Notable Veterinary Medical Librarians
David C. HULL (1940 - )
- 26 years in veterinary librarianship
- Division Head/Librarian, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 1975-1979; Division Head, Science and Veterinary Science, 1979-2001.
- Co-compiler and producer, Veterinary Serials: A Union List of Selected Titles…[ 1st ed.] 1980 (microfiche)
- Co-author, “Basic List of Veterinary Medical Serials, 2 nd ed.,” The Serials Librarian, 1986
Major Contributions to Veterinary Librarianship:
For more than 25 years, David C. Hull was a familiar face at MLA meetings and loyal participant in VMLS activities until his retirement in 2001.
Originally from England before emigrating to Canada in 1948, David earned a B.A.Sc., degree in chemistry from the University of Guelph in 1963. After studying at the Ontario College of Education [1963-1964] to receive a teaching certificate, he worked as a teacher as well as an analytical chemist. His experiences as Librarian for the Association of Lead Manufacturers, Ltd. [1967-1970] provided encouragement for turning to a professional career in library science. With his M.L.S. from the University of Western Ontario [1971-1973], David was appointed as Librarian for Special Collections [1973-1975] at the University of Guelph before becoming Division Head for Veterinary Science [1975-1979]. This led to further responsibilities as Division Head for Science and Veterinary Science from 1979 until his retirement nearly two decades later. Founded in 1862, the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) is the oldest veterinary college in the U.S. and Canada still in existence.
Mr. Hull soon joined the Medical Library Association and got involved with other veterinary librarians and their initiatives. In particular, he was an early supporter of veterinary serials and union list activities. With others on the Union List Committee in 1979, David was influential in producing the first microfiche edition of the Veterinary Serials: A Union List of Selected Titles Not Indexes by Index Medicus and Held by Veterinary Collections in the U.S. and Canada in 1980 using computing facilities at the University of Guelph, his home institution. He was also a co-author on the paper titled, “Basic List of Veterinary Medical Serials, 2 nd edition,” published in 1986 in The Serials Librarian.
When the Ontario Veterinary College at Guelph implemented its new problem-based D.V.M. curriculum in fall of 2000, David had been involved in the 6-year planning process. Since that curriculum emphasized “self-learning,” Web-based teaching modules, and group learning, the Library took a new approach by creating a Learning Commons. While traditional library services continued to be provided, the library added multiple functions including a newly designed information desk, audio-visual “pods,” and interactive learning space with 23 computer stations for small groups of students. Two group study areas and an absolute quiet room were also incorporated into the re-design. Under David’s direction, a total of three contact hours were added to the curriculum for first- and second-year students as an information literacy requirement along with Web-based exercises.
In addition to the Veterinary Medical Libraries Section/MLA, David was a member of other health related organizations over the years, including the Canadian Health Libraries Association, the International Association of Agricultural Librarians and Documentalists, and the Veterinary History Society (U.K.).
Retiring in December, 2001, David was honored by his colleagues at the VMLS meeting at Orlando, Florida and presented with a gift of appreciation. In his retirement, David carries on an interest in history and special collections by volunteering on a weekly basis in the University Archives processing historical materials related to the Ontario Veterinary College and agricultural college. He was succeeded at OVC by Jim Brett.
Selected Publications:
Boyd CT, Hull DC, MacNeil KJ, Malamud J, Anderson DC. Basic list of veterinary medical serials, 2nd ed., 1981, with revisions to April 1, 1986. The Serials Librarian. 1986; 11(2): 5-39.
Hull D. From Library to Learning Commons: the Guelph experience. Highlights & News Notes. 2001 fall;48:13-15.
MacNiel K, Anderson DC, Boyd CT, Hull DC, Johnson KS, Croft VF. Veterinary serials, a union list of selected titles not indexed by Index Medicus and held by veterinary collections in the United States and Canada. [Microfiche]. [Guelph, Ont.: University of Guelph Library Systems and Data Processing Division; Veterinary Medical Libraries Section/MLA, Union List Committee]; 1980.
Honors and Awards:
University of Guelph Faculty Association. “Academic Librarianship Award 2001”
Entomological Society of Ontario Award. “David Hull Librarian. In appreciation of 21 years of service,” 2001
Publications About David Hull:
Hull, David C. Who’s Who in Library and Information Services. [Chicago: ALA; 1982] p. 231.
Hull D. David Hull retires. Highlights & News Notes. 2001 fall;48:16-17.