I am interested in systems and platforms that can be used for the preservation and transmission of human knowledge from different cultures and communities around the world. Better understanding of information practices of domain-specific users lay the groundwork for innovative methods and approaches for designing information systems.

Currently, I am exploring this question within the domain of music and relating the findings to address information challenges such as information retrieval, classification, knowledge organization, and system design within various contexts for music learning and research.

Select Publications

Lam, M. & Ratto, M. (forthcoming). Designing Music Knowledge Platforms: A User-Centered Framework. Indexing and Retrieval of Non-Text Information. D. Neal (Ed.) pp. xx-xx.

Lam, M., (2011). Towards a ‘Musicianship Model’ for Music Knowledge Organization. OCLC Systems and Services: International digital library perspectives. Special Issue: Music information retrieval (MIR) and library issues. 27(3), pp. 190-209.

Select Presentations

Lam, M. & Day, K. (2011). “Transmission of Shakuhachi Online and Offline”, Interactive Workshop at the Mobility Shifts Conference, Politics of Digital Culture Conference Series. October 13, 2011. New York, USA.

Lam, M. (2011). “Self-Directed Music Learning: Context for Critical Reflection and Making.” Mobility Shifts Conference, Politics of Digital Culture Conference Series. October 10, 2011. New York, USA.

Lam, M. & Ratto, M. (2011). Online Music Knowledge: The Case of the ‘Non-Musician’. 2011 International Council for Traditional Music (ICTM) World Conference. July 14, 2011. St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada.

Lam, M. & Ratto, M. (2011). Online Music Knowledge: The Case of the ‘Non-Musician’. 2011 Annual Conference of the British Forum for Ethnomusicology (BFE). April 8, 2011. Cornwall, UK.

Lam, M. & Day, K. (2010). “Musicianship as Citizenship: The Shakuhachi Phenomenon.” Interactive Hackspace exhibit at DIY Citizenship Conference. November 11-14, 2010. Toronto, ON.

Caidi N., & Lam, M. (2010). “Working with First Nations: The On-Demand Book Service.” BooksOnline’10 Workshop at the 19th ACM International Conference on Information and Knowledge Management (CIKM) 2010. October 26, 2010. Toronto. ON.

Lam, M., (2010). Can’t Do It Alone: The Social Nature of Music Knowledge. 2010 Annual Conference of the British Forum for Ethnomusicology (BFE) 2010. April 8, 2010. Oxford, UK.