No stranger to controversy: The Australian library journal and its editors.

The author, who edited The Australian library journal for twenty-five years until 2006, reflects on some of the divisive issues which have appeared in the journal since its first publication in 1951. He also identifies reasons, logistical as well as legal, why some controversies were never aired in the publication, and comments approvingly on the freedom given to, but not always exercised by, successive editors: John Metcalfe, Harrison Bryan, Jean Whyte, Ronald McGreal, Laurie Brown, C. V. Datar, Adrian Read, Michael Talbot, John Levett himself and Ian McCaIIum. This paper is adapted from a dinner address presented for John by Dr Neil Radford at the Forum on Australian Library History, State Library of New South Wales, 28 September 2007. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]