Vale ~ Suzanne Mourot

Miss Suzanne Mourot held the position of Mitchell Librarian at the State Library of NSW between 1973 and 1979. Last week she passed away at the age of 91.

Miss Mourot was born in New Caledonia. She joined the Public Library in 1944. Her considerable talents were quickly realised and she worked across the Library's collections, both published and unpublished. She was particularly interested in collection arrangement, and was instrumental in regularising the cataloguing and description of the pictures and manuscript collection during the late 1950s. Her roles included Manuscript Librarian, Dixson Librarian, with responsibility too, for the pictures collection.

At various times she also held the positions of Deputy Mitchell Librarian and Associate Mitchell Librarian, before being appointed Mitchell Librarian in 1973. She retired in 1979. Her corporate history, however, does little to capture the respect and high regard with which she was held, and the influence she had on this Library. Miss Mourot was widely admired for her authority and knowledge of the collections she administered, and she was keenly involved with their interpretation and promotion. She led the very successful Captain Cook Bicentennial Exhibition in 1970.

Book supplier honoured

Len Woodley, founder of Standard Book and ALS Library Services, received a Medal of the Order of Australia ‘for services to the community and book industry’, in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Professor Paul Sturges OBE

Professor Paul Sturges has been awarded an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the Queen's Birthday Honours list. Professor Sturges was the Chair of IFLA's Committee on Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression (FAIFE) between 2003 and 2009, and has been involved in international librarianship for many years, contributing a tremendous amount through his work in the area of freedom of access to information and freedom of expression. For more information see the IFLA article.

Queen's Birthday Honours 2010

Congratulations to Janice Rickards and Jennifer Muir who each received a Medal of the Order of Australia for services to libraries.

Vale - Alan Smith

Alan Smith, former Professor of Distance and e-Learning at the Central Queensland University, and acting university librarian from 2005 to 2006, died last week after a short illness.

Vale ~ Paul Reynolds

New Zealand internet commentator Paul Reynolds has died suddenly. He served on the New Zealand Government Digital Strategy Advisory Group, the Capability Panel for the Advanced Network (KAREN), the New Zealand Library and Information Advisory Commission, and the board of Auckland War Memorial Museum. Much more detail about his contribution to the library industry in New Zealand and Australia (via NSLA) is included in the notice on Hard News.

Paul was an avid blogger and shared his insights in presentations and articles. Paul's final presentation : Living and learning in the cloud is available on his blog.

Dr Trish Milne - ALIA Fellow

Dr Patricia Milne (Trish) has been conferred with the distinction of Fellow of the Association. ALIA fellowships are awarded to very distinguished members of the profession and Trish joins a very elite group.

Trish has made an outstanding contribution to the field of library and information science as an educator, researcher and by sharing her knowledge through publication. In these ways she has helped others to become aware of issues facing the profession and encouraged them to explore new directions and ideas to strengthen its intellectual base.

As an educator, Trish has demonstrated energy and enthusiasm in her teaching, design and delivery of programs which have engendered in her students a commitment to promoting library and knowledge management and delivering excellent services. Further, Trish has made an important contribution to the discussion on LIS education needs and the role of ALIA and library course providers. During her career Trish maintained a focus on excellence in teaching and learning and scholarship, pioneering the development of quality online teaching and learning at the University of Canberra, recognised when she received a New Initiative Grant to facilitate the development of the university’s first online course, the Graduate Certificate in Information Access and Delivery.

In awarding the distinction of Fellow of the Australian Library and Information Association on Trish Milne, the Association recognises the significant and valuable contribution Trish has made to education for and development of the library and information services profession in Australia and her dedication to the aims of the Association.

Her fellowship will be awarded at an event in mid 2010.