Mary Ronnie

Mary Ronnie became Dunedin City Librarian in 1968 after the retirement of Ada Fache, having been Deputy Librarian since 1960.

Mary Ronnie began working at Dunedin Public Library in the 1930s as a school girl. She was appointed a permanent member of staff in 1944, working in the Commercial and Technical Room, and in 1946 was given charge of the department. After a stint gaining her BA, and time at Library School in Wellington, Miss Ronnie returned to Dunedin Public Library in the post of Head of Lending. She was City Librarian from 1968 to 1976 when she accepted the position of National Librarian of New Zealand. She has also served as Auckland City Library and the Head of the Graduate Department of Librarianship, Archives and Records at the Monash University in Melbourne. She was President of the New Zealand Libraries Association in 1973, and was elected to the Council of the University of Otago in 1974, and served as the City's representative on the Hocken Committee.

Miss Ronnie was instrumental in designing the new City Library on Civic Plaza, but had moved on by the time the Library was finally completed in 1981.

A keen Scottish Traditional Dancer, Miss Ronnie was, for a time, President of the New Zealand branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society.