School of
Information Management & Systems
(Previously School of Library & Information Studies)
Michael Buckland, Emeritus Professor.
Raynard Coe Swank, 1912-1995.
*New* Raynard
Coe Swank, Bosnian translation by Amina Dugalic, Feb 2022.
- Raynard
Coe Swank, Norwegian translation by Lars Olden, 2020.
*New* Raynard Coe Swank,
1912-1995. Spanish translation by Laura Mancini, Apr 2021.
Raynard Coe Swank, Professor Emeritus and former Dean of the
School of Library and
Information Studies, University of California, Berkeley, died
aged 82 on March 17,
1995.
Prof. Swank received a B.A. in English, 1934, and,
later, an Honorary LL.D. from the
College of Wooster; a B.S. in L.S., 1937, from Western
Reserve University; and a Ph.D.
from the Graduate Library School, University of Chicago, in 1944.
After working at the
University of Colorado and University of Minnesota Libraries,
he was the University
Librarian at the University of Oregon and, later, at Stanford
University, before becoming
Dean and Professor at Berkeley in 1962.
He led a very active life as thinker, writer,
consultant, administrator, teacher, musician,
and traveller. He had a broad interest in library cooperation,
library management,
bibliographic control, and the social dimensions of libraries.
Some of his writings were
re-issued as A Unifying Influence: Essays of
Raynard Coe Swank. (Scarecrow Press,
1981).
Ray Swank served the American Library Association in
many different capacities from
1948 through 1975 and was Director of the International
Relations Office from 1959 to
1961.
His service to the California Library Association during
the same period was recognized
by the resolution of an expression of gratitude for
"Very special contributions to the
health and welfare of the Association" at the Annual
Membership Meeting in 1971 and,
in 1976, by the Boyle-Hutchison Award for outstanding service
and distinguished
leadership in promoting the use of audio-visual materials.
Ray Swank was a farsighted man of great and varied talents.
He had a dedicated and
creative approach to library service. He was also affectionate,
helpful, and inspiring to
others.
(Memorial adopted by the American Library Association
to honor Raynard Coe
Swank at its 1996 Midwinter Meeting.)
Contributions may be made to the School's Ray Swank memorial scholarship
fund. For details contact philanthropy@ischool.berkeley.edu.
Go to
History page
or to
Michael Buckland's Home Page.