Robert Ogilvie MacKenna was university librarian and keeper of the Hunterian books and manuscripts at Glasgow University from 1951-1978. He was also a distinguished sportsman, playing cricket for Scotland, and was president of the Scottish Cricket Union in 1968.

Ogilvie MacKenna was educated at Paisley Grammar School and studied classics at Glasgow University, graduating with first class honours in 1934. He began work at Glasgow University Library as an assistant librarian in 1936, but then served as a naval officer from 1939-1945. In 1946, he became a sub-librarian at the University of Leeds and then librarian at King's College, University of Durham.

In 1951, the year in which Glasgow University celebrated its quincentenary, he was appointed university librarian. This tall, handsome man of considerable presence moving about the library created quite a stir. It can be said that he transformed the library, bringing it into the twentieth century. His report to its committee in 1952-53 described attempts to cope in an overcrowded, outdated building as ''baling with a thimble in a sinking boat''. His main attention was given to the planning of a new library building - undoubtedly his greatest achievement. He was among the early advocates of developing reader services in university libraries, and his brief to the architects in 1962 specified that ''the emphasis must be on bringing books and readers together, with the library staff acting as intermediaries''.

The confined site available on Hillhead Street meant that the new library had to be a high-rise building. MacKenna made a special feature of this by organising the library as a series of carefully-co-ordinated subject libraries. What evolved as Glasgow's special type of ''subject specialisation'' owed a great deal to his vision and flair. He reorganised the staff totally from the day they began the move into the new library in July, 1968, and his enthusiasm was infectious, carrying the project to a successful conclusion.

Alongside his talents as a library planner and administrator, he was also a scholar-librarian of the old school, who enriched the collection of rare books and manuscripts and made provision for a special collections suite - the Hunterian Library - within the new building. He was instrumental in obtaining the Stirling Maxwell collection of emblem books.

R O, as he was known by his staff, was held in high regard and affection by generations of library staff who worked for him over the years. His concern was shown in many ways, although staff were not always aware of the effort involved for this reticent and somewhat shy man. Throughout his career, he was able and loyally supported by his wife, Ray, who was renowned for entertaining all the library staff at their home in the west end of Glasgow.

At the time of his retirement in 1978, he was described as the ''senior statesman among academic librarians in the UK'', having been among the founder members of Sconul (then the Standing Council of National and University Libraries) and its chair from 1967-1969, president of the Scottish Library Association in 1966 and a trustee of the National Library of Scotland 1953-1979. He was a member of a university grants committee's working party and the resulting Atkinson Report (1976), which advocated the ''self-renewing library'', caused far-reaching ripples throughout the library and academic worlds.

Perhaps his greatest influence was on the staff who had worked with him - many of his deputies and other staff became chief librarians, in the UK, Australia and Canada.

A Festschrift published in 1991 (Library Review, Vol 40 2/3) contained a number of articles from individuals in this category, and was a fitting tribute to an outstanding librarian.

The contribution from Henry Heaney, his successor as university librarian in 1978, paid tribute to MacKenna's vision of service to readers. The ''MacKenna ethos'' remains fundamental to the library's place within the university community, and is a fitting reminder of R O MacKenna's important contribution to the University of Glasgow, which he served so well.

In retirement, the MacKennas took a keen interest in activities within Glasgow, volunteering as guides in Glasgow Cathedral and the Glasgow School of Art.

R Ogilvie MacKenna, librarian; born March 21,1913, died November 22, 2004.