God Jul och Gott Nytt År!

Before I pack the car with christmas presents, one husband and one bird and leave for my hometown Västerås, I would like to take the opportunity to wish you all a sincere

God Jul
och
Gott Nytt År!

Pia

Invitation to create and edit your own posts!

I would like to invite you all to participate to this blog by creating and editing your own posts, besides the possibility to comment. It will make the content much more interesting! It is really easy - just send me your e-mail address and I will add you as an author. Shortly thereafter you will receive an e-mail with a confirmation link. You need to have a Google Account - if you don't you will be prompted to create one. That's it!

Pia

Study visists and work exchange

Me and my colleagues at the Academy of Music and Drama have had the privilege to make some study visits in Scotland, thanks to a grant from the University of Gothenburg. We just came back from the trip, which was full of nice impressions. Before leaving Gothenburg I had read a book about the country and I can confirm the statement that the Scots are very hospital! We received a wonderful reception wherever we came. I would like to take the opportunity to say a special thank you to Karen McAuley at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow and Almut Boehme, at the National Library in Edinburgh - both members of the IAML community.

This made me think of an idea Birgitta Sparre, librarian at Ingesund University College of Music, launched at the IAML conference in Oslo 2004 - namely work exchange between music libraries within IAML. I remember that we sent around a list for people to sign, but I am afraid nothing came out of it. Maybe it would be a good idea to use this blog for people to get in contact? I start by posting an open invitation to Gothenburg!


Pia Shekhter
PS: If you are living inside EU the so called Erasmus Staff Training might be something to consider

Artistic vs Scientific

With kind permission from Ann Malm, librarian at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm, I post the summary of the second group in Reykjavik* concerning the question

How can a “scientific” and “artistic” approach be combined? Can, for example, a personal
reflection on a creative process qualify as being “scientific”?

We had a long discussion about artistic exams on different levels. Should they try to copy the
science exams, especially on a higher level (dissertations)? It is very hard to compare such
different methods. In the scientific field it seems to be easier to present a result, compared to
an artistic work. Whether it is equivalent for instance to present a process diary made during
a musician's work, to a written analysis of some laboratory experiment is hard to say. It is a good idea for the students to improve their ability to express themselves, when it comes to a degree
project, but on a doctoral degree - it is much more difficult to say what is needed. We think
this issue was very difficult, and that we perhaps are not able to answer the question.

Ann Malm

* Nordic Music Academy Libraries Conference, 16th – 18th June 2008 (please, see below).

How can a "scientific" and "artistic" approach be combined?

Dear colleagues,

I think you agree when I claim that there is hardly a day passing without the word "Bologna" mentioned if you are working as a librarian in a music teaching institution! I predict that this will be a hot topic for our branch at IAML conferences years to come. To stimulate a discussion on various aspects of Bologna I would like to post another question and invite you to share your thoughts!

How can a "scientific" and "artistic" approach be combined? Can, for example, a personal reflection on a creative process qualify as being "scientific"?

Pia Shekhter