Vale ~ Harrison Bryan

ALIA is saddened to inform members and the library community of the death of Harrison Bryan AO MA Hon LLD FASSA FLAA, on 12 February 2008 at the age of 84.

A pillar of the Association, he served as a member of the General Council for a record 25 years including two as President in 1973 and 1974. His many other important contributions to the Association, also included a period as Editor of Australian Library Journal (1954—1957 and 1980-1981).

Harrison Bryan’s career in libraries began at the University of Queensland where he later held the position of University Librarian from 1950 to 1963. In that year he moved to the University of Sydney as University Librarian until 1980 when he became Director General of the National Library of Australia, a position he held until 1985. Throughout his career Harrison Bryan was always concerned with the development of library services in Australia.

In 1984, in recognition of his outstanding service to the library and information profession in Australia, the Association conferred on him the HCL Anderson award, the highest honour that can be bestowed on an Associate member. In the same year he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for public service, in particular in the area of librarianship.

The funeral will be in Melbourne.