É«»¨ÌÃ

Linda Tomos CBE gyda'r Athro Fonesig Elan Closs Stephens DBE, Dirprwy Ganghellor Prifysgol É«»¨ÌÃ

Dyfarnwyd Doethuriaeth er Anrhydedd i Linda Tomos, Llyfrgellydd Cenedlaethol benywaidd cyntaf Cymru, gan Brifysgol É«»¨ÌÃ.

Treuliodd y cyn-fyfyrwraig o Brifysgol É«»¨Ìà fwy na 50 mlynedd yn y sector llyfrgellwyr cyn ymddeol. Ymhlith uchafbwyntiau ei gyrfa roedd sefydlu adran bolisi Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer amgueddfeydd, archifau a llyfrgelloedd, a sbardunodd fentrau arloesol i ddarparu gwasanaethau diwylliannol.

Yn 2018, cafodd ei dewis yn un o 50 o fenywod ysbrydoledig Cymru gan y Rhwydwaith Cydraddoldeb Menywod a dyfarnwyd CBE iddi am wasanaethau diwylliannol yn 2020.

Cafodd ei chyflwyno â Doethuriaeth er Anrhydedd gan Dr Anoush Simon, Pennaeth yr Adran Astudiaethau Gwybodaeth, ar 17 Gorffennaf.

Mae’r cyflwyniad llawn ar gael isod, yn yr iaith y’i traddodwyd:

Ddirprwy Ganghellor, Ddirprwy Is-Ganghellor, graddedigion, gyfeillion.  Pleser o’r mwyaf yw cyflwyno Linda Tomos i dderbyn gradd, Doethur er Anrhydedd, Prifysgol É«»¨ÌÃ.

Pro Chancellor, Pro Vice-Chancellor, graduates and supporters.  It is an honour and a privilege to present Linda Tomos with an Honorary Doctorate of É«»¨ÌÃ.

Linda Tomos came to É«»¨Ìà to study at the College of Librarianship Wales. She graduated in 1973 with a degree in History and Librarianship. She was appointed as Welsh Studies Librarian in the College of Librarianship Library before moving to posts in local government. Linda later returned to what was now the Department of Information Studies at É«»¨ÌÃ, as Director of the Wales Information Network, a research group which provided information management for emerging digital services, and she also managed the Consortium of Welsh Library and Information Services.

In 1997, she was a member of the People's Network Board which led to a £170m Lottery programme to implement digital services in public libraries and to train library staff in the emerging world of the internet and online information. Linda also managed the implementation of a programme in Wales for the Bill Gates Foundation focused on deprived communities. In the 1990s, she chaired the Library and Information Services Council for Wales which advised Ministers on statutory duties and was Chair of the BBC Educational Broadcasting Council Wales from 1999 to 2003.

In 2003, she was appointed as the first Director of CyMAL: Museums, Libraries and Archives Wales, a new specialist division of the Welsh Government. CyMAL produced annual development strategies for libraries including the implementation of public library standards, professional training and a grants programme to improve public library buildings. CyMAL also led the development of the People’s Collection as an innovative digital platform for individual and community collections

Linda also chaired the Welsh Government’s Cultural Inclusion Board which implemented the recommendations of Baroness Kay Andrews’ review of Culture and Poverty in Wales.

Beyond Wales, Linda chaired the Archives, Libraries and Museums Alliance which included national strategic bodies in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. She was a member of the British Library Advisory Council and of the Carnegie Foundation UK Library Leadership Programme.

In 2015, Linda was appointed as the first woman to lead the National Library of Wales which included developing a new five-year strategy, and the establishment of the UK’s first National Broadcast Archive.

She led the implementation of the Cymru’n Cofio, Wales Remembers programme to commemorate the First World War in Wales and was named one of 50 Welsh inspirational women by the Wales Equality Network.

Linda was invited to join the Gorsedd of Bards in 2018. In 2020 she was awarded the CBE for services to Welsh culture. She was also appointed as the first female Chair of the National Trust Advisory Board for Wales. Linda currently chairs the Books Council of Wales. As recently as last month, she gave a wonderful presentation about her career to alumni of the department which was celebrating its 60^th anniversary, at the AU reunion weekend.

What seems to me a common thread throughout this varied career, is a commitment to public service, to Wales and the Welsh language and to the information and heritage professions that are so important in preserving and transmitting our culture and collective memory.

Diolch yn fawr iawn, Linda, Thank you very much, for your dedication to the information profession in Wales and beyond.

Ddirprwy Ganghellor mae’n bleser gen i gyflwyno Linda Tomos i  dderbyn gradd Doethur er Anrhydedd, Prifysgol É«»¨Ìà . 

Pro Chancellor, it is my absolute pleasure to present Linda Tomos with an Honorary Doctorate of É«»¨ÌÃ. 

Rhannu