July 1, 2003
                   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                   MEDIA CONTACT: Helen Dalrymple
                   (202) 707-1940,
                   hdal@loc.gov
                   Pamela Higgins
                   (410)516-8337,
                   pamela.higgins@jhu.edu

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS AND JOHNS HOPKINS LIBRARIES CO-SPONSOR CONFERENCE ON MUSIC INFORMATION RETRIEVAL

 Conference Scheduled for Oct. 26-30

The Library of Congress joins The Johns Hopkins University Sheridan Libraries in sponsoring the 4th annual International Conference on Music Information Retrieval (ISMIR), which will be held from Oct. 26 to Oct. 30, in Baltimore, Md.
 
"The Library of Congress is pleased to be co-sponsoring this conference," said Laura Campbell, Associate Librarian of Strategic Initiatives.  "Capturing, delivering and preserving digital music present new challenges for creators,  distributors, users and archival repositories and we look forward to fruitful discussions."  Campbell is leading a nationwide Library of Congress initiative, called the National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program (www.digitalpreservation.gov), to develop an infrastructure for the collection and long-term preservation of digital content, including digital music.
 
Presentations will feature peer-reviewed research papers, "posters" (shorter, informal presentations), panel sessions, and pre-conference tutorials. Reflecting the dynamic and interdisciplinary nature of music information retrieval, sessions will highlight the latest research in such areas as similarity and recognition, query by example, and music digital libraries, with a particular emphasis on sheet music collections, intellectual property rights and business models.

Anthony Seeger, professor of ethnomusicology at the University of California at Los Angeles, will open the conference on Oct. 27 with a presentation titled, "I Found It, How Can I Use It?-Dealing with Ethical and Legal Constraints of Information Access." 

"The annual ISMIR conference is the first established international forum for the diverse communities involved in music information retrieval," noted Winston Tabb, dean of university libraries at Johns Hopkins. "This year's conference is specifically designed to provide an opportunity for computer music specialists and members of the archival, library and museum communities to explore the complex issues related to the tremendous growth of music-related data."
 
In past years, attendees representing academic and research institutions, libraries and private industry from over 20 countries have participated in the conference.

The conference will take place in downtown Baltimore at the Radisson Plaza Lord Baltimore Hotel, 20 West Baltimore Street. Special events will include tours and a reception at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., as well as a special dinner in Baltimore and a concert at Johns Hopkins' Peabody Conservatory of Music. Information regarding the conference schedule and fees can be found on the Web at:  http://ismir2003.ismir.net.
 
The Library of Congress and The Johns Hopkins University Sheridan Libraries wish to acknowledge the Institute for Museum and Library Services, the National Science Foundation, the Lester S. & Eleanor K. Levy Philanthropic Fund, the Gottesman Fund and the Arnall and Ellen Patz Fund for their generous support of this conference.

The Sheridan Libraries encompass the Milton S. Eisenhower Library and its collections at the Hutzler Reading Room, Garrett Library and the George Peabody Library.

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