Metcalfe Medallion

This award is no longer awarded...

This Award is now known as the Metcalfe Award

The Metcalfe Medallion was awarded for an outstanding piece of work on any topic that linked library and information sector theory to practice, submitted by a student or group of students undertaking a first-award course in library and information science. Entries for the Metcalfe Medallion had to be an essay or other piece of work of up to 5000 words in length, with potential for publication or presentation. Entries for the Award also had to indicate competence in the analysis, evaluation or synthesis of data, information or previously published material.

The Metcalfe Medallion commemorated John Metcalfe and his contribution to librarianship and library education. John Metcalfe was New South Wales state librarian before he became university librarian of the University of New South Wales. He gained an international reputation through his writings and initiatives. He established the Australian Institute of Librarians, later to be renamed the Library Association of Australia and served a term as president of each. He was instrumental in the establishment of library education in Australia.