Health Libraries

Chronological History
1947 Medical Section, University and Research Section of the Library
Association
1949 Medical Section became a Group in its own right, since the membership had reached 100.
1956 Election to be biennial, rather than annual.
1962 Hospital Libraries and Handicapped Readers Group formed, with an initial membership of 130.
(The Guild of Hospital Librarians had been in existence for some years before, but outside the Library Association)
Rule 2 and 3 state
• The object of the Group is to unite members engaged in or interested in:- hospital library services and services to physically and mentally handicapped readers, including the disabled, old people, the blind and partially sighted and the deaf, prisons and similar institutions .
• The Group shall encourage the discussion and promote interest in all matters relating to libraries and library services for handicapped readers, by means of meetings, publications and in such other ways as may seem desirable. ….
1968 General and Medical Libraries in Hospitals Committee; a joint sub-committee of the Medical Section and Hospital Libraries and Handicapped Readers Group was set up, to deal with all matters relating to libraries in hospitals. The first business was to work towards revising the Standards, so that the Association might speak with an undivided voice on the subject of libraries in hospitals. The Constitution and Standing orders are in the Archives, Box 13.
1972 An outline proposal for the development of a library and information network for the National Health Service. A draft, prepared by Keith Bosworth, Antonia J.Bunch, Keith Morton and Roy.B.Tabor and dated November 1972 is in Archives Box 13.
1972 The Hospital Libraries and Handicapped Readers Group felt that it needed to amend its constitution to include services to staff, having been approached by librarians in non-teaching hospitals. The understanding at the time was that the Medical Section focussed on Medical School libraries. For full discussion papers, see Archives Box 13
1973 1st official discussion between the two Groups about a possible merger, primarily because of the NHS connection, integrated libraries and the need for one voice. The push for merger was from the Hospital Libraries and Handicapped Readers Group. The Minutes from 1973 and 1974 outline discussions on the issue. The Medical Section Committee made a decision not to amalgamate but it was agreed to put the question to the Members in the Annual Conference in September 1973. In December 1974 the Medical Section Minutes stressed the need for co-operation rather than amalgamation.
1974 Hospital Libraries and Handicapped Readers Group proposed to revise its scope and activities by including the wording ‘and to the staffs who serve them.’ The Medical Section disagreed with this proposal. The issue was discussed at a meeting with the LA President, which led on to discussion again about amalgamation. The Committee outlined their reasons for firmly believing that such an amalgamation may not be in the best interests of the Medical Section. The LA President suggested another meeting to see if some agreement could be reached.
There was a joint meeting on 10th December 1974 to settle in broad terms the scheme for unified group. (Medical Section Minutes December 1974)
The meeting first considered the position of the Working Party. Concern was expressed at the extent to which moves … could lead to a fragmentation of sources of advice and information on matters affecting libraries … Whilst recognising and appreciating the work carried out by both the Group and the Section it was felt that a single body to which matters of interest could be referred by the Association, and to which the Association could look for guidance on matters of policy and for recommendations would greatly strengthen the ability of the Association to act as the point of reference for government and other authorities with responsibility in this area on matters of librarianship, and as a basis on which representation of the professional interests in this area could be made by the Association, and made with strength and authority. It was not the intention to try and enforce a merger or a federation. Reference was also made to the fact that a reconsideration of the Committee structure of the Association was taking place. (Medical Section Minutes December 1974)
1975 The LA had offered to meet the debts of the Hospital Libraries and Handicapped Readers Group . The publication of the Health and Welfare Libraries Quarterly had been suspended. (Medical Section Minutes August 1975)
1978 MHWLG formed, to amalgamate the Medical Section and the Hospital and Handicapped Readers Group. Membership in the first year was nearly 1900. Standing committees, one for medical and health interests and one for welfare interests, were established but seldom met, until 1982 when they met regularly before the main committee and this practice continued until 1991 when the structure of the committee and conduct of business was reviewed. Although not part of the Group Rules, the practice was established that the chair should alternate in so far as was practicable.
1980 South West Sub-Group established.
Nursing Interest Sub-Group formed.
1982 Domiciliary Services Sub-Group formed.
Bibliotherapy Sub-Group formed. (from 1984 Reading Therapy Sub-Group)
1984 Prison Libraries Group became a separate LA Group. (Had been a Sub-Group of the Hospital Libraries Group)
1988 South West Sub-Group wound up
1989 Information for Management Sub-Group, IFM Healthcare founded, and launched in1990
1st Group Councillor
1992 Domiciliary Services Sub-Group disbanded
1994 Community Care Sub-Group formed (from Domiciliary Services Sub-Group and Reading Therapy Sub-Groups)
1995 Group name changed to Health Libraries Group 

Officers

1978 (Steering Committee)
Chair Mr F M Sutherland
Secretary Miss O Noaks
Treasurer Mrs S Godbolt

1979-80
Chair Jenny Wade
Secretary Derek Wright
Treasurer Shane Godbolt

1981-82
Chair Fiona Picken
Secretary John Fieldgate
Treasurer Barbara Cumbers

1983-84
Chair Jean Clarke
Secretary Peter Morgan
Treasurer Barbara Cumbers

1985-1986
Chair Tony King
Secretary Judith Callaghan
Treasurer Linda Parr

1987-88
Chair Anne Willis
Secretary Linda Parr
Treasurer Graham Walton

1989-90
Chair Desmond Linton
Secretary Peter Craddock
Treasurer Graham Walton

1991-92
Chair Philippa Lane
Secretary Peter Craddock
Treasurer Lorraine Anthony

1993-94
Chair Sue Stallion
Secretary Peter Craddock
Treasurer Vicki Entwistle (to 3/93)
Gill Poller

1995-96
Chair Judy Palmer
Secretary Penny Bonnett
Treasurer Gill Poller

1997-98
Chair Bruce Madge
Secretary Linda Dorrington
Treasurer Sally Hernando

1999-2001
Chair David Stewart
Secretary Susan Howard
Treasurer Sally Hernando
Hasina Shaikh (from March 2000)

Medical Section
1947
Chair Mr W.J.Bishop
Secretary Mr W.A.Lee

1948
Chair Mr C. C. Barnard

1949
Chair Mr C.C.Barnard
Secretary Mr W.J.Bishop

1950
Chair Mr W.R.LeFanu
Secretary Mr W.J.Bishop

1955
Chair Mr W.J.Bishop
Secretary Mr G.J Hipkins

1956
Chair Miss M.P.Russell
Secretary Mr G.J Hipkins

1957-58
Chair Miss M.P.Russell
Secretary Mr G.J Hipkins

1959-60
Chair Mr G Wilson
Secretary Mr G.J Hipkins

1961-62
Chair Mr L.T.Morton
Secretary E.H.Cornelius

1963-64
Chair Mr L.M.Payne
Secretary Mr E.H.Cornelius
(unconfirmed in Minutes)
1965/66 Chair Mr W.R.LeFanu
Secretary Mr E.H.Cornelius
(unconfirmed in Minutes)

1967-68
Chair Mrs L Sargeant
Secretary Mr E H Cornelius
Mrs M B Bailey (from June onwards)

1969-70
Chair Mr J L Thornton
Secretary Mrs M B Bailey

1971-72
Chair Mr V J Glanville
Secretary Mr R J Moore

1973-74
Chair Miss D F Atkins
Secretary Mr P J Bishop

1975-76
Chair Mr F M Sutherland
Secretary Mr P J Bishop

N.B. The Secretary acted as Treasurer.

Hospital Libraries and Handicapped Readers Group
1962-63
Chair Miss M Going
Secretary Mrs J Clarke
Treasurer Miss M J Lewis

1964-65
Chair Mr R Sturt
Secretary Mrs J Clarke
Treasurer Miss M J Lewis

1966-67
Chair Mrs Jean Clarke
Secretary Mr D Matthews
Treasurer Mr J White

1968-69
Chair Miss J Lewis
Secretary Mr D Matthews
Treasurer Mr J White

1970-71
Chair Mrs Wylva Partington
Secretary Miss Barbara Scrivens
Treasurer Ms J Butt

1972/3
Chair Mr D Matthews
Secretary Miss B Scrivens
Treasurer Mrs J Butt

1974/5
Chair Mr H Douglass
Secretary Miss Phyllis Noaks
Treasurer Mr D Bale