On behalf of the State Library and Archives Trust (SLAT) I am pleased to submit the 20th Annual Report of the trust. In summary, SLAT is required by the Libraries Act 1984 to administer any property acquired by the trust through gift, bequest or device for the advancement of library and/or archives knowledge in Tasmania. The trust awards grants and on occasions Travelling Scholarships aimed at assisting the professional development of librarians, archivists, or library and archives workers.
Conferences and seminars
Major Australian conferences and seminars attended by Tasmanian librarians, archivists and library and archives workers with support from the Sir John Morris Memorial Trust Fund in 2004-05 included:
- Australian Library and Information Association Biennial Conference Challenging Ideas at the Gold Coast in September 2004
- Annual Conference of the Australian Society of Archivists in Melbourne in September 2004
- International Conference on Archiving Web Resources in Canberra in November 2004
- Metropolitan Public Libraries Association of NSW Conference Filthy - Youth Culture and Libraries in Wollongong in November 2004
- Australian Library and Information Association New Librarians’ Symposium in Adelaide in December 2004
- Information Online Conference in Sydney in February 2005
- Australian Society of Indexers Conference Indexing: Enlighten, Enrich in Melbourne in March 2005
- Australian School Librarian Association 19th Biennial Conference in Canberra in April 2005
The trust joined with the State Library of Tasmania and the University of Tasmania to co-fund the Information Literacy Tasmania Conference including an additional seminar in Hobart in July 2004. The keynote speakers were Christine Mackenzie (Yarra Plenty Library Service) and Judith Peacock (Queensland University of Technology). Feedback received from the sessions was very positive, with participants indicating the conference and seminar provided valuable and relevant information.
The trust also supported the visit of children’s book author and illustrator Leigh Hobbs to Tasmania. Workshops were held at Rosny, Glenorchy and Launceston libraries.
Twenty-nine funding allocations were made available by the Sir John Morris Memorial Trust Fund for the 2004-05 year in accordance with the trust deed. The total amount of funding was $17,987.54. The successful applicants prepared reports on their activities that are available on request from the secretary of SLAT and also made presentations to gatherings of library and archives professionals.
Through the assistance it is able to provide for these activities, SLAT has continued to help raise the skills and knowledge of library and archives professionals and paraprofessionals throughout Tasmania.
Traveling Scholarship
The SLAT did not award the Sir John Morris Memorial Trust Travelling Scholarship in 2004-05, instead electing to preserve the scholarship funding and to develop other options including a proposal to invite distinguished speakers to come and address forums in Tasmania. The scholarship is usually awarded to enable Tasmanian librarians and archivists to visit Australian and/or overseas library and archives-related organisations to learn about developments in their professions.
TM Crisp Memorial Sporting Library Fund
The trust also administers the TM Crisp Memorial Sporting Library Fund, which provides grants for the purchase of sporting books for Public and Reference Libraries.
The sum of $700 was made available from the fund to the State Library in 2004-05 for the purchase of books on sporting pursuits including cricket and fishing.
Meetings and funds
Four meetings of SLAT were held during the reporting year in August, November, March and June.
In accordance with The Trustee Amendment (Investment Powers) Act 1997 SLAT is required to consider independent and impartial advice reasonably acquired for the investment of trust funds from a person the Trustee reasonably believes is competent to give advice. The Tasmanian firm, Shadforths Ltd, which was appointed in 1999 by the trust to provide financial investment advice and brokerage services, has continued to work with the trust in allocating investments across a range of investment managers. The trust has followed a conservative strategy with its portfolio, with investments returning a modest capital increase in 2004-05.
For the fourth year on end SLAT returned a result where investment income was greater than expenditure.
In conclusion, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the members of SLAT, Ms Marly Flynn of The Public Trustee, Ms Simone Bingham of the University of Tasmania, Mr Ian Pearce, State Archivist, and Ms Siobhan Gaskell, Director (Library and Information Services) for their ongoing interest in and dedication to the success of the trust, and to Mr Ray Sakaris and Ms Julie Mazengarb for their secretarial support and commitment to the work of SLAT.
Professor Emeritus Coleman O’Flaherty AM
Chair
State Library and Archives Trust
Employment