Derek Field and the University of Queensland

Janine Schmidt

Derek (Fred Derek Osmond) Fielding was appointed James Forsyth University librarian at the University of Queensland on 28 June 1965. Derek, having begun his working life in the Sheffield City Libraries, emigrated to New Zealand where he became the deputy university librarian at the University of Auckland. He then re-emigrated to Australia and arrived at the University of Queensland from Western Australia, where he had held the post of deputy university librarian at the University of Western Australia. Derek Fielding was appointed Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic Services) at the University of Queensland, the first appointee to that position, on 1 August 1992. He relinquished his position as University librarian from that time. Within the portfolio of Academic Services were the library, the Prentice (Computer) Centre, TESOL (Teaching English as a Second Language), Continuing Education, Student Support Services, the Student Health Service, Chaplaincy and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Unit. He retired from the university on 31 July 1994 and the title of University Librarian Emeritus was conferred on 31 December 1994.

[full text]