Annual Report 2009 Linen Hall Library

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Annual Report
2009
Linen Hall Library
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GPS is proud to support and sponsor this truly unique institution by producing the Library’s Annual Report
for 2009.
In the last 200 years printing has moved on more than anyone could ever have imagined. The Library’s
Annual Report has been printed using the latest ISO colour technologies and in a responsible and ethical
manner. For the first time the Annual Report is carbon neutral and the material it is printed on can be
traced through the FSC chain of custody.
The carbon emissions associated with this publication have been measured by GPS and reduced to net
zero. Once this is achieved print work, ranging from leaflets and brochures through to books and
prospectuses, can display the CarbonNeutral® publication accreditation as shown on the Library’s Annual
Report.
The FSC logo on this publication means that the paper this document is printed on can be traced through
all the steps of the production process back to sustainable, managed forests. This guarantees that the
paper comes from sustainable sources and has met the highest possible social and environmental
standards in forestry.
GPS is the only printing company in Ireland that can offer this unique blend of cutting edge technology
and responsible print practices, giving print a viable future.
Long may the Linen Hall Library continue to play an integral role in our city of culture and provide an
archive of our printed word treasures.
www.gpscolour.co.uk
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Contents
Page
President’s Foreword
2
Librarian’s Report
3
Corporate Members
4
Looking Forward to May 2013
5
Governors of the Linen Hall Library
6
Staff of the Linen Hall Library
7
The Year 2009 Included...
8
Donations
12
Facts and Figures
13
Financial Summary
14
Governors’ and Auditors’ Reports
15
Statement of Financial Activity
16
Front Cover Image: Michael Longley and Seamus Heaney at the 70th Birthday Celebrations
Back Cover Image: Mrs Ada Kirkwood at the launch of the Cave Hill Diamond Exhibition
Some pictures provided by David Cordner © Copyright Linen Hall Library 2010
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President’s Foreword
It is hard to believe it is almost 12 months since you did
me the honour of asking me to be your President.
How time flies when you are busy and everyone at the
Library would agree this has been a very active year.
We had planned to re-structure the
management team in 2009 but it
was not until January 2010 year
that we had in place our full team
of Brian Adgey, Director; John Killen,
Librarian; Patricia Saunders, Deputy
Director; Monica McErlane, Deputy
Librarian; Marie Ryan, Customer
Services Manager and Ita McGirr,
Administration Manager and my PA.
As you will see from the Accounts,
staff costs are down by £270,000
and our overdraft has reduced
from a high of £250,000 to £158,000.
The reduction in staff costs has
been painful for all, because
everyone has had to work much
harder, but it was essential because,
as an organisation, we were
performing so badly that there was
a realistic chance that our funders
would not support us. As it has
turned out our main funder, the
Department of Culture, Arts and
Leisure, recognised the effort we
were making and awarded us our full
grant when many other
organisations were being cut.
My thanks go to the staff for the
valiant effort they have made and
their hard work throughout the
year.
Michael Longley to mark their 70th
birthdays and their gracious and
long-running association with the
Library.
The year started off spectacularly
with a visit from HRH The Prince of
Wales and HRH The Duchess of
Cornwall. This was the first royal
visit in the Library’s 221-year
history. HRH The Prince of Wales
expressed an interest in the Linen
Hall, and he certainly seemed to
enjoy his tour.
These are just a few of the many,
many events that took place in the
Library and were enjoyed by
thousands of visitors from all over
the world. I must thank my Officers
for their support and hard work:Anne Davies, Vice President; Ciaran
Hunter, Honorary Treasurer; Sam
Burnside, Honorary Secretary and
all Governors for their attendance
at Board meetings and the many
sub committees.
Other highlights of the year for me
were the Titanic exhibition which
featured many treasures donated
by the public specially for this event;
the Cave Hill Diamond exhibition
which marked the recovery of this
marvellous jewel and its donation to
the Linen Hall Library; the Sam
Hanna Bell and Arthur Campbell
events which involved family
members and friends coming
together to celebrate these great
contributors to Irish culture; and,
my personal favourite, the evening
with Seamus Heaney and
Last, but by no means least, my
sincere thanks to you our members;
you always surprise us with your
generosity - not only with monetary
donations but also your gifts of
books and collections, your
attendance at events and your
general support.
We, the Governors, never forget
that it is you, our members, that
make our efforts worthwhile. Please
go out and tell everyone you meet
what a treasure trove of jewels and
gems exist in the Linen Hall Library.
George Priestley, OBE
President of the Board of
Governors
May 2010
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Librarian’s Report
Treasures found, famous writers celebrated, royal
visits…this has been a year of exciting events at the
Library.
Support for the Library from the
Department of Culture, Arts and
Leisure continued with core funding
and a generous grant of £60,000 to
consolidate the reserve storage
capacity of the Library. Between
January and the end of March, all
reserve material from five storage
units in central and east Belfast were
relocated to one unit in the Twin
Spires complex. Over 100,000 volumes
of Irish and local studies material now
await cataloguing and conservation
and will add greatly to the research
capability of the Library.
Two rare finds indicate the exciting
potential of this collection – The
Rathlin Catechism, printed in Belfast
in 1722, is reputed to be the first
book printed in Irish in the North of
Ireland, and Virgil’s Aeneis, translated
into Scots in 1710. Both will be added
to the Library’s extensive Languages
of Ulster Collection.
In February we received our first
royal visit in 221 years. HRH The Prince
of Wales and HRH The Duchess of
Cornwall, visited the Library on 3
February and were greeted by the
President, Marnie O’Neill, and a
delegation of Governors and staff.
They were shown some of the ‘gems’
of the Library; and Prince Charles
signed two copies of his children’s
book – The Old Man of Lochnagar –
one of which will be auctioned in aid of
Library funds.
Throughout the year the Library
delivered a varied and well received
cultural programme based on its
collections. In February, the first
Belfast Book Festival proved a great
success, as did Titanic – Belfast
Connections exhibition, the Solidarity
and the Polish Path to Freedom
exhibition in May/June, the Cave Hill
Diamond exhibition in June/September,
A Man Flourishing – the Sam Hanna
Bell Anniversary exhibition and
colloquium in October/November,
Russell’s Revenge: A Night of Terror in
the Linen Hall Library on 29 October
and the Arthur Campbell: Artist and
Photographer exhibition in November
and December.
Three booksales were held
throughout the year, and members
were, as ever, very supportive. By
weeding the collections we made
space for the many donations of
books from members and the public.
In May, the Library was gifted an
important collection of material on
the Plantation of Ulster from the
estate of the late Bob Hunter.
This collection is being catalogued at
present, through a generous
donation from his daughter Ms Laura
Houghton, and will be exhibited in
2010/2011.
As part of the Library’s Business Plan,
12 exhibitions from previous years
have been revived and will be placed in
galleries, museums and libraries
throughout Northern Ireland in the
coming year to “inform the mind and
excite a spirit of general enquiry.”
In cultural terms the year ended on a
high, with a presentation evening to
two of Ireland’s finest poets - Michael
Longley and Seamus Heaney - to
celebrate their 70th birthdays.
Appropriate gifts were commissioned
from the silversmith, Graham Harron,
boxed by conservation bookbinder,
Sidney Aiken. Thereafter, guests and
poets enjoyed a convivial evening.
John Killen
Librarian
May 2010
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Corporate Members 2009
The Library is most grateful to the following organisations for their
continued support throughout the year:
We are also grateful to W & R Barnett Ltd, Belfast Unemployed Resource Centre, Campbell Fitzpatrick Solicitors,
Consarc Design Group, Democratic Unionist Party, EPIC, Institute of Irish Studies, Last Post Great War Society, Lodge of
Research, Methodist College Belfast, NI Transport Holding Company, North Belfast Partnership, Open Door Housing
Association, Parades Commission and the School for International Training.
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Looking Forward to May 2013
The Linen Hall Library has survived, existed, blossomed
and flourished over the past 221 years. It is a truly
unique institution steeped in culture, tradition, warmth
and even intrigue.
In May 2013 the Library is planning a
number of activities to celebrate
its 225th birthday. These will include
famous poets, writers, musicians
and celebrities. Our newsletters,
website and other promotional
channels will keep you up to date on
how the preparations are
progressing. These celebrations will
complement another notable
milestone - the 400th anniversary
of Belfast’s Charter.
In order that we do justice to our
unique collections and exhibitions,
we are committed to establishing a
consistent, secure and adequate
income stream. At the same time
we are determined to conserve,
catalogue and display considerably
more of our reserve stocks. We are
focusing on these two initiatives
along with maximising the use of
space at the Library, ultimately to
make it more accessible to more
people. Recently, we have
introduced a series of members’
only presentations about the
Library and its jewels by the
Librarian John Killen and other
gifted professionals. We are also
actively developing relationships
with a wider spectrum of people in
the corporate world with dedicated
Corporate Evenings which
encourage the use of Library
facilities to entertain suppliers,
staff and customers. These
evenings also feature a presentation
of archive treasures.
So that we can promote the unique
qualities of the Linen Hall Library to
a wider audience, we have begun a
relationship-building initiative with
various departments
of the Northern
Ireland Assembly.
On an international
level, our Librarian
John Killen, will be
travelling to the
US to participate in the
New York New Belfast
Conference in June and
then at Boston College
to rekindle and further
develop links with our
audience in the
USA.
Regionally, the
Linen Hall is
taking to the
road. Starting in
June with the
Saint Patrick
Centre in Downpatrick, the Library
will begin a series of talks around
Northern Ireland promoting our
strength as a holder of cultural
items from all around the country.
A recent survey conducted by the
Linen Hall shows that 94.5% of
people who visit the Library want to
return. This makes us more
determined to continue
encouraging more people to come
into the Library, become members,
or at least be involved in the future
security and development of the
Library. Once in the Library, visitors
meet staff brimming with
knowledge and mingle with a wide
cross-section of the world’s
population.
To continue the dream of the
founding artisans of 1788,
who established the Linen Hall
Library so that citizens could
improve their knowledge, the
Library depends on donations
of books, artefacts, ephemera
and, most of all, money. And
to that end we continue to
actively seek out means of
increasing our archives and
securing our future.
All citizens should be justifiably
proud of the Linen Hall Library
as a unique institution, a
formidable player in the exciting
history of this wonderful vibrant
city of culture. The books written
and published by various
Librarians, especially the current
post holder, John Killen, who wrote
the definitive history of the Library
- A History of The Linen Hall Library
1788 – 1988, are widely recognised by
academics and historians as
invaluable to the wider education of
our young people.
Brian Adgey
Director
May 2010
Pictured from top:
Vincent Mageean, Irvine McKay and Patricia
Saunders at a Library Members’ Night;
John Killen, Terrence Robinson and Alf
McCreary. Alf McCreary presents his book
Coca-Cola A Passion For Success;
Brian Adgey, Nelson McCausland, Minister for
Culture, Arts and Leisure. Nelson McCausland,
MLA, visits the Library.
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Governors of the Linen Hall Library
Pictured left to right - (back row) Hugh Campbell, John Erskine, Sam Burnside; (centre row) Brian Walker, Marnie O’Neill,
Janet Trewsdale, Sean Nolan; (front row) Steve Mungavin, Anne Davies, George Priestley and Ciaran Hunter.
President
Ms M O’Neill, OBE, MA
Mr G Priestley, OBE, FCIM (elected June)
Vice-President
Mr G Priestley OBE, FCIM
Mrs A Davies, BA Hons, DILS (elected June)
Honorary Secretary:
Mrs A Davies, BA Hons, DILS
Jennifer Campbell
Mr S Burnside, BA, MPhil, PhD (elected June)
Honorary Treasurer:
Mr C Hunter, FCA
Governors:
Ms B Callaghan (retired June)
Mr H Campbell (co-opted June)
Mrs J Campbell, DL, BA
Leon Litvack
Mr P Cavan (elected June)
Dr M Crozier
Mr J Erskine, BA, Dip Ed, Dip Lib, MCLIP
Dr L Litvack (co-opted June)
Mrs G McGrath, BA, MSsc
Mr S Mungavin, BA, CPFA
Grace McGrath
Mr J C Nolan, BA, MSc, FMA
Professor J Pinkerton, BSSc, MSSc, MSc, CQSW, PhD
Ms C Reid (retired June)
Mrs J Trewsdale, OBE (elected June)
Professor B Walker, MA, PhD
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John Pinkerton
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Staff of the Linen Hall Library
Senior Management Team
Acting Librarian and Head of Library & Research Services
Mr J Killen, MA, MLS
Head of Finance & Human Resources
Ms S Finlay (resigned May)
Head of Member, Customer & Support Services
Mrs P Saunders, BA Hons, Dip Euro Hum, MInstILM
Library Services
Irish & Reference Librarian
Mr G Healey, BA (retired November)
Systems Librarian & NIPR Manager
Ms M McErlane, BA Hons, DLIS
Librarian, NIPC & Director of Development
Ms Y Murphy (resigned February)
Conservation Co-ordinator
Ms M Foley, BA, BSc
Cataloguer
Mr A Dunlop, BA Hons, PG Dip(LIM)
Cataloguing Assistant
Mrs D Ferran
Senior Library Assistants
General Services
Mrs M Ryan
Northern Ireland Political Collection
Mr A Gordon, BA, MSc
Library Assistants
Mrs H Arrell
Mr G Carville, BA
Mrs D Douglas, BA Hons, MA
Mr K McComb, BSc (resigned October)
Mrs E McMullan, BA, DLIB
Dr R Moore, BA, MPhil
Miss M Walsh, BA Hons
Administrative Services
Administrator
Ms I McGirr, HND, Dip RSA
Web Editor & Assistant Administrator
Ms D Elliman
Public Relations & Marketing Officer
Mrs R Wetherall, BA Hons, MA
Arts & Cultural Programming Officer
Ms K Collins, BA/LLB, BA (Theatre Studies)
Finance Assistants
Mrs B Thompson
Mr G Wilson
Coffee House
Catering Assistants
Mrs L Gribben
Mrs A Rainey
Ms J Ewing (resigned October)
Miss L Curry (appointed October)
Ancillary Services
Security Officer
Mr A Tumilson (retired December)
Caretaker
Mr D Lenaghan (retired January)
Volunteers
Miss M Boyd, Miss R Carson, Miss H Copeland,
Mr P Duff, Mr J Graham, Mr P Hunter,
Mr E McKenna, Mr R Roberts
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The Year 2009 included...
An exciting roll-call of local and international
artists and cultural activities were presented at
the Linen Hall Library in 2009. Principal financial
support came from the Arts Council of Northern
Ireland and Belfast City Council. John Killen, KellyAnne Collins, Deborah Douglas, Elizabeth McMullan,
Mairead Walsh, Hilary Copeland, Eoin McKenna,
Megan Boyd, Charmaine McBride and Dermot
Hickson are thanked for their time, commitment
and enthusiastic support.
Belfast Book Festival 2009
24 February to 1 March
The year opened with the Belfast Book Festival
2009. This was the first major book festival to
encompass the entire city of Belfast and, for the
first time, brought together many literary
organisations and partners. It involved:
• More than 30 events for all ages at 11 venues;
• 76 artists;
• More than 1,000 people attending events with
many sold out and an average attendance of
over 70%; and
• 19 partners and funders including
CultureNorthernIreland.org, Belfast Education
and Library Board, Verbal Arts Centre, Books
NI, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Belfast
City Council, Seamus Heaney Centre for Poetry,
Northern Ireland Publications Resource, John
Hewitt Society, Oh Yeah! Centre, University of
Ulster, Blackstaff Press, Guildhall Press, Irish
Pages, Queen's Film Theatre, Europe Direct, The
Merchant Hotel and Creative Writers Network.
The Festival included appearances from John
Banville, Ciaran Carson, Claire Kilroy, Toby Litt,
Carlo Gébler and Ian Sansom, and locals Simon
Dougan (Yellow Door Deli), Gerry Anderson and
Barbara Best McNarry. Visitors hailed from
around Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, the
UK and further afield.
The Festival received a large amount of press,
online, radio and television coverage with
features in the Belfast Telegraph, Irish News and
The News Letter, and mentions on Radio Ulster,
U105, Downtown, Feile FM and BBC Newsline.
Audience feedback was overwhelmingly positive
with 90% of respondees saying that they enjoyed
the event they had attended 'a lot'.
Pictured: John Banville;
Robbie Meredith and Hugh Odling-Smee
lead a Literary Walking Tour;
David Lewis, John Killen, Lord Mayor Councillor Tom Hartley,
Roísin McDonough (Chief Executive ACNI),
John Banville and Kelly-Anne Collins at the launch;
Simon Dougan delivers a talk and cookery demonstration;
Paddy Gordon, Gerry Anderson and Sean Donnelly;
Dave Duggan (Guildhall Quartet);
Musician Will Hawkins;
Our George by Barbara Best McNarry
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Titanic: Belfast Connections Exhibition & Events
6 April to 30 April
As Belfast gears up to mark the centenary of the Titanic
disaster, the Linen Hall Library previewed its own gems as
well as those currently in private hands, many of which had
never been seen before. The exhibition was supplemented by
several talks on the theme.
Solidarity and the Polish Path to Freedom Exhibition & Events
7 May to 3 June
The Library's involvement with Polish Cultural Week 2009
built on the connections made in the previous year and
further explored the culture and recent history of one of
Northern Ireland's newest communities. The events were
also part of Polska! Year. Key events included an exhibition
of internationally-renowned political posters and a
screening (and Q&A with director Rafael Kapelinski) of the
award-winning short film, Emily Cries, set during early 1980s
martial law. This exhibition provided a counter-point to the
Library's own Troubled Images with each exhibition exploring
history through poster art.
Belfast Gems: Cave Hill & The Diamond Exhibition & Events
10 June to 12 September
In 2008, Dean Norman Barr, a former rector of Derriaghy,
contacted the Library about taking possession of material
belonging to one of his former parishioners, Mrs Kirkwood.
Contained in an old leather suitcase among assorted
newspaper cuttings, pictures and letters was a large stone.
For many years, our former Librarian and unofficial 'Cave
Hill Historian', John Gray, had noted historical references
to a 'Cave Hill Diamond'. With Dean Barr's gift, it seemed
that the source of the story could now be revealed and, all
summer long, the Library displayed the 'diamond', examined
the legend and promoted the importance of Cave Hill to
the lives of the people of Belfast over the past 150 years.
The exhibition also included Raymond Piper sketches of
Belfast Castle and Cave Hill from our archives. Events
included a series of lectures on the geology of the
'diamond', the history of and current efforts to protect
Cave Hill, and the story of the Cave Hill Diamond itself from
John Gray. Our family and children's events included a
storytelling and illustration workshop with Stephen Hall and
a storytelling performance by Fra Gunn.
This 'season' was put together with Belfast City Council
Parks Service who produced their own events at Belfast
Zoo and Castle, and Cave Hill.
During the period of the exhibition, footfall increased
nearly 5% over the same period in the previous year.
Audience feedback indicated that more than 85% of
attendees liked the event that they attended during this
season 'a lot'. Significant press (TV, radio, print and online)
coverage was achieved.
Pictured (from top, left to right)
Trinket Box given to Margaret (Molly) Brown by her husband
JJ, to mark her survival of the sinking of the Titanic;
Six foot scale model of the Titanic previously on
display aboard the Nomadic;
Polish Secretary of State, Pawel Wojciechowski and
Kelly-Anne Collins celebrate Polish Cultural Week;
Dean Norman Barr and Librarian John Killen
with the Cave Hill Diamond;
The Cave Hill Diamond;
Sketch of Cave Hill by Raymond Piper;
Librarian John Killen and Lord Mayor Councillor Naomi Long
celebrate the launch of the Cave Hill Diamond Exhibition.
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The Year 2009 included...
'A Man Flourishing': Sam Hanna Bell
Anniversary Exhibition & Events
17 October to 14 November
Russell's Revenge: A Night of Terror in the
Linen Hall Library
29 October
Tribute was paid to the accomplishments
and legacy of writer and broadcaster,
Sam Hanna Bell, described by Michael
Longley as "one of our prophets".
Highlights included:
- a rare poetry reading in Northern
Ireland by Paul Muldoon of work that
was inspired by Hanna Bell;
- an exhibition displaying his personal
papers and letters, and BBC sound
recordings as well as an educational
series of banners; and
- a colloquium debating the quality and
breadth of his work with Carlo Gébler,
Roma Tomelty, Anne Tannahill, Thaddeus
O'Sullivan and Sean McMahon.
This new event, written and directed by
Mairead Walsh, was a Halloween-inspired,
dramatic performance/tour which
'creatively retold' the story of the
arrest of United Irishman and the
Library's second Librarian, Thomas
Russell. It was a timely and novel
approach to telling the Library's story
designed to attract a younger and wider
audience to engage with the Library. The
event quickly sold out and audience
response was enthusiastic. As this event
was a fundraiser for the Library, all the
performers and technical assistants
provided their energy and time for free.
Other speakers and guests included Pat
Loughrey, ex-Director, Nations and
Regions (BBC), Paul Muldoon, Michael
Longley and Dr Sophia Hillan. An audience
member described the exhibition and
events as ‘enjoyable, enlightening and
thought-provoking’. These events were
also part of the Ulster Bank Belfast
Festival at Queens’.
Financial support for these activities
came from the Belfast Natural History &
Philosophical Society, the A.E. Harvey
Charitable Trust, Blackstaff Press, BBC
NI and the Arts Council of Northern
Ireland.
Public and media interest was high. All
but one of the events was sold-out and
footfall into the Library was up 10% on
the same period in the previous year. The
exhibition launch reception was
broadcast live on Arts Extra on BBC
Radio Ulster and the DCAL Minister,
Nelson McCausland MLA, attended.
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Arthur Campbell: Artist and
Photographer – Centenary Exhibition
25 November to 19 December
The second of our centenary exhibitions
in 2009 was a revelation for anyone who
saw it. Unlike Sam Hanna Bell, Arthur
Campbell never received much
recognition in his lifetime. In particular,
his extensive black and white
photographs of Belfast from the 1920s
to 1940s captured the imaginations and
memories of audiences and critics alike.
Two of these photographs have since
been donated to the Library by the
Campbell family.
Pictures from top:
Nelson McCausland speaks at the
launch of the Sam Hanna Bell exhibition.
Fergus Bell with statue of his
father Sam Hanna Bell.
Paul Muldoon, John Killen, Michael Longley,
and Fergus Bell at the Sam Hanna Bell
Exhibition launch.
Royal Avenue, Belfast, 12th March, 1937,
by Arthur Campell
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Belfast Kids Guernica Exhibiton Artwork
2009 also saw the following exhibitions
on display:
Old Memories, Young Hopes: The Lyric
Theatre, 1951-2008 – A Film Installation
by Jackie Doyle
7 January to 17 January
This exhibition celebrated the history
of Belfast's Lyric Theatre with
archive film footage, interviews with
members of the Theatre and a video
kiosk with contributions from
members of the public. The material
was then added to the Library's
Theatre & Performing Arts Archive.
Children’s Art & Photography
Competition Winners: European
Heritage Open Day 2008
9 February to 21 February
Seamus Heaney & Michael Longley
Birthday Exhibition
21 September to 12 October
Belfast Kids Guernica Exhibition
21 September to 26 September
This portable peace mural was
painted by Year 10 pupils of Little
Flower Girls' School, North Belfast.
Pablo Picasso’s original Guernica
painting served as the inspiration for
the work.
The mural addresses the values of
peace, solidarity and international
understanding while reflecting the
context of the young artists’ lives.
Other Regular Events
Other events in 2009 included the
introduction of Introductory UlsterScots classes and the increasingly
popular Beginners' and Advanced Irish
classes, the introduction of monthly
Saturday morning story-times for
children and a vigorous and growing
reading group that toured around
the world with their book choices
which featured one from each
continent.
The Belfast Natural History &
Philosophical Society continued their
series of lectures with topics
including the Italian community in
Northern Ireland and, in his
anniversary year, The Landscapes of
Darwinism.
Exhibitions on Tour
The Library's Hidden Connections
exhibition was on tour to the Gallery
at the Belfast campus of the
University of Ulster (7 January to 21
January) and Bangor Carnegie
Library (3 February to 31 March).
Michael Longley, John Killen and Seamus Heaney;
Hidden Connections Exhibition;
Art Teacher Cathal Cauldwell and pupils of
Little Flower Girls’ School at the launch of
Belfast Kids Guernica Exhibition;
Polish Cultural Week Poster
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Donations
During the year 87 individuals and organisations
donated a large number of books, manuscripts,
journals and ephemera to the Library’s collections. It
is generous support of this kind that helps
strengthen the Library’s uniqueness and makes it the
unrivalled resource that it is.
Highlights of the year include the Bob Hunter
Collection, comprising material on the Plantation of
Ulster, which was handed over at our outreach
event in Derry in March. In June, Victor Blease
kindly gave the Library a collection of over 300
books, journals and maps which belonged to his
late father Lord Blease.
Dorethea Madden’s gift of The History of
Ancient Greece by John Gillies in three volumes
(Dublin: Burnett, 1786) was another significant
donation as this work is listed in the Library’s
first catalogue of 1793. The Librarian is hoping
to fully recreate this early collection in time
for the Library’s 225th birthday.
In October, a View from the Linen Hall, a painting by Cecilia
Cunningham, was presented by her sister Bernadette.
We are grateful to all donors to our collections. They
include:
Alliance Party, James Annett, Dean Norman Barr, Victor
Blease, Dr Anne Boyd, WF Brooks, Dr Kris Brown, Sid Brown,
Tony Canavan, Norma Chaplin, Wallace Clark, Bobby Clarke,
Ciaran Crossey, Bernadette Cunningham, Gerald Dawe,
Democratic Unionist Party, Marie Dillon, Peter Donaldson,
Frank Dowling, Alice Drennan, Sr Marie Duddy, Sara Duncan,
Ruth Dudley Edwards, Donald Eldon, Kelsie Erskine, Mrs A
Finlay, Jude Flynn, Trevor Fulton, John Gamble, William A
Gawn, Laura Gilbert, Green Party, Pat Haines, Wilson John
Haire, Richard Harrison, Tom Hartley, Lee Henry, John Hillen,
John Hunter, John A Kelly, Brian Kennedy, Tony Kennedy, David
Kerr, Alan Lawson, Frank Liddy, Doreen Lisk, Christopher
Luke, Monsignor Ambrose MacAuley, Dr Dermot Mackie, J
Claude Macquigg, Dorethea Madden, Joan McBreen, Liam
McBrinn, John McCabe, Alex McClay, D McConnell, Stanley
McDowell, William McStay, Dr G Rex Meyer, Mr Miller, John
Morgan, Vincent Morris, Bridget Murphy, Drew Nelson,
Newtownabbey Borough Council, Frances Osborne, Jim
O’Hagan, Trevor Parkhill, Sandra Perry, Janet Pritchard, Bob
Purdie, Randalstown Historical Society, Helen Robinson, Jyrki
Ruohomaki, Scotus Press, SDLP, Sinn Féin, Socialist Party,
Special Collections at Queen’s University Belfast, Joseph
Thompson, Traditional Unionist Voice, Ulster-Scots Agency,
Ulster Unionist Party, Clare Wallace, Julian Warner, Workers
Party and Dr Olaf Zenker.
12
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Facts and Figures
Membership
2009
2008
+ or -
13
13
0
Life
586
599
-13
Standard
1,023
1,107
-84
Concessionary
1,058
1,050
8
171 (55)
186 (58)
-15
Student
122
148
-26
Juvenile
81
86
-5
External
63
64
-1
176 (72)
178 (74)
-2
3,293
3,431
-138
Honorary
Family*
Corporate*
Total
*Figure counted in tickets issued with number of such multiple
memberships shown in brackets.
Loan Figures
2009
2008
+ or -
%
General
18,040
17,370
+670
+4%
Irish
5,210
4,703
+507
+11%
23,250
22,073
+1,177
+5%
Cataloguing
During the year 4,230 online bibliographic records were
created, which means 131,765 book and journal titles are now
available on the Library’s catalogue.
Electronic Access
Linenhall.com
Visitor figures to our website for 2009 were 60,398 (81,235 in
2008) during the year.
Footfall
Visitor numbers for 2009 were 124,589, a 7.6% increase on 2008
(115,165)
13
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Financial Summary
The Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA), Auditors’ Report and Balance Sheet are set out on pages 15-16. Full financial
statements are available upon request from the Linen Hall Library or on the Library website (www.linenhall.com).
Overview
The Library's ongoing finances, while
still under continuing strain, show
significant improvement over the
prior year. While incoming resources
have fallen, from £1,077k to £971k,
expenditure has been significantly
reduced by over £137k to £1,067k. This
has resulted in a significantly reduced
deficit before adjustment for the
impact of the defined benefit pension
scheme, down from £290k to £157k. The
pension scheme adjustment resulted
in an additional charge this year of
£68k leading to an overall deficit of
£225k, down from £330k in the
previous year.
The Board are continuing to
proactively review costs and revenues
closely to reduce the deficit in the
coming year. This Board aim to return
the Library to surplus as quickly as
possible.
The Library currently relies upon the
availability of a bank overdraft
facility for ongoing financing. The
Board are working to reduce this
reliance as quickly as possible through
a mixture of increased income
generation and active management
of all Library costs.
Income
Grants showed a decline of 9% to
£504k, mainly reflecting the financial
challenges faced by a number of our
long-term funders. This pattern of a
reduction in grant income is likely to
continue in the coming years.
Subscription income, excluding gift aid,
rose marginally from £130k to £131k;
however the Library received less gift
aid on these subscriptions which
reduced total subscription income to
£144k from £146k.
14
Income generating activities and
related costs showed a significant
decline, mainly due to the franchising
of the coffee shop to Clements. The
Library is continuing to work with
Clements to see how best to develop
the coffee shop for all our members
while generating much needed finance
for the Library.
The following table sets out the level
of support from each of these
funders:
Donations and legacies rose from
£70k to £74k.
It is likely that these funders will
continue to experience significant
funding budget pressure for a
number of years going forward.
Expenditure
The largest single area of cost is in
relation to staff, representing over
60% of Library operational costs in
2009. After several years of rising
staff levels and costs the Library has
seen a reduction in both staff
numbers (down from an average of 35
in 2008 to 24 in 2009) and costs (down
from £810k to £541k). A detailed
breakdown of all Charitable
Expenditure is set in notes 5 and 6 of
the Financial Statements.
Funder
DCAL
Arts Council
Belfast City Council
2009
£K
367
41
42
2008
£K
322
114
61
The largest private sector grant was
from The J Paul Getty Jr Charitable
Trust for £12k for ongoing
conservation work. Full details of
grant income and awarding bodies are
set out in note 2 to the financial
statements.
Legacies
We are grateful to the late Mrs M E
Edney and the late Mr Bob Hunter for
generous legacies received in 2009.
Pension Scheme
Donations
The Library operates a defined
pension scheme through NILGOSC. At
the year end the scheme was in
deficit by £400k, an increase of £106k.
The funding requirement for the
scheme has increased steadily over
the last number of years and is likely
to continue to increase again in 2010.
Grants
The three largest providers of grant
support to the Library in recent
years have been the Department of
Culture Arts and Leisure (DCAL),
Belfast City Council and the Arts
Council for NI, who between them have
generated approximately 90% of
grant income.
We are grateful to the A E Harvey
Charitable Trust, the Esmé Mitchell
Trust, Mr Randall Foggie, Mr Robert
Goodwill, Mr J V Hamilton, Mr Ciaran
Hunter and everyone who made
donations to the Library during the
year. Without the support and
generosity of these donors we would
be unable to provide the wide range
of services that we offer.
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Governors’ and Auditors’ Reports
Governors’ report on the summary financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2009
These summary financial statements
may not contain sufficient
information to allow for a full
understanding of the financial affairs
of the Library. For further
information the full annual financial
statements, the auditors’ report on
those financial statements and the
Governors’ annual report should be
consulted; copies of these can been
obtained from the Linen Hall Library,
17 Donegall Square North, Belfast, BT1
5GB.
The full annual financial statements,
from which these summary financial
statements are derived and on which
the auditors gave an unqualified
opinion, were approved in May 2010.
By order of the Board
Mr G Priestley, OBE
President
13 May 2010
Independent Auditors’ report to the Governors of the Linen Hall Library
We have examined the financial
statements of the Linen Hall Library
for the year ended 31 December 2009.
Respective responsibilities of
governors and auditors
The Governors are responsible for
preparing the summarised financial
statements in accordance with the
recommendations of the charities
SORP.
This statement, including the opinion,
has been prepared for and only for
the charity’s Governors and for no
other purpose. We do not, in giving this
opinion, accept or assume
responsibility for any other purpose
or to any other person to whom this
statement is shown or into whose
hands it may come save where
expressly agreed by our prior consent
in writing.
Basis of opinion
Our responsibility is to report to you
our opinion on the consistency of the
summarised financial statements with
the full financial statements and
Governors’ Annual Report. We also
read the other information contained
in the summarised annual report and
consider the implications for our
report if we become aware of any
apparent misstatement or material
inconsistencies with the summarised
financial statements.
We conducted our work in accordance
with Bulletin 1999/6 ‘The auditors’
statement on the summary financial
statement’ issued by the Auditing
Practices Board for use in the United
Kingdom.
Opinion
In our opinion the summarised financial
statements are consistent with the
full financial statements and the
Governors’ Annual Report of the Linen
Hall Library for the year ended 31
December 2009.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Chartered Accountants and
Statutory Auditors
Belfast
13 May 2010
15
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Statement of financial activities for the year ended 31 December 2009
Endowment
Funds
Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total
Funds 2009
Total
Funds 2008
Notes
£
£
£
£
£
2
Incoming resources
Incoming resources from generated funds
Voluntary income
-
530,520
191,725
722,245
766,257
Rental income
-
169,432
-
169,432
138,552
Investment income
-
-
8,958
8,958
5,768
Incoming resources from charitable activities
-
69,062
-
69,062
166,720
Other income resources
Fundraising trading
3
-
1,496
-
1,496
221
Total incoming resources
-
770,510
200,683
971,193
1,077,518
-
61,090
-
61,090
159,856
-
61,090
-
61,090
162,039
Resources expended
Costs of generating funds:
Rental expenses
Fundraising trading expenses
4
Total costs of generating funds
Charitable expenditure
Charitable activities
Projects and events
5
-
-
141,275
141,275
206,221
Library operating costs
6
-
919,424
-
919,424
990,469
-
6,600
-
6,600
8,347
-
926,024
141,275
1,067,299
1,205,037
-
987,114
141,275
1,128,389
1,367,076
Governance costs
Total resources expended
Net (outgoing)/incoming resources before transfers
8
-
(216,604)
59,408
(157,196)
(289,558)
Gross transfers between funds
Net (outgoing)/incoming resources before recognised gains and
losses
9
-
52,840
(52,840)
-
-
-
(163,764)
6,568
(157,196)
(289,558)
Actuarial losses on defined benefit pension scheme
20
-
(67,631)
-
(67,631)
(40,254)
Net movement in funds
-
(231,395)
6,568
(224,827)
(329,812)
Fund balance brought forward
115,385
6,268,442
121,791
6,505,618
6,835,430
Total funds carried forward
115,385
6,037,047
128,359
6,280,791
6,505,618
Balance sheet as at 31 December 2009
Notes
2009
2008
£
£
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
10
4,740,537
4,849,557
Investments
11
2,100,000
2,100,000
6,840,537
6,949,557
35,230
Current assets
Stocks
12
23,983
Debtors
13
37,067
54,108
115,684
116,663
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
14
176,734
206,001
(336,723)
(356,231)
Net current liabilities
(159,989)
(150,230)
Net assets excluding pension liability
6,680,548
6,799,327
Pension liability
20
Net assets including pension liability
(399,757)
(293,709)
6,280,791
6,505,618
Funds
Unrestricted funds:
16
- General fund
15
290,885
522,280
- Revaluation fund
15
5,746,162
5,746,162
6,037,047
6,268,442
Restricted funds
16
128,359
121,791
Endowment funds
17
115,385
115,385
Total funds
18
6,280,791
6,505,618
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LINEN HALL LIBRARY
17 DONEGALL SQUARE NORTH
B E L FA S T, B T 1 5 G B
T E L : 0 2 8 9 0 3 2 1 707
E M A I L : i n f o @ l i n e n h a l l .c o m
W E B : w w w. l i n e n h a l l . c o m