Guide to the Papers of Averill Edwards, 1937-2012

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Summary

Collection number:
MS 9778; MS Acc08.199; MS Acc13.054
Creator:
Averill Edwards
Extent:
2.13 metres and (14 boxes + 1 folio item)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Averill Edwards, National Library of Australia, [class number, box number and series and/or file number]'.
Availability:
Available
Access conditions:
Part available for research; part not available for research. Not for loan.

Background

Content Summary:

The collection includes Library Association of Australia (LAA) and Australian Library and Information Service (ALIA) correspondence relating to branch and head office business, awards, visits and speeches Edwards made as ALIA president, papers relating to the relocation of ALIA Head Office from Ultimo (Sydney) to Canberra and the building of the Canberra office. There are conference papers, discussion papers, branch correspondence, building contracts and plans, conference reports, constitution papers, Parliamentary submissions, minutes and by-laws.

Many of the papers deal with the role and work of ALIA, librarians, library technicians, and teacher librarians. Other subjects include the name change from Library Association of Australia to Australian Library and Information Service, information technology in the workforce, library access, ALIA Presidency, the location and move of ALIA Headquarters, and the use of copyright material in churches.

Correspondents include Alan Bundy, Anne Hazel, Sue Kosse, J.G. Dwyer, Frances Awcock, Warren Horton, John Levett, Colin Steele, Phil Roberts, R. Segal, M. Wathen, Sue Phillips and John Brudenall.

Biographical Note:

Averill Margaret Bruen Edwards was born in Sydney on 20th of May, 1939. She was a teacher prior to joining the National Library of Australia, where she was employed from 1968-1999. Averill worked in a number of areas including inter-library loans, acquisitions, selection, the Policy Secretariat, and reference. She managed the Information Services Section from 1989. She was the chief liaison librarian in North America when she represented the National Library from her location at the Australian Embassy in Washington.

Averill has a long term association with ALIA and was president in 1989, managing a series of changes which included a name change from the Library Association of Australia to the Australian Library and Information Association Information Association, a move from Sydney to Canberra, the building of its present quarters at ALIA House, Napier Close, Deakin and a change to ALIA's charter and objectives. During her presidential year, the Association developed standards for school, prison and public libraries and put the publications program on a sound financial footing.

As director of the Information Services Section, Edwards was instrumental in the transition of the Library's reference services from a `collections' base to a range of electronic information services. She developed policies consolidating the national role of the Library with services for researchers, and other users in remote areas. Prior to her retirement, Edwards was responsible for managing a web-based pathway for users to access informations from print and electronic sources. Edwards retired in January 1999.

Edwards has also been active in the Uniting Church in Australia at the regional and State level, and in 2004 was the only layperson to have been Presbytery Chairperson.

Librarian. Averill Margaret Bruen Edwards was a teacher prior to joining the National Library of Australia, where she was employed from 1968-1999. Edwards has long been involved with various library associations, including serving terms as President of the ACT Branch of the Library Association of Australia and the Australian Library and Information Association. Edwards had also been active within the Uniting Church in Australia at the regional and state level and, as at 2004, was the only laywoman to have been Presbytery Chairperson.

Immediate Source of Acquisition:

The collection was donated to the Library by Averill Edwards in several instalments from 2004-2013.

Arrangement:

The papers have been largely maintained in the order in which they were received.

Indexed terms

Names:
Averill Edwards

Access and use

Conditions Governing Access:
Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn3109293).
Conditions Governing Use:
Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.
Preferred citation:
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Averill Edwards, National Library of Australia, [class number, box number and series and/or file number]'.
Location of this collection:
Parkes Place
Canberra ACT 2600, Australia
Contact:
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