Online Visual Exhibition – Transcript:

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Libraries Tasmania Highlights 2022

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“In my time as Chair, I have seen the valuable part that libraries play in improving the State’s social and economic outcomes and in strengthening the social fabric of our community through their role in lifelong learning, literacy (in its broader sense) and access to information. Tasmania is fortunate indeed in having such a vibrant, committed and innovative service.”
Mary Bent, PSM
Outgoing Chair of the Tasmanian Library Advisory Board

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State Library of Tasmania

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We added significant items to the Tasmanian heritage collection in 2022: 

• Art in Australia magazine series from 1916 to 1942, including rare wartime issues.
• Extensive archives from the Tasmanian Baptist Union (1830s).
• Family papers, photographs, and transparencies from important Tasmanian watercolourist Patricia Giles.
• The journal of 12-year-old Francis James Ashburner, covering his 85-day voyage from Launceston to London (1859-1860).
• Records of the Launceston Bank for Savings, Hobart Savings Bank and related and subsequent financial institutions.
• Portrait of Edward Kennedy Murray, by C.H.T. Costantini, watercolour, [1852?].
• Tasmanian historian Peter MacFie’s archival collection.

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State Library and Archives Service staff created two exhibitions at the State Library of Tasmania and Tasmanian Archives Reading Room:

• ‘By Mountain and Sea’: 100 years of Cadbury’s at Claremont commemorates a significant anniversary and was shown at the State Library of Tasmania and Tasmanian Archives Reading Room before travelling around the State, providing more Tasmanians with the opportunity to engage with our collections.
• If Walls Could Talk: Researching the stories and histories of Tasmanian buildings focused on the documents behind researching Tasmanian building history. Samples of historic photographs, films, newspapers, census records, maps, house plans, deeds, and land grants from our collection all revealing rich insights into the structural history and architecture of buildings, as well as the varied lives of inhabitants.

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So that more people had the opportunity to see our collection items on display, we used alternative areas such as the stairwell in our State Library and Archives building as exhibition spaces. State Library and Archives Service staff curated the annual Family History Month events, which were livestreamed by webinar for the first time in 2022. The 13 in-person family history talks were almost fully subscribed, with the livestreams enabling more participants across the State to attend.

In mid-winter 2022, our signature event, Stories After Dark again activated our heritage listed State Library and Archives building after hours. Over 2 000 visitors discovered stories from our collections through visual art displays and theatrical performances by 19 emerging artists.

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“In the archives sit thousands of artefacts, images and priceless documents. On a normal night they are sleeping peacefully…but tonight they are awake and ready to share their stories.”
Sue McKerracher
Libraries Tasmania Executive Director

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Allport Library and Museum of Fine Arts

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“Keep up the great work providing excellent library services. I really enjoyed the Vision of a Palawa exhibition at the Allport Museum.”
Libraries Tasmania client

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The major exhibitions in the Allport Library and Museum of Fine Arts in 2022 offered glimpses into the lives and strength of the continuing culture that defines Lutruwita/Tasmania’s first people:

• Vision of a Palawa – featuring the work of Tasmanian Aboriginal artist Rodney Gardner
• The Lanney Pillar – an installation celebrating the extraordinary life of William Lanney (1834 – 1869) created by the late Tasmanian filmmaker Roger Scholes and Tasmanian Aboriginal writer Professor Greg Lehman.
• The Allport Library and Museum of Fine Arts also collaborated with the National Archives of Australia (NAA) to host Chilled: Antarctic Life, Inside and Out an exhibition curated by the NAA. Exhibition cubes with images from the exhibition were also distributed and displayed in libraries around the State.

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Tasmanian Archives

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“What unites all people consulting the records in the Tasmanian Archives is the search for knowledge, inspiration, and new insights.”
Ross Latham
Director Collections and State Archivist

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In 2022 we invested in preserving Tasmanian records now and for future generations by:

• opening our new Geilston Bay repository, moving over 14 kilometres of archival items to a purpose-built new repository, housing Tasmania’s documentary heritage for future generations to come
• implementing Preservica digital management and preservation system to maintain digital collections safely for the future
• conserving and rehousing approximately 1 292 items/series including the cased photographs of the Lewis family and a cemetery plan from the Colebrook Anglican Church
• digitising over 2 100 audio and visual analogue items to digital formats using dedicated annual State Government funding of $150 000
• transferring 4 657 items to the Government Archives, including 12 convict records new to our collection
• digitising over 4 800 items for general and Government clients.

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“Our new purpose-built collection storage space at Geilston Bay has doubled our storage capacity. We can continue to select, manage, and safely ensure the Tasmanian Archives collection is safe for the future.”
Ross Latham
Director Collections and State Archivist

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Public Libraries

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“The libraries are really great and the hold system works excellently. I can order a book, DVD etc from anywhere in Tas and it gets delivered to my local library. That’s great service and something I really value. I also love libraries for the ability to get so many books, DVDs etc that I wouldn’t usually have access to, or want to buy. Long live libraries!”
Libraries Tasmania client

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We invested in our public lending collections with the purchase of more than 60 000 new physical books including:

• 20 200 fiction and 9 800 non-fiction books for adult learning collections
• 23 700 books for children’s collections
• 6 500 books to expand our popular Large Print, Book Groups, and New Release Express Service collections.

In addition, 21 100 copies in total of 6 900 eBooks were also added to our collection. People borrowed our physical items 2 303 058 tiems, and our eResources were borrowed 833 550 times.

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We improved facilities and services to make our public spaces more contemporary, accessible, and welcoming, and to make it easier for people to discover and access information. This was achieved by:

• an improved website to meet accessibility standards, with a fresh look and new features, including an events finder
• new after-hours return chutes installed at seven libraries
• new shelving at Cygnet, Hobart, Rosny, St Helens, and Westbury libraries
• major refurbishments of both Smithton and Exeter libraries
• improving accessibility at Ulverstone Library by installing an accessible toilet and new entrance with a ramp and wider automatic doors
• installation of an accessible toilet at Glenorchy Library with a new second entrance
• making it easier for people with no fixed address to become library members
• opening our spaces after-hours to the community with events like Devonport Library up late with immersive experiences such as pizza and board games, the opportunity to meet elected councillors and find out about local government, and a visit from Santa.

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“Very impressed with the range and accessibility of books online.”
Libraries Tasmania client

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Through our collections, wide range of programs and services, we engaged Tasmanians and our communities with books and reading by:

• holding 400 Storytime sessions and 847 Rock & Rhyme sessions for pre-schoolers and families statewide
• rolling out the new Sora app, enabling all students in Tasmanian Government schools, access to a large collection of eBooks, eAudiobooks, digital magazines, comics, graphic novels and levelled readers
• establishing a Book Group in the Women’s Prison
• purchasing 700 new book and magazine titles for the Prison Library Service.

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“Wonderful places to get in touch with your interests and to stimulate learning and understanding.”
Libraries Tasmania client

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“I love the range of supportive programs available to all people – there is something for everyone – without prejudice. Of course, there are also all the differing types of reading material! During lockdown I was able to read many different newspapers, or almost any magazine you could think of – including international ones – and read all sorts of books through Libby. Absolutely marvelous. And now that we aren’t locked down, I continue to use the excellent facilities.”
Libraries Tasmania client

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Many Tasmanians value the library and archives services that enrich their lives, whether for recreation, learning, discovering our past, researching family history, or to connect with others:

• Through our Adult Literacy Service our trained volunteer literacy tutors supported 470 people to improve their literacy skills with one-to-one learning.
• 3 648 attendances in our Digital Inclusion programs.
• 13 362 attendances in our lifelong learning courses.
• In 2022, 26Ten celebrated its ten-year anniversary in October – during this decade Libraries Tasmania has supported over 4 650 adults with their literacy and numeracy.

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“Libraries Tasmania delivers contemporary library and archives services for all Tasmanians. These services enrich people’s lives, whether it’s the family taking part in Storytime or the keen reader borrowing books; the family historian searching our records or the adult learner seeking help with reading, writing and digital literacy. We’re here for everybody, at nearly 50 locations across the State and online everywhere.” 
Sue McKerracher 
Libraries Tasmania Executive Director