Background

The Polar Libraries Colloquy is an international organization of librarians, archivists and others concerned with the collection, preservation, and dissemination of information dealing with the Arctic and Antarctic regions. This organization grew out of the Northern Libraries Colloquy, which first met in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in June, 1971. The Colloquy meets biennially, by tradition alternating between Europe and North America. PLC is governed by an international Steering Committee and publishes a newsletter, Polar Libraries Bulletin, as well as Proceedings of the Colloquies. PLC is a member of the University of the Arctic. As a UArctic member, in 2022, PLC initiated a Thematic Network Decolonizing Arctic Library and Archives Metadata (DALAM).

Meetings

William Mills Prize for Non-Fiction Polar Books

The William Mills Prize for Non-Fiction Polar Books was established in memory of William Mills (1951 - 2004), who was Librarian and Keeper of Collections at the Scott Polar Research Institute and was an active member of the Polar Libraries Colloquy. The prize was first awarded at the 21st Colloquy in Rome in 2006.

Mills Prize Award Winners

Hubert Wenger Award

An award designed award is to provide financial assistance to one or more delegates who might otherwise be unable to attend a PLC biennial meeting. Named in honor of Hubert Wenger. Wenger and his wife, Beatrice, were long-standing members of PLC.

History

The history of the Northern Libraries Colloquy was described by Geraldine Cooke in 1974 Later history of the Polar Libraries Colloquy was described by Andrews and Corley-Murchison