John Ballinger
Encyclopedia
Sir
John Ballinger CBE
(12 May 1860 – 8 January 1933) was a Welsh librarian, the first librarian at the National Library of Wales
. He has been described by the current librarian at the National Library of Wales, Andrew Green
, as "one of the most distinguished professional librarians of his time".
, near Pontypool
, Monmouthshire
, the son of Henry Ballinger, an engineer. When his father lost his job at the Pontnewynydd Iron Works, the family moved to Whitchurch, Cardiff
, where he found employment in the Melingriffith Works. Ballinger then lost his father when he was six.
He attended the elementary school in Canton
, but had left school by the age of 14, he received a year of private education, and while looking for employment he attended evening classes. At the age of fifteen, in 1875, Ballinger became an assistant in the Cardiff Free Library, and later at the Swansea Public Library.
He was appointed Librarian at the public library in Doncaster
, Yorkshire
in 1880 despite his young age. Here he built his reputation and began writing a column, "About books", in the local newspaper, The Doncaster Chronicle.
Ballinger returned to Cardiff in 1884, this time taking the post of Librarian at the Cardiff Free Library. During his period as Librarian, the number of books borrowed rose from 7,000 to 750,000 a year. There were 100,000 volumes in the collections by 1905, and 20,000 of these were works related to Wales.
When the movement began to press for a National Library in Wales, Ballinger kept an eye on progress as was by far the best-known librarian in Wales. Sir John Williams had promised a donation to the new library, and it was he who offered Ballinger the post of librarian, without competition.
He began on 1 January 1909, with a salary of £600, £100 more than at his previous post in Cardiff, with a pension. He retired on 31 May 1930 and was thanked by the Court of Governors for:
Of his many achievements, there were special mentions for securing the National Library's status as a legal deposit, and gaining "the continued interest and support of the general public".
During this time, Ballinger received an honorary MA from the University of Wales
in 1909, a CBE in 1920, honorary Fellow of the Library Association in 1929, a knighthood on 1 January 1930 and the Medal of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion
in 1932.
He retired to Hawarden
, Flintshire
, there, he offered advice to St Deiniol's Library and resumed his publishing career and his commitment to the historical bibliography of Wales.
Ballinger's health was poor and he died on 8 January 1933. He was interred in the churchyard in Hawarden. His wife, Amy, died on 28 October 1933.
Sir
Sir is an honorific used as a title , or as a courtesy title to address a man without using his given or family name in many English speaking cultures...
John Ballinger CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(12 May 1860 – 8 January 1933) was a Welsh librarian, the first librarian at the National Library of Wales
National Library of Wales
The National Library of Wales , Aberystwyth, is the national legal deposit library of Wales; one of the Welsh Government sponsored bodies.Welsh is its main medium of communication...
. He has been described by the current librarian at the National Library of Wales, Andrew Green
Andrew Green (librarian)
Andrew M. Green has been the librarian at the National Library of Wales since 1998. His predecessor was J. Lionel Madden. The role has been influential in Wales, since John Ballinger first took up the position in 1909....
, as "one of the most distinguished professional librarians of his time".
Biography
Ballinger was born in PontnewynyddPontnewynydd
Pontnewynydd is a predominantly working class suburb of Pontypool, Torfaen in Wales. It should not be confused with Pontnewydd in nearby Cwmbran.- Location :...
, near Pontypool
Pontypool
Pontypool is a town of approximately 36,000 people in the county borough of Torfaen, within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire in South Wales....
, Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire (historic)
Monmouthshire , also known as the County of Monmouth , is one of thirteen ancient counties of Wales and a former administrative county....
, the son of Henry Ballinger, an engineer. When his father lost his job at the Pontnewynydd Iron Works, the family moved to Whitchurch, Cardiff
Whitchurch, Cardiff
Whitchurch is a suburb in the north of Cardiff, capital of Wales. It is approximately 3 miles north of the centre of the city on the A470 road and A4054 road. Its estimated population as of 2004 was 15,649. It falls within the Whitchurch & Tongwynlais ward.-History:Whitchurch draws its name from...
, where he found employment in the Melingriffith Works. Ballinger then lost his father when he was six.
He attended the elementary school in Canton
Canton, Cardiff
Canton is an inner-city district and community in the west of Cardiff, capital of Wales, lying west of the city's civic centre. One of the most ethnically diverse of Cardiff's suburbs, with a significant Asian population such as Pakistanis and Indians, Canton has a population just in excess of...
, but had left school by the age of 14, he received a year of private education, and while looking for employment he attended evening classes. At the age of fifteen, in 1875, Ballinger became an assistant in the Cardiff Free Library, and later at the Swansea Public Library.
He was appointed Librarian at the public library in Doncaster
Doncaster
Doncaster is a town in South Yorkshire, England, and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. The town is about from Sheffield and is popularly referred to as "Donny"...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
in 1880 despite his young age. Here he built his reputation and began writing a column, "About books", in the local newspaper, The Doncaster Chronicle.
Ballinger returned to Cardiff in 1884, this time taking the post of Librarian at the Cardiff Free Library. During his period as Librarian, the number of books borrowed rose from 7,000 to 750,000 a year. There were 100,000 volumes in the collections by 1905, and 20,000 of these were works related to Wales.
When the movement began to press for a National Library in Wales, Ballinger kept an eye on progress as was by far the best-known librarian in Wales. Sir John Williams had promised a donation to the new library, and it was he who offered Ballinger the post of librarian, without competition.
He began on 1 January 1909, with a salary of £600, £100 more than at his previous post in Cardiff, with a pension. He retired on 31 May 1930 and was thanked by the Court of Governors for:
Of his many achievements, there were special mentions for securing the National Library's status as a legal deposit, and gaining "the continued interest and support of the general public".
During this time, Ballinger received an honorary MA from the University of Wales
University of Wales
The University of Wales was a confederal university founded in 1893. It had accredited institutions throughout Wales, and formerly accredited courses in Britain and abroad, with over 100,000 students, but in October 2011, after a number of scandals, it withdrew all accreditation, and it was...
in 1909, a CBE in 1920, honorary Fellow of the Library Association in 1929, a knighthood on 1 January 1930 and the Medal of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion
Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion
The Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion was founded in 1751 as a literary society devoted to the preservation of the Welsh language. It was founded by two brothers, Lewis Morris and Richard Morris, natives of Anglesey...
in 1932.
He retired to Hawarden
Hawarden
Hawarden is a village in Flintshire, North Wales. Hawarden forms part of the Deeside conurbation on the Welsh/English border. At the 2001 Census, the population of Hawarden Ward was 1,858...
, Flintshire
Flintshire (historic)
Flintshire , also known as the County of Flint, is one of thirteen historic counties, a vice-county and a former administrative county, which mostly lies on the north east coast of Wales....
, there, he offered advice to St Deiniol's Library and resumed his publishing career and his commitment to the historical bibliography of Wales.
Ballinger's health was poor and he died on 8 January 1933. He was interred in the churchyard in Hawarden. His wife, Amy, died on 28 October 1933.