State Library of New South Wales Foundation 2011-12 Annual Report
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STATE LIBRARY OF NSW FOUNDATION 2011–12 Annual Report building a strong FOUNDATION STATE LIBRARY OF NSW FOUNDATION 2011–12 Annual Report CONTACT INFORMATION AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS TEXT BY SUSAN HUNT AND KAY PAYNE EDITING AND PROOFREADING BY ELAINE STEWART AND HELEN CUMMING DESIGN AND PRODUCTION BY DOMINIC HON COVER: DETAIL OF THE FAÇADE OF THE MITCHELL LIBRARY, PHOTO BY BRUCE YORK INSIDE COVER: JOHN BENNETT, VOCABULARY OF THE WOOLNER DISTRICT DIALECT, ADELAIDE RIVER, NORTHERN TERRITORY, ADELAIDE: PRINTED BY WC COX, 1869 INSIDE BACK COVER: A LIBRARY CONSERVATOR REPAIRS ONE OF THE DARLING RIVER PILOT CHARTS (1870–1880), PHOTO BY JOY LAI P&D 3804-8/2012 ISBN 0 7313 7214 X © STATE LIBRARY OF NSW 2012 STATE LIBRARY OF NSW FOUNDATION MACQUARIE STREET SYDNEY NSW 2000 AUSTRALIA PHONE: + 61 2 9273 1593 FAX: + 61 2 9273 1270 EMAIL: [email protected] WWW.SL.NSW.GOV./ABOUT/SUPPORT/FOUNDATION.HTML Contents 2 From the State Librarian 3 Chairman’s report 4 From the Executive Director, State Library Foundation 5 Building a strong Foundation: Highlights of 2011– 12 Foundation funded projects 6 Governance • Foundation Board 8 Showcasing our collections through major exhibitions • Lewin: Wild Art • Nelson Meers Foundation 10 Building and preserving our collections Landmark acquisitions: • TAL & Dai-ichi Life collection • Captain James Wallis album • Max Dupain & Associates commercial archive 13 Conservation: • Darling River Pilot Charts • Flinders’ Charts of Terra Australis • Macarthur family papers • HL White postage stamp collection 14 Growing online access • Discover Collections summary • Henry Lawson • Shipboard: The 19th Century Emigrant Experience • Australian Agricultural and Rural Life • Voyages of Discovery: The Great South Land • May Gibbs • Sir Thomas Mitchell: Mapmaker • Australian Jewish Community and Culture • Rediscovering Indigenous Languages 20 Expanding educational outreach • Far Out! Treasures to the Bush education project 21 Building loyalty • Library Visionaries • Custodians, Library Circle, Friends & Volunteers 24 Awards, Fellowships & Bequests • Ashurst Business Literature Prize • National Biography Award • Fellowships • Bequests 26 Events 27 Foundation Members, Custodians & Donors 31 Trustees’ report & financial statements STATE LIBRARY OF NSW FOUNDATION 2011–12 Annual Report 1 From the State Librarian My first year at the State I am delighted to report that since its inauguration Library has been very exciting in 2004, 35 online stories have been brought to life and I am delighted to record under the auspices of Discover Collections, thanks to the major role that the the generosity of a wide range of corporations, Foundation has played in our charitable trusts, foundations and individual tremendous achievements. philanthropists. We will continue to reveal fascinating We saw the bright and airy and engaging stories from the Library’s amazing refurbishment of the State collections to national and international audiences. Reference Library, Cafe Trim, Importantly, the Foundation also continued its Library Shop and Metcalfe support for three perpetual fellowships: the David Auditorium in the Scott Mitchell Fellowship, the Merewether Macquarie St building; Scholarship and the new Australian Religious History the hosting of many events, Fellowship. These fellowships exemplify the State awards and major exhibitions; Library’s commitment to research. and the acquisition of major In the past year the Foundation embarked on a collection items including the campaign to ensure that our supporters, scholars and Captain James Wallis album, visitors are aware of the importance of planned giving a previously unknown treasure to the Library. It is most gratifying, therefore, to which is central to understanding the early history of acknowledge the generous bequest from the Estate Newcastle and the Hunter. of John Anthony Gilbert which assisted with the The State Library is fortunate to have so many unexpected Captain Wallis album acquisition, benefactors who, like David Scott Mitchell and as well as valued bequests from the estates of Samuel Sir William Dixson, are committed to preserving and B Herron, William Raymond Cooper, Brian Patrick making available documents and artefacts on the Nolan, Margaret Ann Jones, EJG Russell and history of Australia and its region. I sincerely thank Allen Baldick. our Friends, Custodians, Library Visionaries, I particularly want to acknowledge our wonderful Foundation members, Library Circle, partners and volunteers. We have 158 volunteers and they sponsors. Your loyalty and generosity is critical to our generously provided over 11,454 hours — 7.3 working success as we assert ourselves as a world leading years of their time and expertise in a myriad of ways library and a centre of digital excellence. — as well-informed tour hosts, transcribers of As Chairman of the Foundation this year, manuscripts such as our precious World War I diaries, Peter Crossing has been a passionate advocate for the and assistants behind the scenes in the Original State Library. He has worked to promote the richness Materials Branch. Their work has much enhanced the of the Library including the development of warm experience of visitors to our Library and the services relationships for the Library with the business we can provide online, onsite and on tour. community. His family’s Belalberi Foundation was the The year culminated with two major principal supporter of this year’s exhibition Lewin: announcements: the first was that the Premier’s Wild Art, which redefined our understanding of Literary and History Awards would in future be Australia’s first free artist, John Lewin. Warm thanks administered by the State Library; a decision which to you Peter, for your key role in supporting the reaffirms the Library’s role as the home of literature Library’s strategic initiatives and fundraising and history. The second was the provision of strategies. Together with the Trustees and the $32.6 million in the NSW Budget to renew the Foundation Board, you are making a major Library’s ageing digital systems to enable state-of-the- contribution to advancing this great library. art discovery and access to the Library collections, Special thanks must also go to Samantha Meers, and to fund the digitisation of many of this nation’s CEO of the Nelson Meers Foundation. This year and state’s most vulnerable and valuable heritage marks the end of an extraordinary 10-year exhibition artefacts, on a scale never seen before in Australia. partnership between the State Library and the Nelson This work will transform the Library over the next few Meers Foundation that allowed us to showcase years, from one of Australia’s most respected and exceptional stories in the Heritage Collection. valued libraries, to a world renowned twenty-first century library and centre of digital excellence. I look forward to your continued support for this great Library as we enter another exciting year. ALEX BYRNE NSW STATE LIBRARIAN & CHIEF EXECUTIVE 2 2011–12 Annual Report STATE LIBRARY OF NSW FOUNDATION Chairman’s Report I am happy to report that in the financial year 2011–12, Now that the NSW the State Library of New South Wales Foundation Government has endorsed the continued to receive a high level of financial support State Library’s strategic digital from its supporters and benefactors — total income expansion in the June 2012 was a record $4,632,000 compared with $4,293,000 in budget, we have funding for 2011, and because of that, we provided a record even more exciting projects in $3,868,000 of support ($3,092,000 in 2011) to the 2013. These will be Library during the year. A big thank you, therefore, to implemented through a all our supporters for your loyal and valued patronage. partnership between the You enabled us, in partnership with the Library, to Foundation, the Library and support key exhibitions; increase online access to the the NSW Government. collections; make further extraordinary acquisitions; Our new State Librarian, conserve vulnerable objects, and contribute to many Dr Alex Byrne, who is also more projects. Secretary and Treasurer of the Major highlights of the year included: Foundation, has been • commissioning of the significant exhibition and inspirational in providing tour of Lewin: Wild Art focus for the Foundation and • contributions to three landmark acquisitions: the has continued to foster a close second stage of support for the incomparable six relationship between the Foundation and the Library. First Fleet era albums (now known as the TAL & Thanks must go to him and to the other members of Dai-ichi Life collection); the Captain James Wallis the Foundation Board: Patty Akopiantz, Paul Binsted, album (a foundation document for Newcastle) and Graham Bradley AM, Sally Herman, Belinda the Max Dupain & Associates commercial archive Hutchinson AM, Maxine Rich, Samantha Meers, including iconic shots of Sydney’s architecture Rob Thomas and Dr John Vallance, for being such • a contribution to Indigenous cultural heritage strong advocates and supporters, and for their through the Rediscovering Indigenous Languages assistance to me as Chairman and to Susan Hunt, partnership with Rio Tinto the Foundation Executive Director. • continuation of our important Discover Collections I thank also the chair of the Foundation Trustees, online stories program, particularly through the Richard Fisher AM, and Elsa Atkin for their diligence generous support of the Vincent Fairfax Family and commitment as Trustees this year. Foundation and the Australia–Israel