Warren Horton

BA FALIA

Conferred: 1985

Warren Horton was appointed to the staff of the Public (now State) Library of NSW in 1957. Following experience in several sections of the library, including the new position of senior librarian-in-charge, Mitchell Library Reference and Research Sections and that of assistant principal librarian (Staff and Departmental Libraries) he was promoted to the position of deputy state librarian in 1975. He became state librarian of Victoria in August 1981, and in July 1985 took up the position of director-general of the National LIbrary of Australia.

Among Mr Horton's principal contributions to the State Library of NSW were his part in the Sheldon Award, which established a clear professional structure for librarians and a separate career structure for paraprofessionals at the State Library, and his work as chairman of the LERN Committee, whose congently argued and wide-ranging report outlined future directions for the Library. He played a leading role in the State Library's submission to the Commonwealth Grants Commission's review of income tax sharing arrangements between the Commonwealth and the States, and many aspects of the submission were accepted by the Commission in its subsequent report.

As state librarian of Victoria, Warren Horton transformed the image and operation of the State Library, setting high professional and managerial standards. He was responsible for a complete organisational restructuring of the library, for the recruitment and development of a cohesive and effective management team, introduced new services and was instrumental in promoting a major program of planning for a new State Library.

Mr Horton is prominent in the affairs of the LAA. He was President of the Association in 1984, and has held numerous other offices, including president of the New South Wales branch in 1971-73 and in 1981, treasurer of the Branch from 1967-70 and its General Councillor in 1971-72. He was treasurer of the 1971 Biennial Conference Committee, and of the Public Libraries Section in 1970-71. He is convenor of the Corporate Plan and Review Committee which is charged with the responsibility of reassessing the Association's aims and objectives, preparing a corporate plan for the Association, and reviewing its structure and functions against the plan. A notable achievement during his presidency was the organisation and chairing of the important and successful Document Delivery Summit held in Canberra in November 1984 which paves the way for the development of more effective national services in this important area.

In addition to the official offices he has held in the LAA, Mr Horton has played an active part in promoting the welfare of the Association in other ways. He has lectured extensively to library school students, was a part-time teacher in librarianship at Sydney Technical College, and an examiner for the Registration Examination for many years.

Warren Horton has been a member of the AACOBS National Council since 1981, was the Victorian representative on its Standing Committee, and chairman of the AACOBS Victorian State Committee from 1982 to 1985. He is deputy chairman of the Australian LIbraries and Information Council, and has been a member of all working groups established by the Council in connection with national information planning. A member of the Australian Bibliographic Network Committee since 1981, he was deputy chairperson in 1983-84.

The General Council of the LAA considers Warren Horton to have made a notable contribution to librarianship and to the Library Association of Australia, and that he is most worthy of the distinction of Fellowship of the Association.