He was later appointed Director of his country's National Library. Other librarians of note for their literary output include Swedish novelist August Strindberg , the multitalented Goethe and both Brothers Grimm . American librarians are represented by Archibald MacLeish , Henry Wordsworth Longfellow and Helen McInnes . Saint Benedict was important in the development of monastic libraries, beginning with that at Monte Casino, but he was by no means alone. The philosophers David Hume and Immanuel Kant were both librarians.
Librarians are indeed versatile people.
When we look at Australians who have spent time working in or for libraries the same remarkable diversity of career path and lifestyle is again evident. Take for example, Sir Redmond Barry . Although assured a place in Australia's history as the judge who sentenced Ned Kelly, Barry deserves greater renown for his role in the foundation of what was to become the State Library of Victoria as well as for setting up the Athenaeum library in Melbourne. Not only was he Chief Trustee of the former, he also took great joy in selecting books for its collections. At the turn of the century there was an almost embarrassing richness in Australia of talented writers who kept body and mind together through work in libraries.