On behalf of the State Library and Archives Trust (SLAT), I am pleased to submit the 22nd annual report of the trust. In summary, the trust 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 2006-07 included:
- Australian Library and Information Association Biennial Conference at Perth, Western Australia in September 2006
- Joint Conference of Australian and New Zealand Australian Law Librarians Associations at Melbourne, Victoria in September 2006
- Records Management Association of Australasia 23rd National Convention at Cairns, Queensland in September 2006
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Library Information and Resource Network Conference at Sydney, New South Wales in November 2006
- Australian Library and Information Association New Librarians Symposium at Sydney, New South Wales in December 2006
- Information Online 2007 13th Exhibition and Conference at Sydney, New South Wales in January and February 2007.
The trust joined with the State Library of Tasmania to fund a visit to Tasmania by noted children’s author and speaker Mem Fox in August 2006. Ms Fox provided two Storytime sessions, one each at Glenorchy and Rosny Libraries. Ninety adults and children attended the Glenorchy session and approximately 110 people attended the Rosny session. Ms Fox also provided an evening session for the public about the importance of reading to young children with 80 people attending. Feedback received from the sessions was very positive.
The trust also supported the visit of international library futurist Joan Frye Williams who was brought to Tasmania by the Australian Library and Information Association in December 2006. A workshop was held at Hobart and was attended by 63 participants. Participants found the sessions thought-provoking and innovative and were inspired to adopt some of the strategies presented.
Twenty-eight funding allocations were made available by the Sir John Morris Memorial Trust Fund for the 2006-07 year in accordance with the Trust Deed. The total amount of funding was $54,141.52 including travelling scholarships. The successful applicants prepared reports on their activities and also made presentations to gatherings of library and archives professionals. All reports are available on request from the secretary of the trust. Through the assistance it is able to provide for these activities, the trust has continued to help raise the skills and knowledge of library and archives professionals and paraprofessionals throughout Tasmania.
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Travelling scholarships
The trust awarded three Sir John Morris Memorial Trust Travelling Scholarships in 2006-07 at a total value of $25,000. This is the first occasion that three travelling scholarships have been awarded in the same year. 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.
The scholarships were awarded to:
- Ms Jane Coatman from the State Library of Tasmania to travel to the United Kingdom and Denmark to investigate leading edge developments in the provision of virtual library services.
- Mr Hugh Fielding from the State Library of Tasmania to travel to the United Kingdom, Sweden and Canada to explore adult literacy policies, practices and outcomes.
- Ms Juliet Scaife from the Parliamentary Library to travel to parliamentary libraries in the United Kingdom and Canada to investigate international approaches to parliamentary library services.
The successful scholarship awardees are required to prepare reports on their activities at the conclusion of their travel and also make presentations to gatherings of library and/or archives professionals.
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 2006-07 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 May.
In accordance with The Trustee Amendment (Investment Powers) Act 1997, the trust 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 2006-07.
In conclusion, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to each of 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; and Ms Siobhan Gaskell, Director, Information Services and Community Learning and the State Library of Tasmania for their ongoing dedication and contribution to the success of the trust. I also offer my sincere appreciation to Mr Ray Sakaris and Ms Julie Mazengarb for their excellent administrative support to the work of the SLAT.
Shirley Abel
Chairperson
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Employment
Tasmanian Library Advisory Board