List of Honoured Members

Anne Beresford

Anne Beresford received her MLS in 1967 from the University of British Columbia. She worked at the University of Manitoba Libraries and at the New Westminster Public Libraries, both as Head of Reference, and at the Department of Justice library in Vancouver, before settling as Librarian at Ladner Downs, now Borden Ladner Gervais LLP in 1980.

As a founding member of VALL, Anne served as the first Secretary, as President, and as VALL Review editor on a number of occasions. She was a prolific writer for the Review, offering a variety of conference reports, resource reviews, and tips from her own experiences as a law librarian. Anne was also a committed member of CALL and AALL (WestPac) and was a key member of the organizing committee for the joint VALL/WestPac meeting during the Vancouver AALL conference in 1996. Anne has remained an enthusiastic VALL member, often attending social events and keeping in touch with the current VALL community since her retirement in 2004.

Pam Clancy

Pam Clancy received her MLS from McGill University in 1967, and began her career at the University of British Columbia. After a position with the Alberta Ministry of Municipal Affairs, a stint with the Nanaimo Courthouse Library, and time freelancing in Vancouver, Pam settled into the position of Librarian at the firm of Campney & Murphy in 1987. In 1995, she moved to the Legal Resource Centre for the Legal Services Society of B.C., retiring from that position in 2002.

Pam was a founding member of VALL, serving as the first President on the inaugural Executive in 1988. With this early leadership, and her first messages in the VALL Review, Pam was instrumental in shaping the policies and directions of VALL as a fledgling organization. Pam chaired the original committee founded to create guidelines for the Peter Bark Professional Development Bursary.

Catherine Kerr

Catherine (Cay) Kerr held the position of Supervisor of Technical Services at the B.C. Courthouse Library Society for many years. During her tenure, she was instrumental in cataloguing the Vancouver collection, and in supervising the move from the Old Courthouse, now the Vancouver Art Gallery, to its present location at 800 Smithe Street. Cay’s efforts during this move earned her a well-deserved reputation as an expert in library moves, and VALL members often turned to her for advice when facing this challenge in their own libraries.

Among other positions, Cay was a founding member of VALL, serving as the first Treasurer, contributing many articles and resource summaries to the VALL review, and serving as an original member of the Peter Bark Professional Development Bursary. Cay retired in 1999, but has continued to be involved with law libraries in Vancouver, and with VALL; she is a regular attendee at the VALL social each year.

Tom Shorthouse

Tom Shorthouse was the Chief Librarian at the U.B.C. Law School from 1966 until his retirement in 1998. He is responsible for the success of the collection in its current form, taking it from a system where texts were organized by author to the excellent and much relied-upon blend of print and electronic available today. He was a vibrant part of the Law School, participating in important student events such as the Trike Race (still a favourite today) and including ephemera such as footballs and jumper cables in the reserve room collection.

Tom was awarded the University of British Columbia President’s Service Award for Excellence in 1994. He was the first at the Law School, and the first librarian, to receive this distinguished award.

Tom balanced his dedication to the law school and its students and faculty with his well-known love of theatre, song, and composition. In addition to writing and performing a song for Dean Curtis’ 90th birthday, Tom also composed the famous VALL original song, first performed by him at the December Social in 2001, and reprised with great success at the 20th Anniversary celebrations in 2008.

Past Honoured Members

Marjorie Keddy

Marjorie Keddy, originally from Edmonton, began her law library career in Vancouver with the Law Society library in 1954. After 15 years, she was appointed Assistant Chief Librarian, in recognition of her hard work and dedication in this demanding position. Marjorie switched to private law in 1973 to become the Librarian for Ladner Downs, and finishing her career with a decade of freelance librarianship until her retirement in 1991.

Marjorie was well known and respected as a pioneer, mentor, and teacher in the B.C. law library world. She contributed tirelessly, both to VALL as an Executive member and writer for the Review, and to the Library School as a guest lecturer. Marjorie was VALL’s first Honoured Member, and continued to attend lunches and Seminars during her retirement. She passed away in August of 2010, and is greatly missed by those who knew and worked with her.

Astrid Kenning

Astrid Kenning received her MLS from UBC in 1975, and she began her career in Vancouver at the City Archives, and with work as a freelancer, before moving to the Campney & Murphy library. Astrid became the inaugural Manager at the B.C. Industrial Relations Council in 1988, starting from scratch to build her collection, implement an automation system, plan the Library space, and organize the move. Astrid remained at the Council until her retirement.

Astrid was very involved in the greater law library community throughout her career, appearing as a guest lecturer at the UBC Library School, writing often for the VALL review, and, among other positions, serving as the second President in the 1989/1990 season. Well known as an engaging speaker, Astrid was often a contributor to early VALL seminars; her wit and pragmatic thoughts about law librarianship ring true to this day. Astrid passed away in October 2018 and will be greatly missed.

Anne Rector

Anne began her career in legal librarianship in what was, at the time, the Law Society library, and is now the B.C. Courthouse Library Society. During this time, she worked with a fellow Honoured Member, Marjorie Keddy. After Marjorie’s resignation, Anne stepped into the management role for a time, before transferring to the Provincial Government as assistant to the head of the Judges’ Library. She continued with the position as Head of the Judges’ Library until her retirement in 2003.

Anne is remembered fondly and recognized by many members of our B.C. Bench, as well as by many in the VALL community, for her willingness to offer advice to any who asked; to act as a mentor to many VALL members as they embarked on careers in law libraries; and for her firm support of the law library community and law libraries in general.   Anne passed away in late 2012 – we are sorry to see her go.