Music Library Association Citation

At the 2024 annual meeting of the Music Library Association, held in Cincinnati, Ohio, I was honored to receive the association’s citation. The award was presented by President Paula Hickner, whom I’ve known since the mid-1980s, when we were both starting our careers as music librarians.

It was an honor that I thought had passed me by, since my focus had necessarily shifted from music librarianship in 2014, when I moved into an administrative position in the University of Pennsylvania Libraries. I remained active in the association, though, and continued to attend its meetings, and when I retired, I took on the leadership of a taskforce related to publishing. Once I’d retired, I had more time to write, and I published three articles in Notes, one coauthored by a mentor of mine, Richard P. Smiraglia.

Here is the text that President Hickner read at the meeting. It was also published in the association’s news blog.

The MLA Citation, the Association’s tribute for lifetime achievement, is awarded in recognition of distinguished service to music librarianship over a career. Earlier this year, the nominating committee recommended without reservation that Richard Griscom receive the Citation for his impact on the Association, the field, and the scholarly arena. He is a highly respected member of our profession whose remarkable service to the Music Library Association and our profession serves as an inspiration to those of us who have been privileged to know and work with him.

Dick began his career as a music cataloger at Northwestern University and served as the music librarian at the universities of Louisville, Illinois, and Pennsylvania, where he taught and mentored students who are now successful music librarians. As a member of the Music Library Association, Dick’s distinguished service includes holding the positions of executive secretary, fiscal officer, and editor of Notes and the Index and Bibliography Series. He has served on and chaired countless committees, working groups, and task forces. When we were all wondering how to communicate in a brave new world of computers, Dick and Ralph Papakhian quietly established MLA-L, our association’s robust listserv.

Dick’s love of writing has resulted in numerous published articles and coauthored books. He shares the 2014 Vincent H. Duckles Award with David Lasocki for their book The Recorder: A Research and Information Guide. Possessed of finely honed editorial skills, he consistently produces flawless text. The author who has Dick’s gentle and wise guidance is truly fortunate. A performer as well, Dick is an orchestral percussionist and plays recorder in ensembles.

In recognition of his extraordinary service to music librarianship, the Music Library Association is delighted to award the MLA Citation to our colleague, Richard Griscom.