the Music Library will acquire major sets and series related to the music of a particular country, region, or historical time period. These sets will be collected much more sparingly. The series will be chosen based on the projected content of the series which must contain literature by significant composers of the country or time or, in the case of early music, must publish the contents of an important manuscript collection. Selection of these sets will be guided by their citation in standard music histories (e.g., Grout & Palisca) or by the textbook used for teaching music history at the College. Due to the expensive nature of these materials, the Music Library will attempt to allocate no more than half of its budget for printed music for these resources.

b. Facsimiles and Microforms

Facsimiles of manuscripts are acquired only at the direct request of a music faculty member to support classroom instruction. The facsimile should adhere to the highest standards of facsimile reproduction including faithfulness to the original colors, size (or clearly indicate the reduction ratio), and text. It should also be accompanied with appropriate scholarly analysis of the manuscript and explanation of the techniques used in producing the facsimile. In no case will the library acquire facsimiles that have been "touched-up" editorially to "improve" the text. Microforms of music are acquired only at the direct request of a music faculty member to support classroom instruction. (See section I. Microforms of the Starr Library Collection Development Policy.) These criteria will not apply to editions of contemporary compositions that are published only in facsimile. The criteria for acquiring printed scores and parts will apply to these works.

c. Study and miniature scores

Scores of music with reduced print will be acquired for study purposes in preference to a full score if the cost of the full score is one-third or more greater than the cost of the study score. Study scores will also be selected in preference to full scores if, in the judgment of the selector, it is a work that is unlikely to be performed at the College because of the size of the performing forces required or technical difficulty (e.g., full-scale operas).

d. Urtext performance editions

All new Urtext editions will be acquired. If the Library already has an Urtext edition published within the last ten years by another publisher, the work will not be acquired unless review literature indicates that significantly new material or scholarly interpretation is represented by the newer edition.

e. Performance editions

The Library will acquire performance editions for instrumental and vocal literature proportionate to the current enrollment in the applied music program. Preference will be given to editions having scores and parts over editions of parts only. Preference will also be given to works in their original instrumentation over arrangements. Arrangements by the composer or authorized by the composer, works arranged by another major composer (e.g., Pictures at an Exhibition arranged by Ravel), or well-known arrangements may be standard exceptions. Concertos and solos for an instrument and large ensemble will be acquired in arrangements for solo instrument and keyboard.

f. Vocal scores

Vocal scores of major works and composers of operas, operettas, musicals, revues, oratorios, cantatas, orchestral songs, and songs with instrumental accompaniment are collected. Preference is given to selecting editions of the complete work over editions of selected arias or songs from a work. (See also section II. C. Languages and translations)

g. Vocal ensemble music

Scores of vocal ensemble music by major composers, both accompanied and a cappella, are collected. (See also sections II. C. Languages and translations and II. F. Multiple copies)

h. Works for large ensembles

Performance materials for ensembles requiring more than ten performers will not be collected by the Music Library but may be acquired for the orchestra, band, or choral libraries by the Music Department.

i. Pedagogical materials

A selection of Music intended for instructional purposes including etudes, orchestral excerpts, and technical studies (e.g., scales) will be acquired for all of the instruments of the orchestra, harpsichord, organ, piano, guitar, and for voice. Other instructional materials will be acquired as dictated by the demands of the applied program (e.g., jazz studies, early instruments).

j. Choice of edition

The Library will select editions whenever possible that represent careful scholarly editing techniques. Performance editions prepared by a major performer will be selected if the edition serves to document the performance practice of the period in which the piece was composed or is historically significant in some other respect. The Library will not select low cost editions simply to fill in gaps in the repertory or to expand the holdings of the Library quickly.

11. Sound recordings

The Library acquires compact discs (CDs), vinyl discs (LPs), and cassettes in that order of preference. The Library does not collect 78 rpm recordings or any recording formats developed prior to 33 1/3 rpm recordings. The Library maintains an archival collection of recordings on open reel tape and cassette of musical events recorded at Middlebury College. In general, the Library is not a sound recording archive and may replace recordings in older formats by identical recorded performances in newer formats as funds permit. A decision to change format preference or to add another recording format to the collection will be based upon (in this order of importance):

1. the general commercial availability of titles required by the Library,
2. the cost of the playback equipment and the format are not prohibitively expensive,
3. the obsolescence of a currently acquired format,
4. the ability to interface with computer technology for enhanced instructional possibilities or other technological advances,
5. the durability of the format and its suitability as a long-term storage medium, and
6. compact size.

The Library collects only musical sound recordings. Spoken word, sound effects, sounds of nature, etc. are not within the scope of the collection.

12. Video recordings

The Library collects laser discs and VHS video cassettes and in that order of preference. The criteria for evaluating format additions and changes follows the points listed under sound recordings (section II. A. 11. paragraph 2). In the case of motion pictures transferred to video, letterbox editions will be acquired whenever possible. The collection will emphasize musical dramatic productions where the visual content is important and significant for a full appreciation of the artistic work. Video recordings of concerts will be collected very selectively using these criteria: the visual content can be used for instruction in applied music, serves to document a historically important musical event, recreates the performance conditions of the period in which a work was composed, etc. Ethnomusicological video recordings are selected where the visual content is necessary for a full understanding of the context in which the music is performed. Documentaries on musical topics will be selected only if they will be used for classroom instruction. Dance and ballet recordings will be selected first based on the musical content and then secondarily for choreography and performance.

13. Computer software

In general, current versions of computer software related to music are collected for Macintosh and IBM computers (in that order of preference). The library may collect databases of printed text, graphics, audio sounds, or instructional programs that do not require the student to produce sounds. Software used for producing musical sounds (e.g., midi) and music writing are not collected. Software that accompanies materials in other formats will be retained in the collection regardless of which system is required to run it if the primary item can be used independently of the software. Where the primary item is dependent upon the use of the software, the selector will evaluate the currency of the system required to operate the software and consider the possibility of reformatting in cases of system obsolescence. The acquisition of computer software for the Music Library's computer lab is not properly considered part of the Library's collection. Acquisition of system software, word processing programs, spread sheets, music instructional programs, and other such programs requiring multiple simultaneous users or network access is not within the province of the Music Library's collection development program.

14. Electronic formats

a. CD-ROM

It is still too early to evaluate exactly how CD-ROM technology will be used at Middlebury College. However, as greater experience is gained, more definite criteria for selection will be developed. Currently, CD-ROMs related to music that can be used in conjunction with Macintosh computers may be selected for the collection. CD-ROM products exceeding $100 will only be purchased if extensive use is anticipated for a particular course offering. In the case of serial subscriptions to indexes and abstracts on CD-ROM in the field of music, the Starr Library Collection Development Policy (section V. C.) will be followed. b. Internet resources, Electronic journals, etc. This is another area which is just emerging. Collection policy will develop more definite criteria with experience. Currently, specific resources in music will be recommended to be included in the College's "gopher" that meet general interest (e.g., lyrics database, lists of music Internet resources) or are specifically requested by the faculty to support class instruction.

B. Special Collections

1. Music Student Theses

The Music Department will deposit one copy of all student theses prepared under their sponsorship. Copies of honors theses will be forwarded to Special Collections in Starr Library.

2. College archival materials

The papers and documents of the Music Department and Concert Series are retained by the College Archives in Starr Library. Recordings of local concerts are added to the Music Library. 3. Vermont Composers Consortium The papers, documents, and selected works by members of this organization are deposited in the Music Library.

C. Languages and Translations

All books acquired for the collection are in English or in the original language with a parallel or accompanying translation. The following exceptions may be made: complete collections of correspondence by major composers may be acquired in the original language; major reference works (such as comprehensive music dictionaries, biographical dictionaries, and encyclopedias) in each of the major European languages (French, German, Italian, Russian, and Spanish); significant bibliographical studies; and works acquired for the summer language program. All periodicals will also be in English, but one major musicological journal in French, German, and Italian will also be acquired. Printed music of vocal works not in English are acquired in the original language with an English translation whenever possible. Other translations of such works are acquired only if the work is well-known in that translation. Audio and video recordings of vocal music in the original language will be acquired unless the work is well known in a translation. Sound recordings of vocal music not in English should have an accompanying libretto with the original language and the English translation whenever possible. Video recordings of vocal works not in English should be subtitled in English whenever possible.

D. Local Publications and Works

The Library acquires publications and recordings by the professors and applied music faculty currently teaching in the department. The library also collects manuscripts, manuscript facsimiles, and recordings of performances of musical works by composers currently teaching in the department. The Library selectively collects books, printed music, and recordings of well-known Vermont musicians.

E. Popular Versus Scholarly Works

Books that are well researched and written are collected. The Library selectively collects books written for the mainstream classical music lover or opera buff (e.g., books by David Ewen). Books about popular music singers, instrumentalists, and groups, or opera stars and major conductors should give a well researched and balanced treatment of the subject, neither excessively praising or denigrating. Such books are usually documented by footnotes, bibliography, and/or an index. Current popular audio and video recordings are collected to historically document popular culture primarily in the United States and to a lesser degree in other parts of the world. Selection for this part of the collection will be based on a work's popularity with the population at large rather than on artistic or aesthetic criteria. Since Middlebury College is not a research institution, the materials acquired are intended primarily for undergraduate students ages eighteen to twenty-one. Abstruse scholarly works intended for specialists are acquired very selectively to meet a specific instructional need.

F. Multiple Copies

It is standard policy to purchase only one copy of any item selected. However, not more than three copies of any one title is purchased to meet the demands of instruction. Multiple copies of the textbook used for a course are not collected. (See section G for the policy on multiple copies for reserve.) Titles are not duplicated between various branches or collections of the Middlebury College Libraries except where a clear demand or need can be demonstrated.

G. Reserve Material

Reserve materials form a temporary subset of the Library's collection and may be gathered from a variety of sources consisting of: books from the circulating collections of the Middlebury College Libraries; instructor's personal copies of any type of library material; reprints; pamphlets; audio and video recordings; software; and photocopies, dubs of sound recordings, and dubs of video recordings meeting the copyright compliance guidelines. The following materials may not be placed on reserve: materials received through interlibrary loan, reference books and scores, periodicals, any duplicated material that does not fully meet the copyright guidelines. Personal copies are only placed and maintained on reserve if an item cannot be obtained by the time it is needed for instruction or if the item is unavailable for purchase. Personal copies will be removed from reserve when the Library copy arrives. In general, no more than one copy will be purchased per fifteen students enrolled in any one class.

H. Reference Works

1. General principles

The works in this collection are selected to meet the following objectives. The collection will contain the most current, authoritative sources in the field. Materials will be placed in the collection to insure equal and fair access to reference works for all users of the library. The collection will emphasize materials which are frequently consulted by users and library staff. The collection will contain a broad, general selection of materials in music emphasizing the needs and interests of an undergraduate college population. Due to the space limitations of the reference area, the collection will not exceed the 108 linear feet allotted. However, this does not preclude the acquisition of reference materials that may be placed in the stacks and designated for library use only, but it does emphasize that materials marked as reference are the most frequently consulted reference materials. The Library has some basic general reference needs unrelated to music and will have: a current major general encyclopedia, the latest edition of an unabridged American-English dictionary, foreign language dictionaries for each language taught at the College, at least one version of the Bible, various style manuals, and a current world atlas.

2. Specific types of materials about music

a. Directories, Yearbooks, and Almanacs.

The collection will contain the most current edition for works published in North America and Europe. Older editions will be withdrawn from the collection.

b. Song Translations.

Major collections of art-song translations, both poetic and literal, will be maintained in reference.

c. Quotations and Lists.

The collection contains books of quotations about music, lists of the names of musical pieces, and subject guides to vocal and instrumental music.

d. Dictionaries and encyclopedias.

The most current edition of the major encyclopedia or dictionary in music in each of the languages taught by the College is retained in reference. The most current edition of single volume dictionaries and encyclopedias with imprints less than fifty years ago will also be retained in reference. Older editions of all dictionaries and encyclopedias will be placed in the circulating collection. The second most current edition of single volume dictionaries (e.g., The Harvard Dictionary of Music) will be rotated to Starr Library reference. Current editions of dictionaries of musical terms and biographical dictionaries in the languages taught by the College are in reference. Earlier editions are retained in the circulating collection and may also be rotated to Starr Library in certain cases as requested by the Reference Department.

e. Music Publishing and Printing.

Listings and catalogs of music publishers are kept in reference. The latest major publications on the legal and business aspects of music publishing and the recording industry will also be in reference.

f. Bibliographies.

Bibliographies of music reference works, of bibliographies, of discographies, of periodicals, repertory lists for instrumental and vocal music, discographies of current popular music and lists of popular music charts, current evaluative discographies, and bibliographies covering broad areas of music literature are in reference. Bibliographies on specialized topics and for individual musicians are shelved in the circulating collection.

g. Indexes

Indexes to general periodical literature or of a general nature are in reference. Indexes to specific periodicals are shelved with the corresponding periodical.

h. Thematic catalogs.

The most current thematic catalogs or lists of the works of individual composers are in reference. Bibliographies for individual composers are retained in reference if they contain the only current complete listing of the composers works.

i. Chronologies.

The latest editions of chronologies of music are kept in reference.

j. Histories of music.

The latest editions of multi-volume histories of music reflecting current musicological scholarship are shelved in reference.

3. Evaluation and inventory

The reference collection will undergo an inventory and evaluation at least every two years. Each work will be examined to see if it meets the above criteria.

I. Government Publications

Government publications about music that are part of the materials acquired through the depository system are acquired by the Music Library.

J. Acquisition Procedures Affecting Collections Policies

1. Standing orders

Standing orders for sets, series, and recording labels are established to insure that materials of known value to the Library's collection development policy are acquired expeditiously and in their entirety. This is particularly important where gaps in a set would diminish the value of the set as a whole. Standing orders will not be established unless it is anticipated that the Library would acquire at least 80 percent of the titles to be ordered. Standing orders should not exceed 50 percent of any one budget line in order to preserve adequate funding for firm orders to support immediate curricular needs. Standing orders for recording labels and series will be placed for labels and series that cover a well-defined subject area (e.g., early music, computer music, ethnomusicological recordings, contemporary music) where comprehensiveness is desirable and to expedite the receipt of materials .

2. Approval plans and blanket orders

a. Books

Approval plans for university press publications are maintained.

b. Scores

See Appendix 1 for approval plan for scores.

3. Gifts and exchanges.

The Music Library follows the Middlebury College Library Gifts Policy Statement.

K. Expensive Purchases

Items exceeding $500 in cost will receive greater scrutiny. Consultation will be done with other persons including, the Collection Development Librarian, College Librarian, Music Faculty, or other persons who may be involved in the selection of the item. These discussions may include the appropriateness of the selection, special funding arrangements, and/or placement in a special collection.