This is Part 2 of a two-part series in our local music survey brought to us by LAIP writer Bryan Voell. Part 1 featured physical collections of local music in public libraries.
by Bryan Voell
What is ‘local music’? It’s being defined and redefined everyday by an increasing number of public libraries. From analog archives documenting a region’s musical history to purely digital collections of streaming music accessible by everyone, local music collections are reaching wide audiences. While by no means comprehensive list, these are some of the most notable archival and/or digital local music projects at public libraries here and abroad.
Digital Music Projects
Volume Denver (Denver Public Library): http://ift.tt/1uSuYIB
Scope: While the emphasis is on Denver music, any Colorado artist is encouraged to submit their music to the project.
Features: More than 200 local albums with a broad range of genres.
Access: Song snippets are freely available regardless of membership. To hear full songs and create playlists, a DPL card is required.
Capital City Records (Edmonton Public Library): http://ift.tt/1DqDKGB
Scope: Edmonton (Alberta, Canada)
Features: 76 and counting artists, many with bios and reviews. CCR’s gig poster archive is a trove of concert poster artwork that goes back to the 1970s.
Access: Free streaming for everyone. Downloads require EPL account.
Lawrence Music Project (Lawrence Public Library): http://ift.tt/2cw27cv
Scope: Lawrence, Kansas
Features: With more than 100 albums, the Lawrence Music Project also serves as a digital archive of the city’s local music scene.
Access: Must have LPL card to access content.
Local Music Project (Iowa City Public Library): http://music.icpl.org/
Scope: Iowa City, Iowa, and the surrounding area
Features: Nearly 100 albums, covering everything from folk, bluegrass to rap, metal, ambient, jazz and more.
Access: 30 second song previews for non-ICPL card-holders. Those with accounts can download individual songs.
Yahara Music Library (Madison Public Library): http://ift.tt/1ndCdYz
Scope: Madison, Wisconsin
Features: Nearly 65 albums and artists. Artist bios and reviews.
Access: Music is only streamable and downloadable by MPL card holders.
Download Nebraska (Omaha Public Library): http://ift.tt/1UbYkNd
Scope: Open to all Nebraskan artists.
Features: 50+ albums. A collaboration between the Omaha Public Library and Hear Nebraska.
Access: Open streaming for everyone. Downloads exclusive to cardholders
SoundSwell (Santa Cruz Public Library): http://ift.tt/2cYIjvy
Scope: Santa Cruz County
Features: 180+ albums.
Access: Utilizes SoundCloud to allow free streaming. Downloads are exclusive to cardholders.
PlayBack (Seattle Public Library): http://ift.tt/2cYIXJr
Scope: Seattle, Washington
Features: This recently unveiled project features 50 albums
Access: Open streaming for everyone. Downloads with SPL card.
Wellington Music (Wellington City Libraries, NZ): http://ift.tt/2cYIvuX
Scope: Wellington, New Zealand
Features: “Both a history of Wellington music and bands [and] a page that can act as a repository for audio, video, photographic & other related material.” Music is presented via links to artists’ Bandcamp pages.
Access: Open to everyone.
Blogs:
Make Some Noise (Toronto Public Library): http://ift.tt/1p9EkM5
Scope: Covers both local Toronto and other Canadian artists
Features: Music reviews, artist profiles and TPL performance features. Mostly updated monthly.
Access: Open access to everyone.
Listen Local (Johnson County Library): http://ift.tt/2cYIVkV
Scope: Greater Kansas City area
Features: Interviews with and recommendations from original local songwriters and composers
Access: Freely available to all
Bryan Voell is currently the Local Arts Librarian for the Johnson County (KS) Library. He received his MLIS from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2007 and has worked for public, academic, and research libraries in various capacities since 1997. He is also a collage artist and you can see more of his art here.
from Library as Incubator Project http://ift.tt/2cw38RL
via IFTTThttp://ift.tt/2cYI57U
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