ISSN 1039-3498 | no. 59| October 2002
Bill Tully Retires
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Bill Tully retired on 13 September after nearly 34 years on the staff of the National Library. Bill is very well known to two generations of readers as most of his working life in the Library has been spent in the Main, Petherick or Newspaper/Microform Reading Rooms. He is also known more widely through his written and telephone responses to reference enquiries.
Prior to becoming a librarian, Bill trained as an accountant, but the love of facts proved stronger than the love of figures. He became the archetypal reference librarian—wide interests, well read, dogged in research, good memory, approachable, with a strong knowledge of the Library’s Collection.
Staff will miss being able to turn to him for advice and training, which he gave so willingly, and for the knowledge he has of so many subject areas, history and genealogy in particular. He has a concern for the welfare and rights of staff, being active in union matters.
He is widely known in the Canberra community through involvement in various societies and organisations, as editor of a literary magazine and as the presenter of a weekly books program on local radio. Many people have made their first visit to the Library because of Bill’s enthusiasm about the Library, its collections and services.
Bill has promised his colleagues that he will not forsake the Library, as he plans to undertake research and become a reader in the Petherick Reading Room.
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