Cyril C. Barnard
Cyril Cuthbert Barnard
Cyril Cuthbert Barnard (23 July 1894 – 6 March 1959) was an English librarian and classification theorist, best known for creating the Barnard Classification system for medical libraries. He served as the first professional librarian at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) from 1921 until his death.
Early Life and Education
Barnard was born in St. Margaret’s, Twickenham, Middlesex, England. He was the son of Harry Barnard (1862–1933), a noted Wedgwood pottery designer and artist, and Jessie Bayne. Raised in Staffordshire, he developed an early interest in books and literature. He attended classes at the London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE) between 1912 and 1913.
Before joining LSHTM, Barnard worked as a pupil assistant at the Reform Club Library (1913–14), a library assistant at the Royal Society of Medicine (1914–18), and acting librarian at the Wellcome Historical Medical Museum (1918–21).
Career at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
In 1921, Barnard was appointed the first professional librarian at LSHTM, a position he held until his death in 1959. His tenure included overseeing the amalgamation of libraries from the Tropical Diseases Bureau and the London School of Tropical Medicine, contributing to the design of the LSHTM Library building at Keppel Street (opened in 1929), expanding collections in tropical medicine and public health, and creating a card catalogue with a reclassification scheme of his own design.
Barnard Classification
Barnard devised a unique classification system for medical libraries, first published as A Classification for Medical Libraries [1] in 1936 and revised in 1955[2]. The system emphasized tropical medicine and public health, used alphabetical notation, and organized subjects aetiologically rather than symptomatically. It featured a logical progression from general to specialized topics and included auxiliary schedules for detailed subdivisions. The classification remains influential and was updated in 2024 as A Classification for Medical and Veterinary Libraries[3] by LSHTM Press.
Professional Contributions
Barnard was a strong advocate for library cooperation and resource sharing. He founded the Medical Library Group of the Library Association in 1947 and served as the first chairman of its Medical Section. A member of the Library Association since 1913 and a Fellow from 1925, he promoted professional identity, staff training, and fair remuneration in librarianship. Barnard authored numerous works, including History of the Library (1947), as well as articles, reviews, and translations on medical history and librarianship.
Legacy
Barnard’s contributions are commemorated by the Barnard Room at LSHTM. His classification system remains a cornerstone for medical and veterinary libraries worldwide, and he is remembered as a pioneer who integrated library science with medical education and research.
Selected Works
- A Classification for Medical Libraries (1936; 2nd ed., 1955)
- History of the Library: from its beginnings … to 31st July, 1946 (1947)
- Quaker Contributions to Medicine & Public Health (1938)
References
- ↑ Glanville, V.J. (1981-04-01). "A classification for medical and veterinary libraries by C. C. Barnard". Aslib Proceedings. 33 (4): 177–181. doi:10.1108/eb050788. ISSN 0001-253X.
- ↑ Barnard, Cyril C. (1954-01). "THE REVISION OF THE BARNARD CLASSIFICATION". Libri. 3 (Jahresband). doi:10.1515/LIBR.1954.3.1-4.109. ISSN 1865-8423. Check date values in:
|date=(help) - ↑ Barnard, Cyril C.; Carpenter, Eloise (2024-12-19). A Classification for Medical and Veterinary Libraries. London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Press. doi:10.56920/lshtmp-1. ISBN 978-1-0687853-1-3. Search this book on
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