Agenda item

Barbican Music Library - Award

Report of the Chairman of the Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee.

I am delighted to announce that the City Corporation’s Barbican Music Library has been awarded the Excellence award by The International Association of Music Libraries, Archives and Documentation Centres (IAML).

The IAML Excellence Award for Music Libraries is open to all music libraries in the UK and Ireland, no matter what their sector, size or type. The Award is presented every two years, and focuses on outstanding music services to the Library’s user community. The basis of the Award is to demonstrate sustained good work and good practice which has the potential to be adopted and adapted by others and may also include the serious development of a service and innovation of obviously lasting value.

The Library’s submission spoke of the exciting range of exhibitions that the Music Library has provided in partnership with others: for example, in the past year, the highly successful exhibition programme has included a celebration of the centenary of Sir Georg Solti in partnership with The Solti Foundation, and Rock Family Trees in partnership with the author, Pete Frame.

As evidence of innovation, the submission detailed the annual People’s Pianos programme. This project sees pupils from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama giving one to one piano lessons to residents aged over 60 using the digital pianos in the Barbican Music Library. As well as improving relationships between the participating generations, providing social opportunities for local residents, and enhancing the pupils’ appreciation of music, the project aims to make local people feel at home in the Barbican Centre and improve their sense of cultural community identity, whilst also supporting education (teaching experience is an essential requirement for undergraduates). Successful applicants must also be able to demonstrate excellence in terms of stock, staff knowledge and leadership, partnership working and engagement with users and potential users.

The achievement of this Award is a great tribute to the dedication and hard work of all the staff in the Barbican Music Library. 

I commend these achievements to the Court.”

Barbican Music Library - Award

Report of the Chairman of the Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee.

“I am delighted to announce that the City Corporation’s Barbican Music Library has been awarded the Excellence award by The International Association of Music Libraries, Archives and Documentation Centres (IAML).

The IAML Excellence Award for Music Libraries is open to all music libraries in the UK and Ireland, no matter what their sector, size or type. The Award is presented every two years, and focuses on outstanding music services to the Library’s user community. The basis of the Award is to demonstrate sustained good work and good practice which has the potential to be adopted and adapted by others and may also include the serious development of a service and innovation of obviously lasting value.

The Library’s submission spoke of the exciting range of exhibitions that the Music Library has provided in partnership with others: for example, in the past year, the highly successful exhibition programme has included a celebration of the centenary of Sir Georg Solti in partnership with The Solti Foundation, and Rock Family Trees in partnership with the author, Pete Frame.

As evidence of innovation, the submission detailed the annual People’s Pianos programme. This project sees pupils from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama giving one to one piano lessons to residents aged over 60 using the digital pianos in the Barbican Music Library. As well as improving relationships between the participating generations, providing social opportunities for local residents, and enhancing the pupils’ appreciation of music, the project aims to make local people feel at home in the Barbican Centre and improve their sense of cultural community identity, whilst also supporting education (teaching experience is an essential requirement for undergraduates). Successful applicants must also be able to demonstrate excellence in terms of stock, staff knowledge and leadership, partnership working and engagement with users and potential users.

The achievement of this Award is a great tribute to the dedication and hard work of all the staff in the Barbican Music Library. 

I commend these achievements to the Court.”

Read.

Received.