Wendy Birman

Wendy Birman graduated from the University of Western Australia in 1947 and gained a Carnegie scholarship to study librarianship at the Public Library of New South Wales. She was Librarian of the University of Western Australia's Adult Education Board, inaugurated by Board Fellow, Professor Fred Alexander, from 1949-54. Wendy retired from active library work in 1973 to pursue historical research. She worked as a part-time contributor to the Australian Dictionary of Biography, and contributed to numerous academic projects and texts in various areas of Western Australian history.

Wendy was appointed to the Board in 1982, serving as Vice Chairperson from 1989-90 and later as Chairperson from 1991-93. Ever the forward thinker, as Chairperson Wendy championed the State Library's use of emergent electronic technologies and encouraged full engagement with the online world. Upon naming her a Library Board Fellow in 1994, succeeding Chairperson, Professor Brian De Garis, commended Wendy for her years of service "well beyond the call of duty" in all roles.