Chair/Lead: Karen Olson

Members: Mary Huismann, Libby Barth, Music Dept. Library Committee, Raina Swanson Edson

The Problem

During this time of revolutionary cultural reassessment, libraries are re-evaluating collections with the understanding that the work of marginalized authors, performers, conductors and creators must have their proper place in our collections. The St. Olaf Music Library Collection lacks diversity of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, ability, and age of composers, conductors, performers, and scholars.
In the Fall of 2021, the Music Library was allotted $20,000 to spend diversifying the collection. Karen Olson requested faculty and student suggestions throughout Fall 2021 and Spring 2022, with the bulk of the purchases happening in Spring 2022. There is a LibGuide highlighting the new acquisitions. In Fall 2022, several music faculty participated in a recital, New Music from Diverse Voices, that featured some of these new materials. Throughout the 2022-2023 year, Halvorson Music Library has displayed the new materials, with different instruments showcased every two weeks.

Goals

1. Increase the number of works by artists of multiple ethnicities, religious affiliations, nationalities, sexes and gender expressions, as well as work representing and celebrating a wide variety of cultures increases annually as budgets permit.
2. Music and related resources will reflect and enhance conversations pertaining to the cultural moment in classrooms and performance spaces on the St. Olaf College campus.

3. The collection we develop is able to support a culturally responsive and inclusive curriculum. 

4. Seek out grants to help support our work to diversify the collection.

The current database goals are 1) to improve documentation for adding assets to the DHUC and 2) to expand the materials indexed in the DHUC. Formerly only available to St. Olaf users, the DHUC went fully public on Feb. 14, 2023. This will enable Carleton users to benefit from it as well, since our libraries share a catalog.

Actions Taken

On June 1, 2020, all non-class related purchasing was put on hold due to COVID-related budget cuts but the funding has been restored and is available for course-related purchases.  Purchases will be made in consultation with the music faculty, with the shared goals of 1) supporting the teaching, performance, and composition, 2) diversifying the Music Library’s Collection in relation to the race, ethnicity, gender, religion, ability, and age of composers, conductors, performers, and scholars; and 3) continuing careful stewardship of physical, human and financial resources.

In December 2022, Karen Olson completed a diversity audit of the Music Department’s performances since 2018-2019, tracking performances of works by BIPOC and gender marginalized composers. In January 2023, with the assistance of Sarah Quimby and Mary Huismann, Karen completed a similar diversity audit of four core areas of the scores collections: piano solo repertoire, secular non-dramatic vocal solo repertoire, orchestral scores, and wind band scores. The team will use the data from these audits to set parameters for future collection development with Sarah Quimby and Mary Barbosa-Jerez. 
Raina Swanson Edson, Student Associate for Inclusive Collections, continues to work on the Database for Historically Underrepresented Composers. A second associate, Lizzie Gray, was hired in Fall 2022. Music Catalog Librarian Mary Huismann creates monthly reports of new works to be added to the DHUC

Accomplishments so Far 

In January and February of 2021, the Music department co-chairs were invited to assemble a list of recommended items. Collection development allocated additional funding for the purchase of these items, and Acquisitions and Resource Management staff have created a special reporting code to track purchases toward this goal. Through the spring of 2021 a few requests have come through from the music department toward this effort.

The library will be hiring a summer student employee to identify gaps in the library collections of certain marginalized and underrepresented groups. This position is based on the project proposal a student submitted to the Steen Fellowship Fund. This student employee will work with staff to identify materials that promote inclusivity, reflect the diversity of the campus community, and support a changing curriculum. Once the list is developed, the library staff will work with faculty to purchase the materials most appropriate for the library and within the available collections budget.