WHAT IS MOUG?
The Music OCLC Users Group was established in 1977 and developed from a task force organized by OCLC to address matters associated with OCLC's implementation of the MARC music formats for scores and sound recordings. Music users were unique in their efforts to implement a MARC format prior to its introduction by the Library of Congress. In MOUG's early years, most of its attention was focused on the OCLC cataloging subsystem, MARC tagging questions, the implementation of AACR2, and cataloging in general. MOUG continues to support a variety of cataloging projects, particularly with its NACO-Music Project, a joint effort among MOUG, OCLC, and the Library of Congress to contribute authority records to LC's authority file.
In recent years, just as OCLC has diversified its line of products and services, MOUG has reached out to other music users of OCLC in its programming. This diversification will increase as OCLC implements new services.
MOUG is not formally affiliated with the Music Library Association; however, MOUG meetings are often held in conjunction with the annual meetings of MLA, and many (but not all) MOUG members are also members of MLA. MOUG is particularly interested in reaching the non-music-specialist and the "occasional music user" of OCLC.
MOUG'S MISSION
The mission of the Music OCLC Users Group (MOUG) is to identify and provide an official means of communication and assistance for those users of the products and services of the Online Computer Library Center, Inc. (OCLC) concerned with music materials in any area of library service, in pursuit of quality music coverage in these products and services.
WHO MAY JOIN?
Membership in MOUG is open to all individuals and institutions interested in MOUG's objectives. An application form can be found at http://www.musicoclcusers.org/mougmembership.html. Reference and public service music users are particularly encouraged to join MOUG. Newsletter articles, sessions at annual meetings, and other continuing education activities are aimed at public service music users, just as new OCLC products and services are targeted for reference.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
Annual dues for MOUG are nominal; currently a year's membership (January-December, including a subscription to the MOUG Newsletter and other mailings) costs $20.00 for individuals, $25.00 for institutions, and US$35.00 outside of North America.
OBJECTIVES OF THE MUSIC OCLC USERS GROUP
The Music OCLC Users Group is a non-stock, non-profit association, organized for these purposes:
1. To establish and maintain the representation of a large and specific group of individuals and institutions having a professional interest in, and whose needs encompass, all OCLC products, systems, and services, and their impact on music libraries, music materials, and music users.
2. To encourage and facilitate the exchange of information between OCLC and the members of MOUG; between OCLC and the profession of music librarianship in general; between members of the Group and appropriate representatives of the Library of Congress; and between members of the Group and similar users' organizations.
3. To promote and maintain the highest standards of system usage, and to provide for continuing user education that the membership may achieve those standards.
4. To provide a vehicle for communication among the members of the Group.