Maurice Bernard Line (21 June 1928 – 21 September 2010)[1] was a leading figure in library and information science in the UK. He was director general of the British Library Lending Division from 1974 until 1985 and director general for Science, Technology and Industry between 1985 and 1988.

Maurice Line
Born(1928-06-21)21 June 1928
Bedford, England
Died21 September 2010(2010-09-21) (aged 82)
Alma materUniversity of Oxford
Employer(s)Bodleian Library
University of Bath
British Library
SpouseJoyce Line
Children2

Life and career edit

Line was born in Bedford and educated at Bedford School.[2] He read English at Exeter College at the University of Oxford.[3]

His first post as a librarian was at the Bodleian Library in 1950. He became librarian of the University of Bath in 1968. In 1971 he was appointed head of the National Central Library, and was involved with the British Library from its inception, becoming a member of the organising committee when the BL was first planned in 1971 and serving as a member of its board from 1974 until his retirement in 1988.

From 1974 to 1985 he was director general of the British Library Lending Division (now the Document Supply Centre) at Boston Spa, and from 1985 to 1988 he was the British Library's director general for science, technology and industry.[4]

Line also received an Honorary Doctorate from Heriot-Watt University in 1980 [5]

He died on 21 September 2010 and was survived by his wife Joyce and their children, Philip and Jill.[4]

Works edit

  • A Bibliography of Russian Literature in English Translation to 1900 (excluding periodicals) (1963)
  • Library Surveys (1967)
  • Universal Availability of Publications (1983)
  • Line on Interlending (1988)
  • A Little off Line (1988)
  • Academic Library Management (1990)

References edit

  1. ^ Stephens, Andy (April 2011). "Guest Editorial: Maurice Line — An Appreciation: Maurice Line: Born 21 June 1928, Died 21 September 2010". Alexandria: The Journal of National and International Library and Information Issues. 22 (1): v–vi. doi:10.7227/ALX.22.1.1.
  2. ^ "Who's Who". Ukwhoswho.com. 5 December 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  3. ^ Reisz, Matthew. "Maurice Line, 1928-2010 | Times Higher Education (THE)". Times Higher Education. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  4. ^ a b Brindley, Lynne (29 November 2010). "Maurice Line obituary". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 3 September 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  5. ^ "Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh: Honorary Graduates". Hw.ac.uk. Retrieved 5 April 2016.