Mary Ronnie

Mary Allan Ronnie (12 June 1926 – 17 March 2023) was a New Zealand librarian. She was New Zealand's first female National Librarian, from 1976 to 1981, and the first woman in the world to head a national library. Before becoming National Librarian she was head of Dunedin Public Library, and afterwards she served as Auckland City Librarian.

Early life Ronnie was born in Glasgow, Scotland, on 12 June 1926, emigrating as a child to Dunedin, New Zealand, with her family in 1937. After leaving school, she enrolled at the University of Otago but, finding university study not to her liking, she obtained a full-time job in the public library. She was to return to university later, studying part-time and gaining a Bachelor of Arts in English, philosophy and history in 1951. She completed the Certificate of the New Zealand Library Association in 1946, and in 1952 spent a year studying at the Library School in Wellington. She also served on the University of Otago Council from 1974 to 1975. a history of Wellington Public Libraries histories of Dunedin Public Library the National Library Act 1965 regional library services education for librarianship

Ronnie expressed her optimism about the future of public libraries both as a resource of printed materials but also for the opportunities afforded by digital technologies. She was a champion for public libraries as focal points in their communities, advocating that they be located where people are. She likened them to supermarkets with self-service and labelled items but with the additional feature of help when customers need it.

Honours and awards In 1977, Ronnie was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal. In the 1982 Queen's Birthday Honours, she was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for public services. She was conferred an honorary Doctorate of Literature (LittD) by the University of Otago in 2007, and received a Dunedin Public Libraries Citation in 2007.