Dr Jim Parker – a tribute from UK Public Lending Right

Blog series Knowledge Matters

'I had the honour and privilege to work with Jim for several years on the PLR Advisory Committee,' writes Tracy Chevalier, author and chair of the PLR advisory committee 2009-2015. 'Jim was a fountain of knowledge and understanding, guiding us with the lightest touch through the sometimes labyrinthine PLR regulations and procedures. We authors owe him a great deal for the grace with which he kept the PLR machine running, as well as ultimately passing it on with minimal friction to the British Library. Diplomatic, and always with a wry smile, he was a gentleman and will be much missed'.

When Jim became Registrar of Public Lending Right in 1991, he inherited a Scheme enshrined in UK legislation and widely recognised as a success. Having been hard fought for, it was now running successfully from an office in Stockton on Tees which had become a by-word for authors as a place from which their much-loved PLR remuneration, along with the equally valued record of their library loans, was distributed. Jim’s tenure as Registrar built on that success and also expanded PLR in terms of improving the data collected from public libraries. He led targeted lobbying to achieve incremental legislative adjustments to the PLR Scheme which fine-tuned its value to rights holders and, in particular, raised the profile of PLR so that its reputation and value became more widely known to both authors and libraries. He also worked in close collaboration with all other groups campaigning for authors’ rights, notably the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society and the Society of Authors.

In the years of his term as Registrar, Jim became synonymous with PLR and everything it stood for. He celebrated its history while also making sure important PLR milestones were celebrated.

A man of great gentleness, he was also a tireless campaigner and kept up the work with successive governments that Maureen Duffy had begun. He was worldly enough to be able to seize new opportunities as they arose and deft at using the powerful voices of PLR rightsholders to lobby for authors and libraries. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of PLR and to press its cause, Jim published Whose Loan is it Anyway?, a collection of essays by politicians, authors and figures from publishing. Five years later he was more ambitious for the 25th anniversary and employed Antman, a publicity and branding organisation, to create a strong and coherent look for PLR that could raise its profile and increase its visibility to government.

As publishing changed so did PLR. Jim was always open to improvements and adjustments to PLR. As new formats for books were created Jim made sure that the PLR Scheme was adapted to include remunerating their rightsholders. 

Jim’s staunch belief in the right of creators to be fairly remunerated for their work was at the heart of all his work for UKPLR. He knew how much it mattered. His exceptional contribution was recognised with the award of the Order of the British Empire honour, as well as the prestigious Royal Society of Literature Benson Medal.

Andy Appleyard, Senior Director of Operations North and Commercial at the British Library, who now oversees the administration of UKPLR, added a tribute on behalf of the British Library: 'Jim Parker will be remembered as a warm and considerate person whose influence helped shape the Public Lending Right in the UK. His expertise, dedication, and heartfelt commitment were central to building a system that continues to reflect his vision. Those who knew him will cherish not only what he accomplished, but the generosity and integrity he brought to every part of his work'.