Date: Fri 18-Dec-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

Booth-Library-music-collection

Full Text:

Panel Is Enthusiastic About Plans For Library Music Collection

The committee created to advise the Cyrenius H. Booth Library on how to use a

$14,000 music grant has developed an acquisition plan that could develop the

collection into a regional resource.

The Music Development Advisory Committee, established in August to advise the

library on the use of the grant from Praxair Foundation, Inc., of Danbury, has

completed the first phase of its work. The committee has developed a $34,000

preliminary acquisition plan which includes music reference materials, scores,

and compact discs (CDs); about 60 percent of the expenditure would be for more

than 1,700 CDs which represent important works and performers from most

musical styles and periods. The plan includes acquisition of scores

coordinated with CDs for selected works.

Active committee members include Bob and Vicki Bassett, Patsy Beddoe-Stephens,

Joseph Grasso, Beryl Harrison, Martha Millett, Milorad and Joan Popovic, Linda

Rogers, Dan Sobo, Wally Wood, and Jack Zamary. Mr Bassett is a Praxair

executive who lives in Newtown; he is serving as chairman of the committee.

"Our objective was to create a well-thought-out and comprehensive plan," Mr

Bassett said. "We wanted to insure that we have a broad collection in which

all enduring music genres are represented. Although we can never aspire to the

level of a university or academic library, we think this preliminary

acquisition list makes for a first-class music department for our community

library. We think it will satisfy both the casual listener as well as the more

serious students of music in the committee."

The grant includes $12,000 to acquire a core collection of music-related

resources for the library and $2,500 to be set aside as an endowment to help

fund the ongoing maintenance and updating of the collection.

The plan will be fine-tuned over the next two or three months, Mr Bassett

said. In the case of some classical works, the preferred performance or

recording of the work has not yet been decided. Some categories still require

more review. Residents are still encouraged to provide input as to what should

be in the collection, he said.

The plan identifies the items which the library will begin acquiring within

the next month using the grant money. But the committee hopes that other

donations will be made so that the complete list of acquisitions can be

purchased.

"Now that we have the vision for the music department that this acquisition

list represents, we are all impatient to see that vision fully realized," Mr

Bassett said. "It was not easy making choices to fit within the $12,000

budget."

To encourage contributions by residents, the committee is publishing its

acquisition plan in the form of a "Booth Library Music Department Wish List."

This will be a gift registry through which residents can pledge to donate

money for the purchase of specific books, scores or CDs that are on the list.

Each acquired item will be permanently labeled with the name of the sponsor.

Donors can sponsor a single CD title for $12 or a group of CDs of a single

composer or music genre. The committee hopes to have copies of the list

distributed around town in the days leading up to Christmas, Mr Bassett said.

"I hope the community takes an interest in this," he said. "This is an easy

way to make a specific, permanently acknowledged contribution to the

development of the library's music collection."

Copes of the gift registry also will be available at the library. Residents

may make a pledge by calling the library at 426-4533 or by stopping by the

library's main circulation desk.