The following entry is by Dorianne Coleiro (Malta).
English follows.
Sirt naf bil-konferenza tal-International Association of Music Libraries, Archives and Documentation Centres tar-Renju Unit u l-Irlanda (IAML UK & Irl) li saret f’Cambridge bejn il-11 u t-13 t’April wara suġġeriment mill-Kap tad‑Dipratiment għax‑Xjenzi tal‑Librerija, l‑Informazzjoni u l‑Arkivju fl‑Università ta’ Malta.
Peress li kont studenta tal-kors baċellerat fl-Istudji tal-Librerija, l-Informazzjoni u l-Arkivju u fl-Istudji tal-Mużika, il-konferenza kienet opportunità tajba għax trattat iż-żewġ oqsma ta’ studju f’daqqa.
Naturalment wara din il-konferenza reġjonali mbagħad attendejt il‑konferenza annwali tal‑IAML ġewwa Antwerp biex inkompli nibni fuq l-epserjenza li gwadanjajt f’Cambridge.
Il‑konferenza kienet miżmuma f’post eċċellenti fir‑Royal Conservatoire ta’ Antwerp. Il‑lukandi rakommandati mill‑organizzaturi kienu qrib il‑post b’servizz ta’ trasport dirett għall‑ajruport ta’ Brussell. Is-servizz tat‑trasport għaċ‑ċentru ta’ Antwerp kien hekk kif taqsam it‑triq u t‑tim organizzattiv kien ta’ għajnuna kbira kemm qabel kif ukoll matul dik il‑ġimgħa.
Li tiltaqa’ u tiddiskuti ma’ librara u arkivisti tal‑mużika minn madwar id‑dinja kienet għalija verament esperjenza ġdida. Filwaqt li kulħadd fil‑konferenza kien qed jirrappreżenta xi istituzzjoni, jien kont qed nirrapprezenta lili nnifsi bħala pijuniera fit‑twaqqif tal-ewwel librerija pubblika tal‑mużika f’Malta.
Attendejt is‑sezzjonijiet dwar midja soċjali tal‑mużika, u libreriji pubbliċi tal‑mużika b’interess kbir. Is‑sezzjonijiet kienu kollha informattivi u fuq kollox wieħed seta’ jistaqsi mistoqsijiet jekk xtaq aktar informazzjoni.
Ukoll ta’ relevanza kienet l‑informazzjoni dwar ir‑RISM mill‑istand preżenti li kien hemm fil‑konferenza. Kelli wkoll l‑opportunità li nipprova s‑sistema ta’ tiftix u din tatni idea tajba ta’ kif taħdem il‑faċilità tat‑tiftix tar‑RISM.
Fis‑sitwazzjoni partikolari tiegħi, igwadanjajt ħafna meta rajt x’qed jagħmlu libreriji u arkivji tal‑mużika oħra minn madwar id‑dinja. Kien importanti għalija li nesperjenza l‑benefiċċji li jkollok librerija tal‑mużika fil‑kommunità u x’attivitajiet jistgħu jsiru għal gruppi ta’ etajiet differenti. Barra minn hekk, kien essenzjali li nħoss li jien nagħmel parti minn tim bl‑istess skop, li hu informazzjoni tal‑mużika.
**********
I first learned about the IAML UK & Irl Conference that was held in Cambridge between the 11 to 13 April following a suggestion by the Head of Library, Information and Archive Sciences Department within the University of Malta.
As a student reading for a Bachelor course in Library, Information & Archive Studies and Music Studies, the conference presented a useful opportunity since it covered all areas of my studies.
It was natural then that I would attend the IAML Conference in Antwerp as I could follow up on the experience I gained from the event in Cambridge.
The conference was held in an excellent location at the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp. The hotels recommended by the organisers were close to the venue which is served by a direct bus service to Brussels airport. The transport service to the centre of Antwerp was just across the road and the organising team were very helpful before and throughout the week.
Meeting and discussing with music librarians and archivists from all over the world was indeed a new experience to me. While everyone at the conference was representing an institution, I was representing myself with the purpose of establishing the first public music library in Malta.
I attended the sessions on music social media, and public music libraries with great interest. The sessions were all very informative and most importantly participants could ask questions if further information was needed.
Also of relevance was the information given about RISM from the RISM desk present at the conference. Moreover, I had the opportunity to personally test the search system and this gave me a good understanding of how the facility works.
In my particular situation, I acquired a lot from seeing what other music libraries and archives are doing around the world. It was vital for me to experience the benefits of having a music library in a community and what activities can be held for different age groups. Furthermore, it is essential to feel that I make part of a team with the same aim, i.e. music information.