By Rob Mackinlay

07 June 2022

Several librarians have been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List and many of them CILIP members.

Nick Poole, Chief Executive of CILIP, said: “CILIP congratulates of the library and information professionals that have been recognised in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours. The worthy recipients span the breadth of our professional community, from public to Government libraries, national leadership to frontline staff – a recognition of the central role that our profession has played and continues to play in post-pandemic recovery. We are particularly pleased to note that a significant proportion of the recipients this year are CILIP members, and we are proud to support them in their work.

“It has been excellent to work with leading figures such as Sue Williamson of the Arts Council England, with whom we have been working on a raft of projects designed to build a stronger future for public libraries across England. Emma Noyce, who has been honoured for her work leading public libraries during COVID-19, is also the Chair of our Green Libraries Partnership with Libraries Connected, the British Library and Julie’s Bicycle. Sue Wills of Surrey Libraries is an important leader in our workforce and professional development. Helen Osborn has been central to supporting our work across Northern Ireland. And Anoja Fernando, who have all done so much to move our profession forwards.

“These Honours are an excellent way of showcasing the impact of our profession to the wider world. While they absolutely acknowledge the achievements of brilliant individuals, they are also a celebration of everything that our profession does, day-in and day-out, to make our communities stronger.”

 

Professionals from the library sector who have been made Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to Public Libraries are:

Anoja Fernando, Research Library Manager, Department for Work and Pensions

Catherine Mann, Head of Libraries and Arts, Staffordshire County Council

Christine May, Head, Libraries at Bradford

Helen Osborn, Lately Director of Library Services, Libraries NI

Sue Williamson, National Director, Libraries, Arts Council England. For services to the Library Sector

Susan Wills, Assistant Director, Lifelong Learning and Culture, Surrey County Council

 

Medal of the order of the British Empire (BEM) is awarded to:

Anthony Brown, Chair, Suffolk Libraries

Sorrelle Clements, Service Development Manager, Coventry Libraries

Susan Comitti, Libraries and Heritage Service Manager, London Borough of Hackney

Robert Jones, Library Service Manager, Isle of Wight Council

Emma Noyce, Assistant Director, Culture and Information Services, Hampshire County Council. For services to Public Libraries during Covid-19

Emma, in her role as Chair of the Green Libraries Partnerships, has been interviewed for this issue of Information Professional (see page X). She is also a speaker at the CILIP Conference in July.