2025 Spring Meeting

This year, we are being hosted by Massachusetts Institute of Technology. We will gather in Hayden Memorial Library for most of the day, with an afternoon reception in Lewis Music Library. Both of these libraries are in MIT Building 14.

Click here to access MIT's campus map.

There will be a social dinner gathering on Thursday, April 10 for those who would like to attend. Details will be sent via email.

If this is your first time attending a NEMLA meeting, registration is free. You may also apply to have some of your travel expenses covered. Grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

To apply for a travel grant, click here.

Conference attendees are strongly encouraged to take public transit, if possible. MIT is located on the Red Line, at the Kendall/MIT stop.

Visitor parking on the MIT campus is limited, but can be made available upon request. You can request campus parking on the conference registration form.

Click here to view additional MIT visitor parking information.

There are a wide variety of restaurants to choose from near MIT. Here are a few nearby options:

Hayden Courtyard Café (closest, next to the meeting location)

The Forbes Family Cafe 32 Vassar Street

Saloniki Greek Restaurant 181 Massachusetts Avenue, no. 2

Flour Bakery 190 Massachusetts Avenue

Beantown Taqueria 245 Massachusetts Avenue

Roxy’s Grilled Cheese & Burgers 292 Massachusetts Avenue

Verveine Café & Bakery 298 Massachusetts Avenue

Click here for more local suggestions from MIT.

The Kendall Hotel (closest)

Boston Mariott Campbridge

Info: Raising the subject of eScores among any gathering of music librarians will prompt lamentations of woe. With the floodgates of eScore self-published open, music library workers are twisting themselves in knots dealing with the binding and copyright implications. What if, instead of just talking to ourselves, we educated the upcoming generation of composers on these considerations? What if we did it from the perspective of teaching them how to make money from their compositions? This session will discuss a workshop created for the composition students at Boston University, including its genesis and reception. The workshop addressed performing rights organizations, the basics of copyright from the composers’ perspective, why they should include licensing terms that fit with library and performer needs, editing and typesetting their scores and parts, and how to publicize their works to the library market.

Info: The NEMLA Instruction Committee will present a series of instruction dilemmas and/or modules-in-progress to the attendees. We will solicit feedback and discussion from the attendees regarding solutions and improvements for these instruction problems, to make this an interactive session. Attendees who do not routinely offer library instruction will learn about methods their teaching colleagues use in the classroom, and how they assess and rework their teaching. Attendees who do teach will be able to share their experience, challenges, and tips for success.

Info: This exhibit celebrates the visionary contributions of Afrofuturist artists across various genres and mediums. From the cosmic jazz of Sun Ra and the psychedelic funk of Parliament-Funkadelic and George Clinton, to the neo-soul of Erykah Badu and the sci-fi narratives of Octavia E. Butler, these artists have pushed the boundaries of creativity and imagination. The exhibit may be viewed in the Lewis Music Library following the presentation.


Please note: because of the location of the exhibit, access to the exhibit itself will only be possible for in-person attendees. The presentation will, however, be available to virtual attendees.

Info: Attendees are invited to an optional tour of the new Edward and Joyce Linde Music Building (Building W18) at MIT. This is a bit of walk, but well worth it if you are so inclined.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Hayden Library, 160 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, United States