Erik Richard Sidney Fifoot MC (14 June 1925 – 24 June 1992) was a British librarian who served as Bodley's Librarian, the head of the

Bodleian Library The Bodleian Library () is the main research library of the University of Oxford, and is one of the oldest libraries in Europe. It derives its name from its founder, Sir Thomas Bodley. With over 13 million printed items, it is the second- ...

at the

University of Oxford , mottoeng = The Lord is my light , established = , endowment = £6.1 billion (including colleges) (2019) , budget = £2.145 billion (2019–20) , chancellor ...

, from 1979 to 1981.

Life

The son of Hjördis Baars and her husband C. H. S. Fifoot, Richard Fifoot was educated at

Berkhamsted School Berkhamsted School is an independent day school in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, England. The present school was formed in 1997 by the amalgamation of the original Berkhamsted School, founded in 1541 by John Incent, Dean of St Paul's Cathedral, ...

and the

University of Oxford , mottoeng = The Lord is my light , established = , endowment = £6.1 billion (including colleges) (2019) , budget = £2.145 billion (2019–20) , chancellor ...

. He served as a lieutenant in the

Coldstream Guards The Coldstream Guards is the oldest continuously serving regular regiment in the British Army. As part of the Household Division, one of its principal roles is the protection of the monarchy; due to this, it often participates in state ceremonia ...

between 1943 and 1946, winning the

Military Cross The Military Cross (MC) is the third-level (second-level pre-1993) military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993) other ranks of the British Armed Forces, and formerly awarded to officers of other Commonwealth countries. The MC i ...

. He worked at the library of the

University of Leeds , mottoeng = And knowledge will be increased , established = 1831 – Leeds School of Medicine1874 – Yorkshire College of Science1884 - Yorkshire College1887 – affiliated to the federal Victoria University1904 – University of Leeds , ...

from 1950 to 1958 (initially as Assistant Librarian, then as Sub-Librarian from 1952), becoming Deputy Librarian of the

University of Nottingham The University of Nottingham is a public university, public research university in Nottingham, United Kingdom. It was founded as University College Nottingham in 1881, and was granted a royal charter in 1948. The University of Nottingham belongs t ...

in 1958 and Librarian of the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...

in 1960. He was appointed Bodley's Librarian in 1979 and also held a Professorial

Fellowship A fellow is a concept whose exact meaning depends on context. In learned or professional societies, it refers to a privileged member who is specially elected in recognition of their work and achievements. Within the context of higher education ...

Exeter College, Oxford Exeter College (in full: The Rector and Scholars of Exeter College in the University of Oxford) is one of the Colleges of the University of Oxford, constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England and the fourth-oldest college of the un ...

. He retired in 1981. He was chairman of the

Standing Conference of National and University Libraries SCONUL (Society of College, National and University Libraries) is the membership organisation for all academic and national libraries in the UK and Ireland. History SCONUL was founded in 1950 as the Standing Conference of National and University ...

from 1979 to 1981, as well as a member of the executive board of the

International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) is the leading international body representing the interests of people who rely on libraries and information professionals. An independent, non-governmental, not-for-pro ...

from 1979 to 1983. He founded Three Rivers Books Ltd, and was a director from 1981 to 1990. His writings included ''A Bibliography of Edith, Osbert and Sacheverell Sitwell'' (1963, 1971).

References

1925 births 1992 deaths British librarians Bodley's Librarians Alumni of the University of Oxford Fellows of Exeter College, Oxford Recipients of the Military Cross Coldstream Guards officers British Army personnel of World War II People educated at Berkhamsted School {{Library-bio-stub