Kutztown University is a growing campus of nearly 10,000 students.  In the last 10 years, the music department has met accreditation requirements and also qualified to offer a Music Education degree.  The15 faculty, several part-time and adjunct faculty and approximately 150 music students need to have a centralized location for documents, listening aids, scores and other musical miscellanea.  The proposed library of approximately 110,000 holdings would enhance courses by offering listening stations, computer terminals and a knowledgeable staff to help with research.

 

            The Kutztown University Music Department has several strengths.  First of all, the faculty is very active in the university and community activities.  The number of faculty has increased in the last 10 years as has the number of music students.  In the fall of 2004, the Music Education degree received approval and began its first classes.  The Music Department continues to pursue more accredited degrees to attract a wider base of music students.  In the fall semester of 2005, there were 77 music major, 45 music education majors, 7 post-baccalaureate music education majors and various music minors and concomitants enrolled at Kutztown University.

 

            Currently the music holdings owned by Kutztown University are housed in Rohrbach Library and a "holding" room in Old Main near the Music Department office.  All items in Rohrbach are cataloged while many of the items in Old Main are not.  The only available listening stations are housed in Rohrbach and are open to all students.  The Music Department would be greatly enhanced by combining all music holdings in one central location complete with listening stations, computer terminals and musically-training staff available to assist with research.

 

            In order to find how a music library may best serve the university, several fact-finding missions need to take place.  First, the faculty will be polled by written survey to determine how the library would serve their needs.  Students both in the music program and other programs will be assessed by written questionnaires to determine how they would use a music library. 

The reference statistics and usage data in Rohrbach Library will be collected to determine the "traffic" of the music holdings.  As these items are cataloged, this report should be easily obtained.  For the period of one school year, a sign-in sheet will be made available in the Old Main room of un-cataloged items that will require the user to record reason for use, items removed from room and a point scale as to the ease of finding necessary items.  It will also be useful to analyze and forecast the number of current music students and the number of students graduating with music degrees to determine the rising or falling trend of students enrolled in the music program.  Questionnaires will also be made available to incoming and/or auditioning music students.

 

    The future of the library also contains a plan for the digitization of documents along with an on-line search of the holdings with links to Rohrbach Library and other major music libraries.  A specially trained staff will be on-hand to assist faculty and students in research and location of items needed. 

All data will be turned over to the University for approval of space, monies to support the library, grant proposals to assist with the combining of music holdings and a five-year plan.  Alumni will be contacted by mail with follow-up by phone to contribute as founding or supporting members of the new music library.

 

    The continued growth of Kutztown University as a reputable liberal arts college and the expansion of the Music Department demonstrates the need for a music library.  While the Music Department will be the primary users of the library, all students will have the opportunity to utilize the holdings.  Other departments such as the Theater and Dance Departments will also benefit as the Music Department partners with them in special events.  A specialized music library can only enhance the music degree program and would be a harmonious addition to a student's musical career at Kutztown University.