Mary Ronnie, centre, during a visit to the Ōtara Library in South Auckland in 1978. Photo: Supplied / Te Ara teara.govt.nz
The world's first woman national librarian, Mary Ronnie, has died aged 96.
Ronnie, who died Friday according to the Library and Information Association NZ Aotearoa or LIANZA, became the first woman to break the male dominance of the library hierarchy when she was appointed head of New Zealand's National Library.
While she looked like the stereotypical librarian, with her glasses, sensible shoes and coiled braids, she was known for her salty Scottish phrasing and a wicked wit.
LIANZA acknowledges the passing of Mary Ronnie on March 17, aged 96 years. Mary was the first woman national librarian in the world (1976), LIANZA president (1973-74) and is remembered for her leadership, friendship and contribution to libraries in Aotearoa New Zealand. pic.twitter.com/7rhkaakXPh
— LIANZA (Library & Information Assn NZ Aotearoa) (@lianzaoffice) March 18, 2023
Born in Glasgow in 1926, Mary Ronnie came to New Zealand with her family in 1937 and was educated at Otago Girls' High School and Otago University, taking her BA in 1951 and an MA in 1965.
She graduated with a diploma from the New Zealand Library School in 1952 and embarked on a career in public libraries. She had been attracted to them since her schooldays when her walk home each night included a browse through the shelves of the local library.
She was a crusader for public libraries, believing they needed to be made more attractive to all sectors of the community.
In her view, libraries were meeting places as well as resource centres and it was the librarian's job to find good quality material acceptable to a wide range of people. She had no time for the librarian who hid behind a desk and piles of books. And she firmly believed that no library should have a "silence" sign.
Very sorry to learn that the great Mary Ronnie has died at 96. Proud Glaswegian, former National Librarian of NZ (& the 1st woman national librarian in the world). A lovely, warm, generous, inquiring human being (& indefatigable supporter of our @CissOtago events.) Vale Mary… pic.twitter.com/2IVK0arft0
— Liam McIlvanney (@LiamMcIlvanney) March 17, 2023
She spent much of her career at the Dunedin Public Library, becoming city librarian in 1968, leading the successful campaign to induce Dunedin people to spend $8 million for a new library.
Mary Ronnie became the first woman to break the male dominance of the library hierarchy when she was appointed head of New Zealand's National Library. Photo: Supplied / Auckland Libraries
She moved on from there to head the National Library in 1976, the first woman to be appointed. It was a notable appointment - at the time librarianship was heavily populated by women but few held top positions.
Ronnie held the post until 1981 when she married Professor Peter O'Connor and took early retirement to accompany him to Auckland. The following year she was appointed to head the Auckland City Library but left three years later to embark on a new career as an historian and lecturer.
She moved to Monash University in Australia in 1987, becoming Acting Professor and head of its graduate department of librarianship. She retired again in 1992 and returned to New Zealand.
Ronnie was a Fellow of the New Zealand Library Association and was awarded the QSO in 1982. The University of Otago gave her an honorary doctorate in 2007. Her husband, Peter O'Connor died in 1994.
