Obituaries B


Bill Simpson


ill Simpson, one of the most distinguished academic librarians of recent times, has died aged 79. In a career encompassing eight universities, he headed two of the great libraries of the world – Trinity College Library, Dublin and the John Rylands University Library, Uni- versity of Manchester.


His career, over almost four decades, saw many changes in the provision of academic library services - from traditional book and journal resources together with heritage col- lections all in physical formats – to advanced information technologies providing some of the most significant foundations of the infor- mation society and the knowledge economy. Bill was born in Liverpool in 1945 and


was educated at the Liverpool Institute High School for Boys. He attended the University of Liverpool, gaining a first-class honours degree in Oriental Studies (Hebrew and Egyptian). Following his graduation, he became Gilroy Scholar in Semitic Languages for six months at the University of Aberdeen. Before taking on the role of Subject Librarian for Ancient Near Eastern Studies at the Univer- sity of Durham


In 1973 he was appointed University Librarian of the University of Manchester, to the position of Assistant Librarian. In 1985, he became University Librarian at the University of Surrey, followed five years later by a role as University Librarian for the then federal University of London at Senate House. In 1994 Bill moved to Trinity College, Dublin to take up the position of University Librarian & College. He oversaw the design, construction and inauguration of the remarkable James Ussher Library which was subsequently awarded a number of prestigious architectural prizes.


He returned to the University of Manchester in 2002 as Univer- sity Librarian & Director of the John Rylands University Library


David Ball D


avid was a distinguished figure in the library and information sector, renowned for his expertise in scholarly communication and Open Science. He served as University Librarian and Head of Academic Development Services at Bournemouth University from 1994 to 2012. During his tenure, he created a vibrant library service that won two major national awards. Following his early retirement in 2012, David established David Ball Consulting, working as an independent consultant and researcher specializing in higher education, e-journals, and library systems. His impressive client list included the Public Library of Science (PLoS), Public Health England, Jisc Collections, and the Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften.


David was a fierce advocate for Open Access. He served as a Project Officer for SPARC Europe on major European Open Science projects, including PASTEUR4OA and FOSTER, which aimed to align Open Access policies across the EU and support researchers in adopting Open Science workflows. He was instru- mental in mapping Open Scholarship in Europe and creating the SPARC Europe checklist, How Open is Your Research? His passion for information access extended globally. David


48 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL DIGITAL


spent a year in Uganda working with the Coalition of Uganda University Libraries (CUUL) on Open Access policy develop- ment. He continued to facilitate connections between the UK, Europe, and Africa, collaborating with the African Library and Information Associations and Institutions (AFLIA) and leading a joint CILIP/AFLIA webinar on Open Science in 2020. David gave generously of his time to the professional commu- nity. He was the Chair of UKeiG for seven years, having joined the committee in 2012, and led various CPD courses on Open Access. In 2018, he joined the ILIG Committee, where his inter- national experience proved invaluable.


David passed away in a local hospice in May, surrounded by close family following treatment for infective endocarditis which began in February.


Colleagues remember David not only for his professional achievements but for his character. He was always ready to facilitate new ideas for collaboration and bridge the gap between information professionals across continents. We will miss his sig- nificant contributions, as well as his kindness and good humour.


Obituary compiled by CILIP’s International Library and Information Group (ILIG) and UKeiG


Winter 2025


of Manchester – one of the UK’s most prominent research librar- ies. During his period as Director, he successfully completed the integration of library services following the establishment in 2004 of the new University of Manchester. From 2004-7 he guided the award-winning renovation of the iconic John Rylands Library which also saw the construction of an innovative visitor centre. In the course of his long career as a senior member of his pro- fession, Bill undertook a diverse range of consultancy work for the British Council, the European Union, the Salzburg Foundation and a range of university institutions and national libraries in the UK, Ireland, Europe and Asia. On retirement he became UK Adviser on Libraries and e-Learning to the British University in Egypt situated in Cairo.


Many who knew him considered him to be something of a polymath. He had a formidable intellect and his linguistic skills embraced Ugaritic, Aramaic and Classical Hebrew. He was a man of faith and was a writer of religious poetry. He was also a supporter of Everton Football Club and had an almost encyclo- paedic knowledge of the game. His gentle Merseyside accent was a memorable part of his persona.


His Manchester colleagues will remember his prowess at table, as well as the occasional cricket match with neighbouring library teams and lunch time football games with other library staff. They will also remember him as a person of great kindness who treated his colleagues with the utmost consideration. He had a thirst for knowledge of all kinds. Those who knew him well him will remember his desk piled high with books and when that space ran out, his colonisation of the space under the desk too. He had a gift for friendship, so many of his close associates felt they had a particular bond with him.


Bill is survived by wife Margaret – his childhood sweetheart – and children Nicola and Fiona and his seven grandchildren.


Emeritus Professor John Lancaster and Dr Emma J. Robinson


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