Congratulations Patricia Gallaher and Lynn Allen

On 17 March 2011, the Library Board of Western Australia conferred two new Fellows: Patricia Gallaher OAM and Dr Lynn Allen.

• Patricia Gallaher’s honour reflects her dedication to public library services in the State; support for the library and information profession, and encouragement of access to the arts. 
• Dr Allen was state librarian for 12 years and also national president of ALIA during that time.

Congratulations Dr Gill Hallam

Dr. Gillian Hallam, Information Consultant and Adjunct Professor with Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Australia, is the winner of the 2011 Information Professional of the Year by the Special Libraries Association (SLA) Australia and New Zealand Chapter. The announcement was made during the SLA 2011 conference in Philadelphia. The award is sponsored by Dialog and you can read more here.

Vale Betty Cox (nee Malthus) 1925 - 2011

Betty Malthus was appointed Chief Librarian of  Blacktown Municipal Council in 1966 to plan and establish a public library in Blacktown. The library opened in April 1967 and was an immediate success with the population.  Prior to her appointment at Blacktown, Betty was Chief Librarian of Manly Municipal Library for the period 1961 to 1966.

While Betty was at Blacktown Library, she planned and managed the establishment of 4 branch libraries (Lalor Park - 1968, Mount Druitt - 1977, Riverstone – 1978, Quakers Hill – 1983). She was also instrumental in the planning and organisation of the move to a new building for Blacktown library, renamed the Max Webber Library in 1980. She also oversaw the expansion of Lalor Park branch from a children’s only to a full adult and children’s library.

During her stewardship of the library service, many innovative programmes and co-operative ventures were developed, resulting in the library being named “the best” library in Sydney by the Sydney Morning Herald in 1981.

Betty acknowledged that playing a role in the rapidly changing development in the Blacktown Council area was rewarding both professionally and personally. Her contribution to the development of the library service and Blacktown up till her retirement in 1990 was incalculable and should always be remembered.

Betty is survived by beloved husband Laurie Cox.

Australia Day Honours 2011

The ALIA Board of Directors are pleased and proud that a number of ALIA members, library leaders and library supporters have been acknowledged in the 2011 Australia Day Honours with biographical notes.

Congratulations to:

Spencer Routh, OAM, For service to the library and information sciences sector, particularly through the University of Queensland.

Aladin Rahemtula, OAM, For service to librarianship through the Supreme Court of Queensland, and to the community through the preservation of legal heritage.

David Clune, OAM, For service to librarianship, and to the documentation and preservation of the history of politics, and to the Parliament of New South Wales.

James Sourris, OAM, For service to the arts and to the community through the development of the motion picture industry and through philanthropic contributions, particularly to the Queensland Art Gallery and the State Library of Queensland.

Ron Store, OAM, For service to library and information services, and to education.

Congratulations and thanks to the continuing work of the National Library of Australia Digitisation volunteers, who were recognised on Australia Day 2010.