Colin Steele AM

Colin Steele AM in the Queen's Sitting Room during Investiture Ceremony interview.

It was a love of books that directed Colin Steele AM towards what would be an expansive career in libraries, digital information sharing, and words.

Mr Steele started as deputy librarian at the Australian National University in 1976, before becoming librarian in 1980 to 2002. He then became an Emeritus Fellow in 2004. 

He has convened the Meet the Author series since 1986, and was also co-founder of ANU E-Press, Australia’s first open-access online university press.

In January 2024, Mr Steele was appointed a member of the Order of Australia for significant service to librarianship, and to digital information sharing.

“The recognition today gives me further stimulus to do things … it’s recognition of the importance of what I would call deep reading in a world where social media is taking over,” he says.

“[My work is about the] transmission of knowledge, making knowledge available and also enhancing access to libraries.

“It’s been a belief in getting knowledge out to communities as widely as possible, in all libraries, especially public. The Meet the Author series provides free public access to leading thinkers from Australia and beyond.”

Mr Steele is also a former federal government liaison officer for the Council of Australian University Librarians and the founding member of the National Scholarly Communication Forum where he has held multiple roles since. He is currently the events coordinator at the ACT Oxford University Alumni Association.

As well as the personal benefits that come with the recognition, Mr Steele says it’s amazing to be listed amongst so many others with incredible, varied achievements and impacts.

“Already with the recognition, it’s been interesting in terms of my circles, the fact I’ve been recognised helps to promote the issues that I’ve been working on throughout my career,” he explains.

“To be recognised with so many others who have created so much for their communities was also wonderful. These awards open people’s eyes to what is being achieved by so many.

“It is the greatest recognition of achievement, and then gives people the incentive to encourage others to nominate in due course.”