DEPARTMENT of EDUCATION
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State Library and Archives Trust

On behalf of the State Library and Archives Trust (SLAT) I am pleased to submit the 21st annual report of the trust. In summary, the 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 occasion 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 2005-06 included:

  • Australian Library and Information Association Technicians Conference Next at Sydney in September 2005
  • Australian Law Libraries Conference at Hobart in September 2005
  • Records Management Association of Australasia 22nd National Convention Expanding Horizons at Perth in September 2005
  • Australian National Storytelling Conference at Perth in October 2005
  • Australian Society of Archivists Annual Conference at Wellington, New Zealand in October 2005
  • Australian and New Zealand Institute for Information Literacy Symposium at Dunedin, New Zealand in November 2005
  • Australian Library and Information Association Conference New Directions in Special Librarianship at Melbourne in November 2005
  • Victorian Automated Libraries Association (VALA) 13th Biennial Conference at Melbourne in February 2006
  • Children’s Book Council 8th National Conference Book Now at Sydney in May 2006
  • 21st Polar Libraries Colloquy at Rome, Italy in May 2006

The trust joined with the State Library of Tasmania to co-fund a visit to Tasmania by UK speaker Sarah Godowski in November 2005.

Ms Godowski addressed seminars on library design and the positioning of libraries within communities. Feedback received from the sessions was very positive, with participants indicating the conference and seminar provided challenging and relevant information.

The trust also supported the visit of Danish children’s book author Lene Kaaberbol to Tasmania in May 2006. Workshops were held at Huonville, Rosny, Glenorchy, Devonport and Launceston libraries.

Thirty two funding allocations were made available by the Sir John Morris Memorial Trust Fund for the 2005-06 year in accordance with the trust deed. The total amount of funding was $23,842.31. The successful applicants prepared reports on their activities that are available on request from the secretary of the SLAT and also made presentations to gatherings of library and archives professionals.

Through the assistance it is able to provide for these activities, the SLAT has continued to help raise the skills and knowledge of library and archives professionals and paraprofessionals throughout Tasmania.

Travelling scholarship

The SLAT did not award the Sir John Morris Memorial Trust Travelling Scholarship in 2005-06, instead electing to preserve the scholarship funding with a view to advertising the scholarship again in 2006-07 with increased funding. 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 2005-06 for the purchase of books on sporting pursuits, including cricket, tennis and other notable sporting works.

Meetings and funds

Four meetings of the SLAT were held during the reporting year, in August, November, March and June.

In accordance with The Trustee Amendment (Investment Powers) Act 1997 the SLAT is required to consider independent and impartial advice reasonably acquired for the investment of trust funds from a person who 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 again returning a small capital increase in 2005-06.

In conclusion, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the members of the SLAT; Ms Simone Bingham of the University of Tasmania; Mr Patrick Tierney of the Public Trustee; Mr Ian Pearce, State Archivist; Ms Siobhan Gaskell, Director Library and Information Services; and especially the retiring members, ex-chairman Professor Coleman O’Flaherty and Ms Marly Flynn of The Public Trustee for their ongoing dedication to the success of the trust. I also offer thanks to Mr Ray Sakaris and Ms Julie Mazengarb for their secretarial support to the work of the SLAT.

Ms Shirley Abel
Chairperson