E.T. Bryant Memorial Prize

Established in the 1994–1995 year, the E.T. Bryant Memorial Prize is awarded for a significant contribution to the literature in the fields of music information; namely, those professions found within libraries, museums, archives and records management.

Award applications are welcome from any of the following: Library and Information Science students (or groups of students), current or recent postgraduate researchers, and music information professionals who are in the first five years of their career employment.

The prize, worth £300, is awarded for a significant contribution to the literature of music information fields; namely, those professions found within libraries, museums, archives and records management. Award applications are welcome from any of the following:

  • library and information science students (or groups of students) who are currently enrolled, or who have graduated within the past calendar year
  • postgraduate researchers who are currently enrolled, or who have been awarded their PhD within the past calendar year
  • music information professionals who are in the first five years of their career employment.

The prize is awarded by representatives of IAML (UK & Irl) and The Music Libraries Trust and presented at the IAML (UK & Irl) Annual General Meeting (AGM)

The 2024 deadline for submission has now passed.

Terms and conditions

  • The recipient(s) of the prize must be resident in the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland during the year of entry.
  • Publication of the material within the previous five years does not preclude entry.
  • Previous receipt of the Award does not preclude entry.
  • All entries must be submitted by the published closing date, preferably in electronic form.
  • A copy of the winning work will be retained in the IAML (UK & Irl) Archive.

The members of the E.T. Bryant Memorial Prize Committee can be found under Committees and Working Groups page.

A list of previous winners of the E.T. Bryant Memorial Prize

Eric (‘Bill’) Bryant is perhaps best remembered for the contribution he made to the music library profession through his published works, Music librarianship (1959, 2nd ed., 1985) and Collecting gramophone records and music — a reader’s guide (1965). They have influenced many librarians over the years, and Bryant proved a source of inspiration for many aspiring librarians, always helpful and encouraging to young members of the profession.

Bryant’s career covered all aspects of music librarianship, including Borough Librarian at Widnes, Lancashire, tutor on AAL correspondence courses for the Library Association finals in music, lecturer in music at Manchester Polytechnic, and founder member of the Sound Recordings Group, later the Audio-Visual Group. He also gave lectures abroad and was LA representative on the IAML(UK) branch committee for many years.

He was awarded honorary life membership of IAML(UK) for his services to music librarianship. His contribution to the profession was both distinguished and vital. Sadly, Bill died in 1990, and it was in recognition of the contribution he made to music libraries throughout his life that IAML(UK) and The Music Libraries Trust established The E.T. Bryant Memorial Prize. It is in both his honour and his memory, and to serve as a further encouragement for aspiring music librarians in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.