TLA Website, TLA-List and Social Media
The launch of our website this summer has garnered wonderful feedback. We have received positive response to the design and layout. We have also received great response to our plan to publish more frequently in order to make our website a more timely source for news and updates on the activities of TLA and our profession. The newly established committee for the website will function as an editorial team. They will be soliciting stories, reports, profiles and images from our membership – if you have anything happening at your library or archive that you would like to share – let us know.
John Wagstaff recently reported that the number of subscribers to our listserv has exceeded 300. He also noted that we have increased moderate activity with postings of good and significant content. John correctly notes that the posts clearly answer a call for information relevant to theatre librarianship. One terrific example of this type of activity – in early August, Maryke Barber from Hollins University posted a question to the list looking for assistance in tracking down reviews of the original production of Noel Coward’s Present Laughter. She received a great response from the list – and here is her thank you.
Dear theatre librarians,
Thank you for your wonderful responses to my query about “Present Laughter.” In just about 24 hours I was sent a citation for the Manchester Guardian from October ’42, two pieces from London papers when the show came there in ’43, and a piece with a cast list. My student thinks he’s died and gone to library heaven, and my faith in the kindness of listserv members has once again been confirmed.
You’re wonderful people – thank you.
Best wishes,
Maryke
And here is the response from the graduate student looking for the review.
Dear Maryke,
Thank you for your help! You always go above and beyond helping me find original sources that elude me. And thanks for enlisting a small army of colleagues! The reviews, the article, and the photograph gallery are all proving extremely useful.
Grateful to all of you!
This is an essential part of what TLA does – thank you to all of you who responded!
Our social media activities are growing. We have a good following on Facebook. We need to be more active on Twitter. If you actively tweet on topics related to performing arts collections – if you are a TLA member — please help us raise our profile on Twitter by mentioning TLA — @theatrelibassn.
Nancy Friedland
President, Theatre Library Association