for Berkshire before moving to Wales in 1970. He was often on library committees sharing his time and his knowledge quietly. Malcolm had always had a work life balance, singing, starting a carnival and fund raising for the local community; learning French and German and trying (mostly failing) to learn Welsh. He even had a go at archery. It was inevitable that his retirement would be varied as Malcolm worked for the CAB,


William Desmond Linton, BSC, FLA W


e recently learned of the death of Desmond Linton, retired head of health and social services library services for Northern Ireland, more than a year ago, at the age of 86. He died in January 2020, in the Care Home in his home town of


Castlewellan, after a stay of only a few weeks.


After taking his first degree in botany at Queen’s University, Belfast in 1955, Desmond first worked in the QUB Science Library and went in 1956-7 on leave of absence to McGill University in Montreal, where he graduated Bachelor in Library Science. Returning to Belfast, he enjoyed 26 years at QUB, where he spent a short spell back in the Science Library before taking on the role of Medical Sub Librarian,


with a remit to establish comprehensive library services through- out Northern Ireland, first for all NHS staff, later extended to include Social Services, as well as the University Medical Library. Desmond and his team served health professionals throughout Northern Ireland, and pioneered many methods of sharing information. In 1974 Desmond attended the second ever meeting of the NHS Regional Librarians Group, taking his mainland colleagues by surprise with the advanced state of network develop ment in the Province.


Elizabeth Melrose L


ocal studies librarians at home and abroad will mourn Elizabeth Melrose, who died in October 2023 aged 81. Elizabeth will be remembered as a tireless ambassador for local studies, both nationally and more recently at IFLA. She read history at Glasgow University and gained her library qualification at Sheffield University. Posts in


Lincolnshire, York and North Yorkshire County Council allowed her to promote and specialise in local studies and reference work. While she was with Lincolnshire County


Libraries she also took an active part in the East Midlands Section of RSIS by organising meetings and she was extremely popular for organising committee meetings at her home and for providing home-made cakes.


Everyone was sad when she moved to a post in York. She served both as Treasurer and Chair of the Local Studies Group commit- tee. Committee meetings were enlivened by Elizabeth’s sense of humour and her genuine rapport with everyone on the committee. She ensured newcomers were made welcome and her enthusiasm and dedication was infectious She was elected to represent LSG on CILIP Council where she was a passionate advocate of local studies and a feisty defender of the group when she thought an injustice had been done.


After she retired from North Yorkshire, she remained active promoting local studies. She represented North Yorkshire on the Yorkshire and Humberside NEWSPLAN Committee. She was active in NEWSPLAN and soon gained a place on the National NEWSPLAN committee which she chaired.


54 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL


In 1998 Elizabeth was awarded one of the Library Association’s Centenary medals for members who had made an outstanding contribution to library and information work. This was richly deserved and raised the profile of local studies. In 2007 just after her retirement from North Yorkshire she was awarded the highest accolade for a British local studies librarian: the Dorothy McCulla Award for an outstanding contribution to local studies. She was much in demand as a speaker and her inspiring and stimulating talks were greatly appreciated. She always could be relied upon to provide copy to the hard pressed editors of the Local studies Librarian.


Elizabeth was a great international ambassador and she established a special relationship with Hungarian local studies librarians and a warm spirit of friendship between the two groups developed. It was appropriate that she took a prominent part in IFLA’s Genealogy and Local History Section. From 2002- 2012 she was active in GenLoc , editing the GenLoc newsletter. She loved going to the annual IFLA conferences and provided an enthusiastic account in the Local Studies Librarian. She was an enthusiastic supporter of the Clements Hall Local History Society in York, becoming one of its trustees, joining in all their activities with gusto.


Elizabeth was warm and friendly with a good sense of humour and she was genuinely interested in people. She was an outstand- ing ambassador for local studies librarianship both at home and abroad. She leaves a daughter Kitty, her son-in-law, Christie, and two grandsons to whom she was devoted.


Diana Dixon, Oakham October-November 2024


He was a prominent member of Library and Information Services Council NI which provided advice to Government on all libraries in the Province.


Desmond took early retirement in 1990, and in 1992 he was rewarded with an Honorary Fellowship of the (then) Library Association.


He continued his active lifelong involvement in the Church of Ireland, both locally, and as a Diocesan Council member for 26 years having become became Honorary Secretary (Dromore) in 1993. Amongst other responsibilities, Desmond served on the Joint Committee, the Library Committee and the Down Cathedral Board.


Desmond lived almost all of his life in Castlewellan, much of it in his parental home, and worshipped at St Paul’s Church. He was a frequent traveller both throughout Ireland, and in mainland Britain. He loved to visit both Wales and Scotland, and enjoyed the fine things of life: he was himself an excellent chef and a generous host. As an only child, and a life-long bachelor, Desmond leaves no close relatives, just one “cousin once removed” in Canada.


Michael Carmel with contributions from Ursula Mitchel, David Stewart and Donna Irving.


(Photo courtesy the Diocese of Down and Dromore website, June 2012)


studied family and local history,chairing the local history group for many years and learning the keyboard in his 80’s, singing in several choirs and joining the Cooperative Party. He collected old reference books and delighted in playing beat the computer. However he always found time to put his three children and six grandchildren first. Malcolm leaves behind a lot of people who will miss him and an awful lot of books.


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