A CASTLEMAINE resident has been named a Member of the Order of Australia after taking part in a revolution in the world of information during her working life.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Cathrine Harboe-Ree spent 15 years as chief librarian at Monash University, during which the field changed completely.
When Ms Harboe-Ree first started in libraries card catalogues were the norm. By her retirement digital systems meant everyone was swamped with information.
The change meant the role of a librarian shifted significantly during her career, Ms Harboe-Ree said.
She said librarians became a lot more like teachers, passing on the skills to handle all the new information available.
"A lot of people thought libraries would die, because everything would be available on the web. The opposite is true," Ms Harboe-Ree said.
"People value the library as a place to congregate, a place to study, or as a place to learn how to be a more proficient researcher.
"The way that whole information-world evolved, and we professionals were able to evolve with it, was really exciting."
Related story: Meet Bendigo's citizen and young citizen of the year
Ms Harboe-Ree said it was an honour to be made a Member of the Order of Australia, as it meant that likely a colleague had thought it appropriate and nominated her.
During her career Ms Harboe-Ree performed a range of roles, including positions at both Monash University and the State Library of Victoria. She was President of the Council of Australian University Librarians from 2008 to 2013.
Other news