AARL

Warren Horton 1938-2003

This issue of Australian Academic and Research Libraries celebrates Warren Horton's long and exceptional contribution to Australian librarianship. Throughout his life Warren made many firm friends and a few just as resolute enemies: often challenging, frequently charming, sometimes difficult, he was impossible to ignore.

The contributions to this issue trace an arc from personal recollections through to discussion of some of the wider professional issues with which Warren was so deeply involved. He made an enduring contribution to three major Australian libraries, to the professional association, to Australia's place in the profession internationally, and to the lives of many of its members.

Ian McCallum records his commitment to assisting younger librarians though the Aurora Leadership Foundation. I recall his commitment to those about to enter the profession, librarianship students. Every time I asked Warren to speak to students, he accepted, and every time the performance was somewhat similar. First, he'd ask me to confirm that everyone present was a student; he didn't want to risk any colleagues hearing what he was about to say. Then he'd impress on his audience that everything was off the record - and he'd be away, giving generously of his time and experience, including frank admissions of any mistakes or errors of judgement. Students were important to him, and he would do what he could to ensure their education was as complete and as relevant as possible. Had his health permitted, he would have accepted an invitation from the University of Canberra to become an Adjunct Professor; as it was, the University conferred upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of the University on 28 July 2000.

While he was not at all academically inclined - as Alex Byrne says, Warren was no theoretician - I also recall his support for research projects undertaken in his library. If he decided to grant access, it was unconditional, despite the risk that not everything might reflect well upon it, or him. His own time again he gave generously. If he judged that the project or the researcher might help advance the profession, it was worth doing. He was a big man, in every sense.

Peter Clayton, Editor