Standing on forgotten shoulders – who was Butler Wood?

The library services we provide today are built on the skill,energy and vision of earlier generations of librarians; yet most of these pioneers remain unknown. Examines the career of Butler Wood,librarian at Bradford for 50 years, 41 of them as chief librarian. In addition to the successful development of a major municipal library, he developed art gallery and museum services; was a founder member and contributor to many literary, historical and cultural organizations; he influenced the development of reference and rural libraries; and he contributed to the growth of the library profession itself. An appreciation of this visionary scholar/ administrator can provide inspiration today.