ALIA West

July 2003

Vale Valerie Creasey

Val Creasey, chief cataloguer and later director, collection management of the Library and Information Service of Western Australia, died on 24 March, after a long battle with cancer. Val retired as director on 30 September 1994, after completing 40 years of service with the Library Board of Western Australia on 7 July 1994.

After working for 4 years at Lincoln City Libraries in the UK, Val emigrated to Western Australia in 1954. She worked as a junior assistant for the Library Board in acquisitions and cataloguing in those early exciting days when Ali Sharr was creating the services of the Library Board. Val qualified as a librarian in 1962, passing the Library Association of Australia examinations at the Perth Technical College. Promotion to assistant librarian in acquisitions and later cataloguing followed, including a phase as editor of Catalogues, and promoting the use of the intriguing Kalamazoo system. In 1970, Val completed a Bachelor of Arts (studying part-time) from the University of Western Australia and also spent a period attached to the British National Bibliography in the UK, to gain experience in library automation. In 1971 Val became chief cataloguer (later manager: cataloguing branch), and played a leading role in LISWA in the automation of cataloguing and catalogues.

In 1989, Val accepted the challenge of acting in the new position of director, collection management (covering the acquisitions, cataloguing, automation and preservation portfolios), and was later appointed permanently to that position. Val served six years as director before her retirement in 1994, at which time her loyal and dedicated service to LISWA and the Library Board was publically recognised.

Val was widely respected in professional circles for her knowledge and expertise in cataloguing throughout Western Australia and indeed Australia. She served as president of the WA Branch of ALIA's Cataloguers' section from 1986-1989. She was also active on the national scene, serving as a member of the Australian Bibliographic Network Standards Committee from 1983-1985. Former colleagues around Australia will remember her quiet professionalism, and her attention to detail, which is the hallmark of a 'great' cataloguer. Val was highly respected by her colleagues and staff as an expert and dedicated cataloguer, and a fair supervisor who lead by example.

After retirement, Val continued to be an avid reader, travelled when she could, and was able to indulge her interest in life-long learning through attending Summer Schools and other short courses. Val maintained contact with the library world through her membership of the Friends of the Battye Library, and her work as a volunteer for the Royal Western Australian Historical Society has been recognised.

Val's courage and friendliness will always be remembered by her friends and former colleagues at the State Library of Western Australia and in the wider Australian library community.

Beth Frayne
Team leader: Battye Bibliographic Services
State Library of Western Australia

[Editor's note: see Sharr, F A Recollections: Forty Years of Public Library Service. Adelaide: Auslib Press, 1992. pp68-69 for details of how Val Creasey was employed by Ali Sharr. I have not been able to verify whether the anecdote on page 100 about the chief cataloguer refers to her.]