261:
245:
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retirement was prompted by her marriage to Peter O'Connor, an associate professor of history at the
University of Auckland, and her move to live in Auckland. Also, preparations were underway to build a new National Library, and she felt that the planning for the new building should be done by someone who would work in the building long-term.
40:
305:
Ronnie expressed her optimism about the future of public libraries both as a resource of printed materials but also for the opportunities afforded by digital technologies. She was a champion for public libraries as focal points in their communities, advocating that they be located where people are.
252:
Ronnie spent eight years as Head of
Lending at Dunedin Public Library, a period that she regarded as one of her most productive. She gained overseas experience in branch libraries working in Glasgow for a year in 1960β61. In 1961, she became Deputy City Librarian in Dunedin, a position she held for
256:
In 1976, Ronnie moved to
Wellington to become National Librarian after being encouraged by colleagues to take up the position. Ronnie took early retirement from the National Library in 1981; she would have had to retire in 1986 as the government service stipulated retirement at age 60. Her early
231:
in
English, philosophy and history in 1951. She completed the Certificate of the New Zealand Library Association in 1946, and in 1952 spent a year studying at the Library School in Wellington. In 1965, she completed a
310:, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Otago, recognised her commitment to high quality and accessible library services, her leadership in the library profession and her scholarship.
469:
122:
306:
She likened them to supermarkets with self-service and labelled items but with the additional feature of help when customers need it. In awarding her an honorary doctorate,
227:
but, finding university study not to her liking, she obtained a full-time job in the public library. She was to return to university later, studying part-time and gaining a
219:. In 1942 she got her first job in a library, an after-school position, in Dunedin Public Library. There she was influenced by the City Librarian, Archie Dunningham, and
268:
After moving to
Auckland, Ronnie became Auckland City Librarian from 1982 to 1984. In 1987, she joined the Graduate Department of Librarianship, Archives and Records at
253:
eight years, succeeding Ada Fache in 1968 to become City
Librarian. During her eight years in the latter position, she oversaw the building of a new library in Dunedin.
775:. Clayton Vic., Australia: New Zealand Library Association in conjunction with Ancora Press, Graduate Dept. of Librarianship, Archives and Records, Monash University.
1009:
368:
1034:
339:
961:
848:
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459:
999:
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191:, from 1976 to 1981, and the first woman in the world to head a national library. Before becoming National Librarian she was head of
183:
29:
327:
1024:
932:
276:
1014:
331:
681:
886:
714:
595:
402:
728:
619:
Ronnie, Mary (September 2000). "Memories of Otago and
Southland libraries and librarians: an unmethodical wander".
587:
Te Rau
Herenga, a century of library life in Aotearoa: the New Zealand Library Association & LIANZA, 1910β2010
1019:
188:
54:
360:
815:
780:
440:
1004:
957:
216:
840:
272:
in
Melbourne, serving as Head of Department and Acting Professor of the Department from 1989 to 1992.
491:
Ronnie, Mary (1998). ""The Steel Girder and the Fairy
Godmother" in Dorothy Neal White: a tribute".
192:
902:
187:(12 June 1926 β 17 March 2023) was a New Zealand librarian. She was New Zealand's first female
342:
by the University of Otago in 2007, and received a Dunedin Public Libraries Citation in 2007.
260:
994:
989:
244:
8:
224:
150:
750:
Ronnie, Mary (September 1990). "The National Library Act: the birth of an institution".
661:
Ronnie, Mary (September 2001). "McEwan days: the early life of Dunedin Public Library".
907:
874:
220:
196:
223:(author of books on children's literature). After leaving school, she enrolled at the
882:
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786:
776:
720:
710:
643:
601:
591:
538:
500:
436:
398:
269:
228:
923:
772:
Books to the people : a history of regional library services in New Zealand
870:
233:
215:, New Zealand, with her family in 1937. She attended Arthur Street School and
983:
724:
647:
605:
542:
504:
431:
Ronnie, Mary (1986). "A Scot and a New Zealander". In Clark, Margaret (ed.).
39:
825:
790:
704:
585:
805:
770:
307:
686:
The New Zealand library & information management journal NgΔ pΕ«rongo
279:. She also served on the University of Otago Council from 1974 to 1975.
529:
Callan, Louise (November 1984). "Mary Ronnie: lioness of the library".
433:
Beyond expectations: fourteen New Zealand women write about their lives
145:
706:
Freedom to read : a centennial history of Dunedin Public Library
390:
464:
807:
Education for librarianship in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands
460:"World's first woman national librarian, Mary Ronnie, dies at 96"
212:
208:
97:
318:
Ronnie died in Dunedin on 17 March 2023, at the age of 96.
236:
degree in history part-time, while working in the library.
282:
Ronnie also wrote about libraries. Her writings included:
881:. Auckland: New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa. p. 432.
804:
Ronnie, Mary A.; Evans, John; Rainey, Melvyn D. (1996).
211:, Scotland, on 12 June 1926, emigrating as a child to
803:
435:. Wellington: Allen & Unwin. pp. 51β68.
981:
869:
682:"Dunedin Public Library and the Freedom to Read"
397:(11th ed.). Wellington: Reed. p. 235.
275:From 1973 to 1974, Ronnie was president of the
1010:People educated at Otago Girls' High School
911:(3rd supplement). 12 June 1982. p. 41.
931:. University of Otago. 2019. p. 118.
454:
452:
338:for public services. She was conferred an
286:a history of Otago and Southland libraries
38:
565:"Honorary Doctorate for Library Leader".
901:
640:A history of Wellington public libraries
365:Te Ara β the Encyclopedia of New Zealand
340:honorary Doctorate of Literature (LittD)
289:a history of Wellington Public Libraries
259:
243:
1035:Companions of the Queen's Service Order
449:
361:"Mary Ronnie, National Librarian, 1978"
328:Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal
137: 1981; died 1994)
982:
841:"Optimistic about future of libraries"
768:
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336:Companion of the Queen's Service Order
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426:
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420:
418:
416:
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1030:Academic staff of Monash University
879:Honoured by the Queen β New Zealand
590:. Wellington: LIANZA. p. 224.
292:histories of Dunedin Public Library
13:
960:. Dunedin Public Libraries. 2007.
832:
472:from the original on 18 March 2023
14:
1046:
1000:Scottish emigrants to New Zealand
964:from the original on 22 June 2019
851:from the original on 22 June 2019
612:
549:
511:
411:
371:from the original on 22 June 2019
359:Millen, Julia (22 October 2014).
16:New Zealand librarian (1926β2023)
958:"Library citation β Mary Ronnie"
731:from the original on 6 June 2020
326:In 1977, Ronnie was awarded the
950:
938:from the original on 9 May 2019
915:
895:
863:
797:
762:
743:
696:
673:
654:
631:
277:New Zealand Library Association
195:, and afterwards she served as
134:
839:Gibb, John (1 December 2010).
709:. : Dunedin Public Libraries.
577:
484:
383:
352:
55:New Zealand National Librarian
1:
345:
332:1982 Queen's Birthday Honours
295:the National Library Act 1965
202:
1025:New Zealand women librarians
925:University of Otago Calendar
7:
680:Ronnie, Mary (April 2009).
301:education for librarianship
248:Dunedin Public Library 2016
10:
1051:
1015:University of Otago alumni
642:. Unpublished typescript.
264:Auckland City Library 2008
298:regional library services
239:
173:
156:
144:
116:
104:
80:
75:
71:
60:
53:
49:
37:
23:
769:Ronnie, Mary A. (1993).
703:Ronnie, Mary A. (2008).
395:Who's Who in New Zealand
313:
217:Otago Girls' High School
197:Auckland City Librarian
1020:New Zealand librarians
922:"Honorary graduates".
584:Millen, Julia (2010).
334:, she was appointed a
265:
249:
193:Dunedin Public Library
752:New Zealand Libraries
663:New Zealand Libraries
638:Ronnie, Mary (1952).
621:New Zealand Libraries
493:Notes, Books, Authors
263:
247:
1005:People from Dunedin
875:Coddington, Deborah
810:. London: Mansell.
225:University of Otago
207:Ronnie was born in
151:University of Otago
908:The London Gazette
669:(5): 180β184, 187.
322:Honours and awards
266:
250:
221:Dorothy Neal White
189:National Librarian
845:Otago Daily Times
468:. 18 March 2023.
270:Monash University
180:Mary Allan Ronnie
177:
176:
85:Mary Allan Ronnie
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573:: 10. June 2007.
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537:: 46β48, 51β66.
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229:Bachelor of Arts
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76:Personal details
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531:Auckland Metro
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393:, ed. (1978).
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234:Master of Arts
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123:Peter O'Connor
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112:(aged 96)
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44:Ronnie in 1978
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888:0-908578-34-2
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692:(2): 121β132.
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108:17 March 2023
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966:. Retrieved
952:
940:. Retrieved
924:
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897:
878:
865:
853:. Retrieved
844:
834:
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771:
764:
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733:. Retrieved
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579:
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567:Library Life
566:
534:
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496:
492:
486:
474:. Retrieved
463:
432:
394:
391:Traue, J. E.
385:
373:. Retrieved
364:
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317:
304:
281:
274:
267:
255:
251:
206:
179:
178:
110:(2023-03-17)
95:12 June 1926
62:
18:
995:2023 deaths
990:1926 births
903:"No. 49010"
627:(3): 79β82.
308:David Skegg
25:Mary Ronnie
984:Categories
817:0720121795
782:0868620165
442:0868616508
346:References
203:Early life
157:Occupation
146:Alma mater
100:, Scotland
91:1926-06-12
758:(6): 3β6.
725:262462995
648:153923879
606:678530571
543:0111-5618
505:0114-5428
330:. In the
166:historian
163:Librarian
67:1976β1981
63:In office
962:Archived
933:Archived
877:(1994).
849:Archived
826:33983584
791:31093760
729:Archived
499:: 7β16.
476:18 March
470:Archived
465:RNZ News
369:Archived
855:27 June
375:28 June
213:Dunedin
209:Glasgow
139:
131:
127:
98:Glasgow
968:7 July
942:7 July
885:
824:
814:
789:
779:
735:7 July
723:
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604:
594:
541:
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240:Career
117:Spouse
936:(PDF)
929:(PDF)
314:Death
133:(
129:
970:2019
944:2019
883:ISBN
857:2019
822:OCLC
812:ISBN
787:OCLC
777:ISBN
737:2019
721:OCLC
711:ISBN
644:OCLC
602:OCLC
592:ISBN
539:ISSN
501:ISSN
478:2023
437:ISBN
399:ISBN
377:2019
105:Died
81:Born
571:314
184:QSO
30:QSO
986::
905:.
873:;
847:.
843:.
820:.
785:.
756:46
754:.
727:.
719:.
690:51
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684:.
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625:49
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569:.
551:^
535:41
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451:^
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367:.
363:.
199:.
135:m.
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859:.
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497:7
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89:(
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