nov-dec 2002 - State Library of Western Australia

3The library community has lost oneof its leading visionaries, Dr FrancisAubie “Ali” Sharr OBE and his wifeFlorence. Dr Sharr passed away aftera short illness on November 16,following his wife’s death a week prior.Ali Sharr was the Library Board’s firstState Librarian and executive officer,from 1953 until his retirement in 1976.In his 23 years in office, Ali Sharrcreated library services to rural andremote areas of Western Australia,with the number of public librariesassociated with the Library Boardgrowing from zero to 152. Hetransformed the State Library to aworld class repository of information,and created the first publiclyaccessible Music Library in Australia.During 1962-63, Dr Sharr served asan advisor to the government ofNigeria for UNESCO’s librarydevelopment program, and from1969-70, he was President of theLibrary Association of Australia .In the Library Board’s annual reportof 1975-76, the Board recorded thefollowing resolution in appreciation ofAli Sharr’s services to libraries:“Resolved that the Board place onrecord its deep appreciation of theinvaluable service rendered by MrF.A. Sharr as the first Executive Officerof the Board and the first StateLibrarian over his continuous periodof 23 years.“Distinctive features of the libraryservice of Western Australia overthose years were in very largemeasure due to the imagination andefficient administration of Mr Sharr. Hewas also able to attract and associatewith him in what was largely pioneeringwork throughout the state of WesternAustralia a group of professionallibrarians from outside and insideAustralia. The high reputation whichthe library service of Western Australianow enjoys throughout the world is atribute to the achievement of the firstState Librarian and his seniorcolleagues.“Members of the Library Board arealso aware of the respect in which itsState Librarian has been held by hisprofessional colleagues in other partsof the Australian Commonwealth andof their appreciation of the contributionhe has made to the standing of theprofession throughout theCommonwealth. The Boardrecognises the consequential benefitswhich have resulted from this forlibrary services in Western Australia.”Dr Francis Aubie “Ali” Sharr in 1990.After his retirement, Ali Sharr wasawarded several honours for his work,including an OBE in 1977, the LAA’sH.C.L. Anderson Award for outstandingcontribution to library services in 1980,and an honorary Doctor of Letters fromCurtin University in 1991.Ali and Flo Sharr will be missed by theirmany friends and colleagues in theState Library.Dana TonelloPublic ProgramsState Library of Western AustraliaThe project’s primary aims weretwofold: appraising and improvingaccess to existing collections about thewool industry in the Battye LibraryPrivate Archives, and seeking newmaterial. David’s work was excellent inboth areas.He appraised and arranged a numberof important collections, including theRubin collection, being the combinedrecords of De Grey, Mulyie and Ettrickstations, administered as a single entityby the De Grey Pastoral Company.Overall, 276 boxes of records wereclassified, dated, sorted, housed anddescribed.To develop the collection further,potential donors needed to be identifiedand contacted. David, in consultationwith historians and industry contacts,researched and developed a list ofnames, then contacted them by letter,phone, and in person. Informationsheets were produced: “Donating to theWool Story Archive” and “Guidelines forDonors”. These contacts resulted indonations of material from, amongothers, Elders, Australian WoolHandlers, and the West Australian WoolBuyers Association. The collectionsreceived were appraised andprocessed, often including preservationwork, and placed in proper storage.An important part of the Wool Projectwas publicity. David organised mediacontacts and provided information whichwas subsequently used in ruralnewspaper stories in wool growingareas.David Jones’ work on the Wool Projecthas added considerably to collectionsof information held on this industry whichMollie Lukis with 2002 award recipient, DavidJones.has been so important in WesternAustralia’s development. David’senthusiasm, skill and hard work on theproject has ensured its success andpromoted the services of the BattyeLibrary. The range and depth of primarymaterials in the State Library would bevery much the poorer without the deeplycommitted work that David has done.