Prof Russell Bowden commenced his career in the London theatre having completed a diploma in direction and stage management after finishing his National Service as an officer in the Royal Military Police. His career thereafter turned to librarianship and information science. He obtained his Associateship of The Library Association in 1963 then working with the British Council in Iraq, India, Ceylon and Nigeria. From 1974 to 76 he taught and was Course Director for an M.A. in archives, librarianship, information science and education in Loughborough University of Technology from where in 1974 he obtained a Masters in Library Science. In 1977 he was appointed Deputy Chief Executive of The Library Association until his retirement in 1994. During this period he served also as a member of the Governing Council of Thames Valley University which, in 1994, recognized his services with the award of Honorary Professor.
He was elected into many positions in the International Federation of Library Associations [IFLA] retiring in 2005 as its First Vice President and as an Honorary Fellow. He has consulted and advised overseas for the British Council, the UK government, Unesco and IFLA in countries like Brazil, Burma, Canada, China, Indonesia, Malayasia, Nepal, Philippines, Trinidad and the Soviet Union.
He resides in Sri Lanka where he studied Buddhism obtaining a Diploma [with Merit 1998], Masters [with Distinction 2000] an M. Phil [2006] and is currently researching for a Ph. D. into the transmission processes of the Dhamma. He is Life Member and Fellow of the Sri Lanka Library Association. He was elected Honorary Librarian of the Society in 2010.
Library education in developing countries. Proceedings of Unesco pre-IFLA Conference. The Hague. IFLA. KG Saur. 1982.
Guidelines for the management of library, archives and information science professional associations. Paris. Unesco. 1989.
The status, reputation and image of the library and information profession. The Hague. IFLA. 1994.
The image of the library and information profession. How we see ourselves – an investigation. The Hague. IFLA. 1995.
Access to resources for Buddhist Studies in Sri Lanka. Colombo. 2004.
Buddhism: contemporary studies. Selected papers 3rd International Conference Sri Lanka Association of Buddhist Studies. Colombo. SLABS. 2010.
‘The recovery: Nigerian library developments 1970 – 1973’. Jnl of
librarianship. July 1974
‘A small part to play for world peace; the politics of libraries and information services’. Proceedings of Aslib, LA, IIS Joint Conference.1981.
‘Libraries’. Britannica Book of the year 1982. Chicago. Ency Britannica.
‘United Kingdom Report’. The ALA Yearbook of Library and Information Services. American Library Association. Chicago. 1985.
‘The Library Association’. Developments in international and comparative librarianship 1976 – 1985. LA. 1986.
‘Margreet Wijnstroom and library associations’. IFLA Journal. 13. 3 (1987)
‘Professional responsibilities of libraries and information workers’. IFLA Journal. 20. 2 (1994)
‘Emerging democracies and freedom of information’. Emerging democracies and freedom of information. LA. 1995.
‘Library Associations’. Encyclopedic dictionary of library and information science. Routledge. 1996.
‘Curricula development for economic change’. Sri Lanka Library Review. 12. 2 (1998)
‘Access to information: a librarian’s responsibility?’ Sri Lanka Library Review. 14. 1 (2000)
‘Access to resources for Buddhist Studies’. Jnl of Buddhist Studies. Jan 2004.
‘Educational changes for work in the knowledge society’. Envisioning employable LIS courses in developing countries for the emerging knowledge society. IATLIS 2009. Punjabi University. Patiala. 2009.
‘Writing down of the Pali Tripitaka at Aloka Vihara Sri Lanka’. Jnl RASSL. 2010.
‘The Canon in Ceylon. Sinhala literary heritage and libraries’ developments’. Buddhism: contemporary studies. SLABS. 2010.
‘Sri Lanka’s earliest libraries – Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa periods’.
Journal of Library and Information Management. Colombo. NILIS director@nilis.cmb.ac.lk
‘A “dark period” – “an imperfectly known period of transmission”.’ International Buddhist Academy. Pallakele. 2011. [under review]
‘The Pali Theravada Tipitaka: major events in its transmission from 483 B.C. to 1165 A. D’. Buddhism: Contemporary Studies II. SLABS. 2011. [being considered]