Robert G. Vosper

Robert Gordon Vosper (June 21, 1913-May 14, 1994) was an American educator and librarian who oversaw college libraries at the University of Kansas and the University of California, Los Angeles. Vosper served as president of the American Library Association (ALA) and in 1985 won the Joseph W. Lippincott award. He was also named one of the top 100 librarians of the 20th century by "American Libraries".

Early years

Vosper was born in Portland, Oregon, to parents Chester Vivian and Anna Stipe on June 21, 1913. [http://content.cdlib.org/xtf/view?docId=hb5g50061q&doc.view=frames&chunk.id=div00095&toc.depth=1&toc.id= In Memoriam] ] Vosper received his Bachelor of Arts and Master degrees in the field of Classics, from the University of Oregon in 1937 and 1939 respectively. He then went on to pursue a degree in librarianship at the University of California at Berkley in 1940. On August 20, 1940 he married Loraine Gjording; the couple had one son and three daughters.

Vosper's career as a librarian included directorships at the W.A. Clark Memorial Library and the library at the University of Kansas, as well the director of libraries at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) where he began in 1961. [ [http://galenet.galegroup.com.proxy.lib.wayne.edu/semlet/BioRC Marquis Who's Who] ] In 1973 Vosper retired from his work at the library but continued to teach as a full time professor at UCLA’s school of library science until 1983, followed by several years as a recall professor.

Contributions to library profession

Vosper was also well known for his writings on the field of librarianship where his topics included the importance of building a strong book collection on varied topics and other general library planning. His work "Acquisition Trends in American Libraries" written in 1955, stressed that book acquisitions and collection development was an important aspect of any library and should not be overlooked in favor of a deepened concentration on other traditional occupational tasks such as cataloging and reference. [http://www.ideals.uiuc.edu/handle/2142/5155 Library Trends] ] Vosper felt that it was important to step away from the purely mechanical aspects of acquisitions in favor of using individuals interested in subject matter of the books in question. This was a directive that Vosper practiced in both his professional career as a library director, and as a professor of the field.

Another aspect of librarianship that Vosper worked to improve was in the area of interactions between libraries on an international level. During what became known as the McCarthy era of the 1950’s, Vosper became known both nationally and internationally, as a member of the library profession willing to stand up for intellectual freedoms. Together, with the Chancellor of Kansas University Franklin D. Murphy, Vosper helped to create an internationally known exhibit on intellectual freedom. The exhibit’s catalog became so well known and popular that 20,000 copies had to be printed. [http://spencer.lib.ku.edu/exhibits/bannedbooks/bannedbooks.html Kenneth Spencer Research Library] ]

In 1964, Vosper wrote for the professional journal "Library Trends" on the status and developments of European University libraries. He examined aspects of the American library system that he felt were lacking such as deficiencies in the history of American libraries, and despite some of the international efforts made at the time of the writing to improve international ties, Vosper felt that in not providing users with multilingual sources, the profession was doing its patrons a disservice.http://www.ideals.uiuc.edu/handle/2142/5253] He also felt that American users would benefit from understanding how libraries in Europe functioned; especially comparing the liberal access American users were accustomed to with the more controlled access available in several European nations.

Professional appointments and awards

Vosper later became vice president of the International Federation of Librarian Association and Institutes (IFLA) from 1971 to 1977 as well as a board member to the Board of the Council on Library Resources, an organization created to advance modern research and university libraries across the globe. Vosper was well respected in his field, receiving many forms of recognition from his professional peers both nationally and internationally. From 1965-1966 Vosper served as president of the American Library Association (ALA) and in 1985 was awarded the Joseph W. Lippincott Award by the ALA. The Lippincott Award recognizes librarians distinguished by their service to the profession in the form of writings, and participation in professional organizations, both areas that Vosper was well accomplished in. [http://www.ala.org/ala/awardsbucket/lippincottaward/lippincottaward.cfm]

In 1999 Vosper was recognized by "American Libraries" as one of the top 100 Librarians of the 20th Century for his work as a librarian at UCLA from 1961-1973. [Kniffle, Leonard; Sullivan, Peggy; McCormick, Edith. (1999) 100 of the Most Important Leaders We Had in the 20th Century. "American Libraries". 30,11, pg. 38-48] It was during his tenure at UCLA that Vosper further developed a reputation for standing firm on his beliefs on the true function of a library that he began during his employment at Kansas University. On May 6 1970, Vosper was under pressure by UCLA’s administration to close the library due to antiwar protests taking place on the campus. In response to these instructions Vosper posted a notice declaring his refusal to shut the doors on the grounds that the purpose of a library was to be a sanctuary devoted to the free access of intellectual and cultural information. By choosing to keep the UCLA libraries open during such unrest, Vosper is still seen as a person committed to preserving the library and its most basic function, as a portal of information no matter the circumstances.

Vosper’s international accolades include becoming a decorated officer in the Order of the Crown of Belgium in 1977 and being named a Guggenheim fellow from 1959 to 1960.

Later years

On May 14th 1994 at the age of 80, Robert G. Vosper died at his home in Los Angeles, California, where he was survived by his wife and children.

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