Local Studies

Awards

Dorothy McCulla Memorial Prize - Local Studies Librarian of the Year 2010

We are delighted to announce that Tracey Williams, Local Studies Librarian at Solihull Central Library, has been awarded the Dorothy McCulla Memorial Prize this year. This prize is awarded to a member of the Local Studies Group who has made an outstanding contribution to local studies work.

During the eight years Tracey has worked as Local Studies Librarian at Solihull Heritage and Local Studies Service, the service has been transformed as a result of her commitment, enthusiasm and skills. Her use of social media and ICT to promote and increase access to local studies collections has been particularly impressive, as well as the way she has engaged with local communities, especially those who are disadvantaged.

She has also made a significant contribution to the Local Studies Group and the wider CILIP community through participation in the Local Studies Group and the Midlands & Anglia Sub-Group Committees and as the Group’s web editor, including establishing our Blog. Tracey was awarded the prize at our Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 17th November 2010 by Brian Hall, CILIP Vice-President, who coincidently taught Tracey local studies at Birmingham Polytechnic, now Birmingham City University.

Tracey Williams with the McCulla Award certificate

Nominations for the Dorothy McCulla Award 2011

This award was inaugurated in 1981 in memory of Dorothy McCulla, the founder and first chair of the Local Studies Group. Nominations are sought each year for a member of the Group who has made an outstanding contribution to local studies work. The panel look in particular for good overall service provision, innovation and promotional work and the winner receives a cash award and hand-written certificate.

For more information contact:

Honorary Secretary

Helen Pye-Smith
Head of Library
The National Archives
Kew
Richmond
Surrey
TW9 4DU
Tel: 020 8392 5278
helen.pye-smith@nationalarchives.gov.uk

To make a nomination for Local Studies Librarian of the Year please click on the link to the nomination form below:

Dorothy McCulla Memorial Prize Nomination Form

Past winners

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Who was Dorothy McCulla?

Dorothy McCulla was the Head of the Local Studies Dept at Birmingham Central Library, a post she held from 1969 until her untimely death in 1981, two days after her 59th birthday. She had worked at Birmingham since 1940, joining the Birmingham Collection (later local studies) in 1953. Colleagues described her as having a "cheerful and bustling temperament" and being "a delight to know". Outside work, her main interests were horse riding and travelling.

What was her contribution?

She described herself as "dazzled" by Birmingham's rich history and emphasised the importance of "recording it all before it's gone". She was keen to capture not only the history of buildings but also details of people's everyday lives and stories of old Birmingham before they were lost forever. She was also responsible for establishing a school's liaison officer to encourage children's interest in their city's past. Her encylopaedic knowledge and enthusiasm for all aspects of local studies made her well-known far beyond the city's boundaries and she helped to found the Local Studies Group of the then Library Association.

Why is there a McCulla award?

The Local Studies Group is proud to have an award in memory of Dorothy McCulla, described by a local historian as "a most humble, friendly and exceptional person" with "100% enthusiasm for every task". Her devotion to increasing access to Birmingam's history through custodianship of its records is still a relevant example and important legacy for us today.

Last modified on: 06/03/2011 10:32 PM

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