MALCOLM TAYLOR APPOINTED LIBRARY DIRECTOR

The English Folk Dance and Song Society is pleased to announce that Malcolm Taylor, the Librarian of the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library, has been promoted to the post of Library Director.

The new post of Library Director is intended to emphasise the more strategic aspects of Malcolm?s role, with more focus on external networking and profile-raising for the Library and the EFDSS. Nevertheless, Malcolm will still maintain a hands-on role within the Library ? facilitating research,answering queries and encouraging new and existing users of the Library.

Judith Hanson, a trustee of the English Folk Dance and Song Society, said, "This promotion recognises and reflects the importance of the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library and its staff within the future focus of the work of the EFDSS".

Malcolm Taylor has been employed in the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library since 1979 ? first as assistant librarian and, from 1981 as Librarian. In 2002 his contribution to music librarianship was recognised in the award of an OBE in the New Year Honours. In 2005 he received the EFDSS?s Gold Badge for his significant contribution to the work of the Society.

Over the years, Malcolm has been responsible for vastly improving the profile, credibility and authority of the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library. He instituted a programme of Library Lectures, a series of recordings first on cassette and later on CD, as well as other musical events, concerts, conferences and exhibitions. He has presented several radio programmes on BBC Radio 2 and Radio 4. The emphasis of all these events has been to encourage people to come in and use the Library and also to share in the research of others.

A folk music enthusiast since his teens, Malcolm Taylor has eclectic musical tastes ranging beyond folk music. He lives with his wife Laura also a librarian - and their two children in South London.