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ObituariesFrancis Aubie (Ali) Sharr OBE BA FLA FLAA ARPS Hon D Litt (Curtin) CF5 October 1914 - 16 November 2002 It is with much sadness that members of the Western Australian library community note the passing of Francis Aubie (Ali) Sharr who left us, peacefully, on 16 November 2002 after a short illness. Ali was predeceased by his wife Flo (McKeand) who died on 9 November 2002. Ali Sharr undertook his undergraduate degree at University College London, graduating in 1935. His postgraduate qualification in librarianship followed, this being at the University of London School of Librarianship. His first professional job was as an assistant in the Information Department of the National Central Library, adjacent to the University College, where he worked on inter library cooperation and lending. His move to public librarianship was in 1937 when he joined the staff at the Kent County Library. He became deputy city librarian of Manchester City Library in 1949 where he remained until emigrating to Perth, Western Australia in 1953. This was also when he first became involved in professional matters, joining the Kent Division of the Association of Assistant Librarians of which he became president in 1952. He was president of the Library Association of Australia (LAA) from 1969-70, received a Fellowship from the LAA in 1964 and was awarded that Association's highest honour for a professional member, the HCL Anderson Award, in 1980. He was Chairman of the State Librarians Council in Australia from 1973-76. His contribution to the library community continued well past his retirement as State Librarian of Western Australia in 1976. This was the year the WA Branch of the LAA awarded the first FA Sharr medal for the most promising new graduate in a librarianship course in WA. Ali Sharr's interest in library education began with his professional involvement at Kent County Library. He became a Senior Examiner in Library Administration for the Library Association. Formal qualification for librarians in WA was attained through the registration examinations of the LAA held at part-time evening classes which he helped to establish at Perth Technical College. In 1971 the library school was established at the Western Australian Institute of Technology (WAIT), now Curtin University, and Ali Sharr played a significant role in this. He received an Honorary DLitt from Curtin University in 1990. Ali Sharr arrived in Perth in 1953 as executive officer of the Library Board of Western Australia, and set about to equip WA, a state where 82 per cent of the local authorities at the time had less than 6000 population, and 60 per cent less than 2500, with a viable public library service, providing shelf ready bookstock which was exchanged between all of the libraries in the State and made available to all residents through a free interlibrary lending system. He was state librarian from 1956-76. His goal was to have a public library in every local authority. This dream came to fruition in 1982, and the public library service of Western Australia stands as his memorial.
Kerry Smith References
M A Sacks (ed) The WAY 79 Who is Who: Synoptic Biographies of Western Australians Nedlands WA Crawley Publishers Pty Ltd 1980 Margaret Trask AM BA, MLib, FLAA27 April 1928 - 19 November 2002 Margaret Trask, who died on 19 November 2002, will be sorely missed by friends, colleagues and former students. She was a profound influence on generations of library and information science students and the gifted founder of the Australian Information Management Association (AIMA). She contributed enormously to the development of the University of Technology, Sydney, (and its predecessor, the Kuring-gai College of Advanced Education) which she served in many roles including most recently that of deputy chancellor. Shortly before her passing, the Council of the University recognised her contribution to the University and the profession by resolving to award her a Doctor of the University, honoris causa. There will be many other tributes to the life and work of Margaret Trask but we are honoured that the chancellor of the University of Technology, Sydney, Sir Gerard Brennan, has authorised publication of the citation for that award in this December 2002 issue of AARL.
Alex Byrne Margaret Trask was born April 27 1928 in Camden, New South Wales. She was the daughter of Mary Winifred Price and Henry Kinsella from Baltinglass, County Wicklow, Ireland who, having settled in New South Wales, served with the AIF at Gallipoli. Margaret was educated at Parramatta High School before completing a BA at the University of New England and a Master of Librarianship at the University of New South Wales. Margaret Trask is widely recognised as an outstanding leader in the profession of Library and Information Sciences. Her contributions to the development of the profession over the past 30-40 years have been seminal and have done much to raise its profile and to ensure its continuing relevance. Margaret's association with libraries commenced at what is now the State Library of New South Wales. Her early career highlights included roles as chief librarian for Penrith City Council, the AMP Society of Australia, and senior academic roles at UNSW. From her earliest days in the profession, Margaret showed her considerable ability as a leader. She was responsible for a number of reports that influenced government policy. One of these, School Libraries: A Report to the Nation (1968), influenced the expansion of libraries in Australian schools and the commitment of Commonwealth funding to school library buildings, the training and education of teacher librarians and the development of library collections that supported school curricula. Margaret's leadership also found expression in her role as president of the Library Association of Australia at a time when the profession was striving both to accommodate and exploit emerging information technologies. Through her unswerving focus on the needs of the users of information she made a major contribution to the movement which led to the creative, user-centred, applications of technology which characterize modern library and information services in Australia. In the mid 1970s Margaret established the innovative School of Library and Information Studies at Kuring-gai College of Advanced Education, one of the antecedent institutions of UTS. This was a cornerstone of her long-term contribution to the professional education of library and information professionals, as was her involvement in the Board of Education of the Library Association of Australia. Margaret gave willingly of her time to a number of institutions related to higher education and library and information services:
Margaret's contribution to Library and Information Sciences and Higher Education have been recognised on numerous other occasions, including:
Margaret has been committed to developing the knowledge base of library and information science. This cause has been advanced by her extensive research and consultancy work. Her support and mentoring of student researchers and practitioners in the field has been selfless - many of the recipients of Margaret's time and dedication have themselves become leading academics and professionals (including a number of Professors and Deans at UTS). These information professionals have continued to enjoy the fruits and benefits of professional collegiality and enduring friendships with her. In the latter phase of her career, Margaret was an initiator of the Australian Information Management Association (AIMA) and subsequently became executive director of AIMA Training and Consultancy Services. AIMA provided leadership and management education, publications and a host of activities for people moving into senior leadership positions in Australia's major libraries. AIMA was a trailblazer in continuing education for the library profession. Margaret's contribution to the profession was recognised with the HCL Anderson Award, the highest honour that the Library Association of Australia can bestow on a professional librarian. Margaret's contribution to higher education has extended beyond her own professional field. Her membership of the New South Wales Higher Education Board and the Commonwealth Government's Ross Review enabled her to participate in developments in colleges and universities more generally. In 1991, Margaret was appointed a Fellow of the University, recognising in particular: her contribution to the education of library and information professionals; her commitment to research in the field; and her role as initiator of the Australian Information Management Association. In the eight years Margaret has been a member of the UTS Council, she has made a major contribution to the work and life of the University. Her knowledge of and contacts within the various faculties and departments of the University have ensured that her influence is both beneficial and effective. She has served on many committees and working groups and participated in the selection processes for the members of the university's senior executive. For the last four years she has assisted and supported the chancellor as deputy chancellor and has presided over numerous graduation ceremonies with warmth and dignity. She recently provided great guidance to the Council and University as a whole on issues of good University governance. In addition to Margaret's role as deputy chancellor and council member, she has willingly given her time and expertise to UTS committees including:
Margaret Trask has been a devoted and valued contributor to the life of the University. Even in illness she has continued to give her time and wise counsel in service of the University. Generations of students as well as the staff of the University have had the advantage of her unassuming work. Chancellor, it is well known that information can easily become knowledge, yet few can turn knowledge into true wisdom. In recognition of an outstanding, selfless dedication not only to achieving personal wisdom but to ensuring that this wisdom benefits a great many, I ask you to admit Margaret Trask, AM to the degree of Doctor of the University (honoris causa).
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