Flooding at National Library of Scotland

Update on public access here.

Read The Herald - major flood caused by damage to sprinkler system.

Also more news in the Edinburgh-based The Scotsman

Maeve MacKinnon reviewed by Rob Adams

Maeve MacKinnon, RSAMD alumna, performed at Leith Folk Club and has been reviewed by Rob Adams in The Herald. Read it here.

British Music Information Centre

Particularly useful if you compose or perform contemporary music - the British Music Information Centre.

Composers - lots of opportunities for you!

• Alea III International Prize - Work for solo voice or instrument or chamber ensemble. Duration: 6'-15', and must not have been performed or published before. Deadline 15 March 2009
• String Quartet Competition - invitation from the Molinari Quartet (Canada) for composers to submit an original work. Best compositions to be performed in Montreal, Spring 2010. Email the Molinari Quartet for more info: qm@quartuormolinari.qc.ca. Deadline 1 April 2009
• International Gaudeamus Composition Competition 2009. Born after 1978? You can submit one work in each of the following categories:- orchestral, chamber, and electronic. Visit website or email musicweek@mcn.nl.
• Fifth International Jurgenson Competition for young composers. Born after 1979? Submit published/ unpublished works in the following categories:- soloist ensembles, voice and soloists, string quartet, string trio, marimba/ percussion ensemble. Visit website. Deadline 15th February - hurry, hurry, hurry!!!

Berklee in Dublin - improvising workshop

Berklee College of Music is holding its first-ever improvisation workshop in Ireland, April 13 - 17, at Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) in collaboration with Newpark Music Centre.

The workshop is designed to teach the art of spontaneous composition - fundamental skills and techniques, stylistic considerations, and how it relates to a composer's craft. Participants will study with Berklee's world renowned faculty, including violinist Matt Glaser, guitarists John McGann and Jim Kelly, bassist Michael Farquharson, and saxophonist Greg Badolato.

All types of musicians, from classical and Irish traditional to rock, pop, and jazz, are encouraged to apply.

Application and program information - click here.

Reseach Libraries - best practice

Ensuring a bright future for research libraries: a guide for vice-chancellors and senior institutional managers New publication from the Research Information Network (Nov.2008) - a hard copy is in the Whittaker Library at RSAMD. RIN website

Research Information Network helping researchers

The Research Information Network is currently running a survey, asking researchers about how easily they can access the resources they need. Do complete the survey - helping their survey will ultimately help you! To quote from their website, Accessing information resources: What obstacles do you face? RIN has launched an online survey to investigate some of the obstacles researchers face when accessing licensed information resources, and how these obstacles can be overcome. The survey is part of a study, commissioned by the RIN, to understand the nature and scale of limitations and barriers encountered by researchers when seeking to access such resources. The survey is hoping to reach as many researchers as possible, across a range of disciplines. The results will provide vital insight into these issues and how they may be resolved going forwards. You can access the survey here from 12 January - 20 February 2009.