WRIGHT,+Richard

WRIGHT, Richard (1890-1976) Croydon 1904; Sunderland 1909; CL Royal Societies Club, London 1912; Croydon 1915; 1CL Wiltshire 1919; 1CL Middlesex 1921-1951 He will be remembered, firstly, for his achievements in Middlesex, much of which changed during his period of office from semi-rural- John Betjeman's 'lost Elysium' - to built-up London suburbs. County library service was frequently derided by municipal librarians prior to World War II; Wright in particular was instrumental in demonstrating that it could play an essential part in the nation's library service and thus helped to prepare the way, ironically enough, for the 'triumph of the counties'. Such was his personality and his zest for cooperative effort manifested, //inter alia//, through his membership of the LA Council and of its County Libraries Section (now the Public Libraries Group) that he became increasingly recognized as a national figure and not only as an outstanding county officer.