Anderson's ‘reluctance’ stems from his transfer from the N.S. W. Department of Agriculture to the Headship of the Free Public Library, Sydney, during the agricultural recession in 1893. Despite his lack of previous experience in the field, Anderson made his mark: as administrator: in the techniques of librarianship, and in collection development (he was instrumental in securing the Mitchell bequest). The L.A.A.'s H.C.L. Anderson Award is conferred for ‘…outstanding service to librarianship or to the library profession in Australia…‘.