The Land Use & Building Management Committee on Dec. 3 voted unanimously to forward to the full common council a proposal to name a room at the Norwalk Public Library the Norwalk History Room to recognize the work of longtime local historian Ralph Blum.

At a public hearing preceding the vote, several longtime volunteers and library officials described Blum’s role preserving the city’s archives. Isabelle Bullen, a former Norwalk Public Library staffer and volunteer, said Blum ‘‘was familiar with both the archives and with the library, who realized that it would be possible to fit the archives into the library's lower level,’’ and credited him with arranging that move and with sustained stewardship of local records. Moina Noor, president of the Norwalk Public Library Board, said the board voted unanimously on Oct. 9 to request the naming and cited section 27.1 of the Norwalk City code governing honors for living persons.

Former mayor and library board member Alex Knopf said the History Room is ‘‘a tremendous asset to creating this sense of community,’’ giving examples of residents traveling from other states to consult yearbooks and research local history. Cindy Bloom Leahy, director of library information services, described Blum’s decades of volunteer work, including establishing the history collection in 1972 and helping relocate it to the library building at 1 Belden Avenue in 2013.

Committee discussion before the vote focused on recognition and recordkeeping requirements for council consideration. A committee member asked staff to include in the item backup that council approval requires a supermajority plus one; staff confirmed that detail would be included for the council packet. Committee member Frayer moved the item; after brief supportive remarks from members, the committee voted unanimously to send the naming proposal to the common council for a final vote next week.

The committee’s action at this stage is a referral; the common council will make the final decision.