Bill Macnaught

William John Macnaught CBE (born 1951) was New Zealand's National Librarian from 2011 to 2020. Before becoming National Librarian he was manager of Puke Ariki in New Plymouth, New Zealand, and Head of Cultural Development at Gateshead Council in England.

Early life

Macnaught was born in Stirling, Scotland and educated at the University of St Andrews and The University of Strathclyde.[1][2]

Career

Macnaught spent 14 years from 1991 to 2005 at the Gateshead Council as the Director, Libraries and Arts and later Head of Cultural Development where he was instrumental in promoting the cultural life of Gateshead and the installation of Antony Gormley's statue the Angel of the North.[3][4][5]

From 2005 to 2011 Macnaught was manager of Puke Ariki museum and library in New Plymouth, moving from there to the National Library to become the National Librarian.[3][6] During his tenure the National Library installed the He Tohu exhibition which displays Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi), He Whakaputanga (the Declaration of the Independence of the United Tribes of New Zealand) and the Women's Suffrage Petition (Te Petihana Whakamana Pōti Wahine).

He retired from the National Library in December 2020.[7][8]

Honours and awards

Macnaught received the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2005 Birthday Honours for his services to public libraries and cultural life in north east England.[5]

Publications

References
  1. "Reopening Molesworth Street". natlib.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 29 January 2021. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  2. Chumko, Andre (16 January 2021). "Bill Macnaught, champion of libraries and the knowledge economy". Stuff. Archived from the original on 15 January 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  3. "New National Librarian welcomed". www.scoop.co.nz. 3 May 2011. Archived from the original on 2 July 2018. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  4. Beckett, Andy (2 June 2003). "Can culture save us?". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 11 February 2021. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  5. "Commander of Culture". ChronicleLive. 11 October 2005. Archived from the original on 12 January 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  6. Anthony, John (11 March 2011). "Macnaught leaves for top job". Stuff. Archived from the original on 12 January 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  7. "National Library chooses its new National Librarian – Te Pouhuaki". www.scoop.co.nz. 11 November 2020. Archived from the original on 18 November 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  8. "The Last Chapter with Bill Macnaught". Libraries Aotearoa. Archived from the original on 18 December 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
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