Stella Butler  

Biography - Dr Stella Butler became Deputy University Librarian and Associate Director of the John Rylands Library, The University of Manchester on 1 st May 2007. She has responsibility for Special Collections as well as infrastructure and planning. From 2000 to April 2007 she was Head of Special Collections and Principal Keeper. In 2005, the Special Collections of the JRUL were designated by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council as of national significance. Between 2003 and 2006 the magnificent Deansgate building underwent a £16 million refurbishment including the addition of a new entrance wing.

Stella Butler was educated at the University of Manchester and UMIST. She has a PhD in the History of Science and a Postgraduate Certificate of Education. She was awarded the Diploma of the Museums Association in 1985. She was head of collections at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester between 1984 and 1990. She has published extensively on the history of science and medicine in Manchester and on libraries and museums.

Abstract - "Roofs, roundels and display cases: reinventing the John Rylands Library, Deansgate for its second century"

Over the past four years, the magnificent neo-gothic building of The John Rylands Library has been transformed with the addition of collection facilities in a new Entrance Wing which also houses cafe, shop and visitor toliets.  Areas of the historic building have been fitted out with new exhibition facilities allowing collections to be made accessible to new audiences.