Peter Havard-Williams
Encyclopedia
Peter Havard-Williams was a Welsh
librarian
and library educator. In the mid 1980s, he served as Chief Librarian to the Council of Europe
.
and Oxford
. In 1949, he wrote Thought and sense in the philosophy of Saint Thomas Aquinas as his Master's thesis at the University College of Swansea
.
. In 1956, he was appointed Librarian of New Zealand's University of Otago
where he planned for the construction of a large library building, and served as editor of the University of Otago Press. For a decade, starting in 1961, he was University Librarian at Queen's University Belfast in Belfast
, Northern Ireland
, succeeding Jack Jacob Graneek. In 1964, while at Queen's, Havard-Williams founded the School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS) and also served as its Director. Between 1971 and 1972, he was Dean and Professor in Ottawa University
's Library School. From 1972 through 1987, he was founding Professor and Head of Department at Loughborough University's Department of Library and Information Studies. It was here that he developed undergraduate and postgraduate programs that gave British
librarians the specific knowledge and skills needed in a profession that had become increasingly more technology-based. After spending two years serving as a consultant and Chief Librarian to the Council of Europe in 1986-87, he received an appointment as Professor and Head of Department of Library and Information Studies at the University of Botswana
in 1988.
Havard-Williams espoused the adoption of international library standards in his article, International Standards. He wrote several books on librarianship, including Co-ordination of library resources in Ireland (1964), Planning information manpower (19--), and Teaching methods in North American library schools : report to British Library Research and Development Department of study visit overseas (1982).
A collecter of Bloomsbury Group
first editions, he also wrote on one of Bloomsbury's best known members, Virginia Woolf
. These included, Bateau ivre : the symbol of the see in Virginia Woolf's "The waves" (1953), Perceptive comtemplation in the work of Virginia Woolf (1954), and Mystical experience in Virginia Woolf's The waves (1954). Also an author of lighter pieces, Havard-Williams wrote on Winnie the Pooh entitled, Why pooh-pooh Pooh? Isn't he universal?
In 1994, he became the recipient of France's Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
. Havard-Williams died in Loughborough
in 1995.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
librarian
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
and library educator. In the mid 1980s, he served as Chief Librarian to the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
.
Early years
Havard-Williams received degrees in WalesWales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
. In 1949, he wrote Thought and sense in the philosophy of Saint Thomas Aquinas as his Master's thesis at the University College of Swansea
Swansea University
Swansea University is a university located in Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom. Swansea University was chartered as University College of Swansea in 1920, as the fourth college of the University of Wales. In 1996, it changed its name to the University of Wales Swansea following structural changes...
.
Career
Havard-Williams held senior posts in the libraries of Swansea University and the University of LiverpoolUniversity of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
. In 1956, he was appointed Librarian of New Zealand's University of Otago
University of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
where he planned for the construction of a large library building, and served as editor of the University of Otago Press. For a decade, starting in 1961, he was University Librarian at Queen's University Belfast in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, succeeding Jack Jacob Graneek. In 1964, while at Queen's, Havard-Williams founded the School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS) and also served as its Director. Between 1971 and 1972, he was Dean and Professor in Ottawa University
Ottawa University
Ottawa University is a private, non-profit, faith-based liberal arts college located in Ottawa, Kansas. It was founded in 1865 and is affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA...
's Library School. From 1972 through 1987, he was founding Professor and Head of Department at Loughborough University's Department of Library and Information Studies. It was here that he developed undergraduate and postgraduate programs that gave British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
librarians the specific knowledge and skills needed in a profession that had become increasingly more technology-based. After spending two years serving as a consultant and Chief Librarian to the Council of Europe in 1986-87, he received an appointment as Professor and Head of Department of Library and Information Studies at the University of Botswana
University of Botswana
The University of Botswana, or UB was established in 1982 as the first institution of higher education in Botswana. The university has four campuses: two in the capital city Gaborone, one in Francistown, and another in Maun. The university is divided into six faculties: Business, Education,...
in 1988.
Havard-Williams espoused the adoption of international library standards in his article, International Standards. He wrote several books on librarianship, including Co-ordination of library resources in Ireland (1964), Planning information manpower (19--), and Teaching methods in North American library schools : report to British Library Research and Development Department of study visit overseas (1982).
A collecter of Bloomsbury Group
Bloomsbury Group
The Bloomsbury Group or Bloomsbury Set was a group of writers, intellectuals, philosophers and artists who held informal discussions in Bloomsbury throughout the 20th century. This English collective of friends and relatives lived, worked or studied near Bloomsbury in London during the first half...
first editions, he also wrote on one of Bloomsbury's best known members, Virginia Woolf
Virginia Woolf
Adeline Virginia Woolf was an English author, essayist, publisher, and writer of short stories, regarded as one of the foremost modernist literary figures of the twentieth century....
. These included, Bateau ivre : the symbol of the see in Virginia Woolf's "The waves" (1953), Perceptive comtemplation in the work of Virginia Woolf (1954), and Mystical experience in Virginia Woolf's The waves (1954). Also an author of lighter pieces, Havard-Williams wrote on Winnie the Pooh entitled, Why pooh-pooh Pooh? Isn't he universal?
Personal life
He married Rosine Cousin in 1964; they had two daughters. After Rosine's death in 1973, he married Eileen Cumming in 1976; they had one daughter.In 1994, he became the recipient of France's Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
The Ordre des Arts et des Lettres is an Order of France, established on 2 May 1957 by the Minister of Culture, and confirmed as part of the Ordre national du Mérite by President Charles de Gaulle in 1963...
. Havard-Williams died in Loughborough
Loughborough
Loughborough is a town within the Charnwood borough of Leicestershire, England. It is the seat of Charnwood Borough Council and is home to Loughborough University...
in 1995.