2003 Annual Report and Accounts
Transcription
2003 Annual Report and Accounts
LINEN HALL LIBRARY ANNUAL REPORT 2003 Belfast Library and Society for Promoting Knowledge The Linen Hall Library aims to increase knowledge and understanding, both locally and internationally, by collecting, curating, and providing access to an historic library and cultural centre with unique strengths in Irish and local studies. Annual Report for 2003 The Linen Hall Library 17 Donegall Square North Belfast BT1 5GB Tel: (028) 9032 1707 Fax: (028) 9043 8586 E-mail: [email protected] www.linenhall.com Front cover: Michèle Forbes in Charabanc’s 1991 production of Bondagers. One of 17,000 theatre images donated by Chris Hill Photographic, and featured in the exhibition ‘Fighting the Waves’, curated by Jane Moore in October 2003. (Photograph: Jill Jennings) board of governors Office Bearers for the Year 2003 President Mr S Mungavin (a, b, d) Vice President Mr W Montgomery (b) Honorary Secretary Dr E McKendry (a, c, d) Honorary Treasurer Mr H Riddell (a, b) Governors Mrs J Campbell Miss F Cash (d) Dr M Crozier (c) Mr J Erskine (d) Mrs R Hewitt, retired June 2003 Mr B Mackin, appointed August 2003 Professor V Mageean (a, b) Mr I McKay, appointed June 2003 (a) Mr S Nolan (a) Ms M O’Neill, appointed June 2003 Sir G Quigley Dr A T Q Stewart, retired January 2003 Mr B Valentine (d) Professor B Walker (a) Mrs A Watters (c) (11) (5) (5) (10) (11) (7) (8) (8) (2) (1) (7) (4) (9) (3) (8) (-) (9) (8) (11) Belfast City Council Representative: Councillor A Maginness (2) Attendance at monthly meetings in brackets. Membership of sub-committees active during the year is indicated as follows: (a) Finance and General Purposes Committee (Chairman Mr H Riddell) (b) Development Board (Chairman Mr S Mungavin) (c) House Committee (Chairman Mrs A Watters) (d) Staff Committee (Chairman Dr E McKendry) 2 staff Library Services Librarian Deputy Librarian Irish and Reference Librarian Systems Librarian Librarian, NIPC & Troubled Images Tour Director General Services Manager Senior Assistant General Services Senior Assistant, NIPC Cataloguer Cataloguing Assistant Theatre & Performing Arts Archive Curator Theatre & Performing Arts Archive Project Assistant Outreach Officer CultureNorthernIreland Project Officer CultureNorthernIreland Content Developer CultureNorthernIreland Content Developer CultureNorthernIreland Content Developer CultureNorthernIreland Content Developer Conservation Project Co-ordinator Conservation Project Assistant Conservation Project Cleaning Assistant Library Assistants Administrative Services Administrative Secretary Senior Administrative Assistant/Web Editor Administrative Assistant Public Relations/Marketing Officer Cultural Programming Officer Marketing Assistant Finance Officer Finance Assistants Ancillary Services Security Officer Caretaker Coffee House Catering Supervisor Assistants Mr J C Gray, BA, DLIS Mr J Killen, MA, MLS Mr G Healey, BA Miss M McErlane, BA Hons, DLIS* Ms Y Murphy, BA Hons, MSSc, Dip Ed Mrs P Saunders, BA Hons, Dip Euro Hum Mrs M Ryan Dr K Brown, BA Hons, PhD Miss A Dawson, BA, DLIS, to March* † Mrs D Ferran* Ms O Byrne, BA Hons, MPhil, resigned July † Mr H Odling-Smee, MA, appointed December † Miss J Moore, MA* † Mrs F Carson Williams, BA Hons, MA, appointed August † Dr B Anton, BA PhD † Mr H Odling-Smee, MA, resigned December † Mr M Mooney, BA, MA, appointed January † Miss N MacNamara, BA, MA, appointed December † Miss J Smith, BA, MA, appointed December † Miss D Potter, BA Hons, MSc, MMSt, resigned May † Miss E Devlin, BSc Hons, to August* † Mrs R Mallen, retired May* Mrs H Arrell* Mr G Carr, BA, MA, appointed September Mrs D Douglas, BA Hons, MA Mr G Carville, BA, to August † Mrs N Devlin, BSc, DLIS Miss E Devlin, BSc Hons, to August* † Mr M Gammon, BA Hons, MA, MLIS Hons, appointed September Mr A Gordon, BA, MSc Miss L Stafford, appointed October* † Miss I McGirr, HND, Dip RSA Miss D Elliman Mrs J McNamara* † Miss C Mathers, MA, MSc* Miss G Rolston, BA HonsHH, appointed September † Miss J Moore, MA* † Miss S Finlay Mrs B Thompson* Miss L Hayes, to February* † Mrs A MacLennan, appointed May* Mr A Tumilson Mr D Lenaghan Miss S Hawkins Mrs L Gribben* Mrs A Rainey* Mrs M Creaney* † Indicates temporary contract 3 * Indicates part-time Honorary Members Sir C Brett, Miss J C Cochrane, Dr P Donlon, Mr B Douglas, Lady L Faulkner, Dr M Hayes, Professor S Heaney, Ms J Johnston, Mr B Keenan, Mr F Lepper, Mr M Longley, Mr M Maultsaid, Miss M McWilliams, Mr R Piper, Mr J Simms. Corporate Members The Library is most grateful to the following organisations for their support:Allianz Northern Ireland Amalgamated Transport and General Workers’ Union Bank of Ireland Bar Library W & R Barnett Ltd Bass Ireland Limited BBC Northern Ireland Belfast City Council Community Services Department Belfast Exposed Belfast First Stop Business Shop Belfast Harbour Commissioners Belfast Royal Academy Belfast Society Belfast Telegraph C & J Black Solicitors Blackstaff Press Bloody Sunday Inquiry Bombardier Aerospace British Irish Secretariat British Telecom Northern Ireland Brown McConnell Clark Campbell Fitzpatrick Solicitors Castlereagh Borough Council Chief Executives’ Forum Cleaver, Fulton & Rankin Colourpoint Books Community Foundation for NI Cumann Na Meirleach Poblachtach Democratic Dialogue Democratic Unionist Party Derry City Council Dominican College Fortwilliam Dun Laoghaire Library Service Eason & Son (NI) Ltd Educational Guidance Service for Adults Environment & Heritage Service, Department of the Environment Evangelical Contribution on Northern Ireland Ex-Prisoners’ Interpretive Centre Farset Youth & Community Development First Trust Bank Groundwork Northern Ireland Hall Black & Douglas Institute for Conflict Research Institute of Irish Studies, Queen’s University Belfast Institute of Lifelong Learning, Queen’s University Belfast Irish News Johns Elliot Solicitors L'Estrange & Brett Solicitors Lodge of Research John H Lunn 4 Marsh UK Ltd McKinty & Wright Solicitors Methodist College Belfast National Trust Newtownabbey Borough Council Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education Northern Ireland Court Service Northern Ireland Film & Television Commission Northern Ireland Government Affairs Group Northern Ireland Housing Executive Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission Northern Ireland Prison Service Northern Ireland Tour Guide Association Northern Ireland Tourist Board Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance North & West Belfast Health and Social Services Trust North Belfast Partnership North Down Borough Council North/South Ministerial Council Parades Commission Police Ombudsman’s Office Library Preparing for Post Conflict Trust Probation Board for Northern Ireland Progressive Building Society Public Record Office of Northern Ireland Queen's University Library Royal Belfast Academical Institution Royal Irish Academy School for International Training School of Sociology & Social Policy, QUB Charles Scott & Company South Eastern Education &Library Board St Dominic's High School St Mary's University College Stranmillis University College Tides Training Ulster Bank Limited Ulster Carpet Mills Ltd Ulster Historical Foundation Ulster Museum Ulster Unionist Party Ulster-American Folk Park Ulster-Scots Agency UNISON University of Ulster School of History, Philosophy & Politics William Clements (Chemicals) Ltd. Workers' Educational Association president’s foreword Mention the Linen Hall Library to people and the one recurring word in their response is ‘unique’. Indeed, the Library is a unique and valued institution in Northern Ireland, which serves to remind me, as President, what a privilege it is to introduce the 2003 Annual Report. the Board in 2003 and will be missed. During the year we welcomed Mr Brendan Mackin, Mr Irvine McKay and Ms Marnie O’Neill to the Board and look forward to their continuing and significant contribution to the governance of the Library. In 2003 the Library reached an important milestone by fully paying off the costs of the £3.4 million building extension and Millennium Development. Our deepest thanks go to all those in the public and private sectors – individuals, corporations, official agencies and trusts, who have supported the endeavour throughout. During the year record numbers of visitors and of subscribing members experienced the very special environment of the Library. Our renowned collections play a major part, as do our standards of service, whether reflected in expertise or in a welcome to all. More markedly than ever before, we serve as a wider cultural centre, making full use of our new vertical gallery and performance area; our high quality programming of this kind almost doubled in extent compared with the previous year. Of course, the development of the Library continues in an institution never short of ambition and convinced of its importance to our society. The challenges of continuing to build, whether in terms of collections, our outreach to our users and the community at large, and of securing the resources required, will continue into 2004 and beyond. Meanwhile we make an ever greater impact at regional, national and international levels. We are a lead partner in key Northern Ireland-wide projects such as Northern Ireland Publications Resource and ‘CultureNorthernIreland’, the new website for the whole arena. The highly successful tour to the United States of the ‘Troubled Images’ exhibition of political posters has raised awareness of the Library internationally, resulting in many important contacts and new friends. We undertake the mission from what is now a stronger foundation than ever before, but it remains one that is dependent on the continued support of our friends at home and abroad. Steve Mungavin April 2004 For the successes of the year, tribute is due to all the staff of the Library for their creativity, enthusiasm and dedication. Governors too give unstinting commitment. I would like to offer my sincere thanks to Dr Tony Stewart and Mrs Ruth Hewitt, for their staunch support of the Library during their time as Governors. Both decided to stand down from 5 annual report 1. Introduction During the year membership and footfall rose to new record levels of 4,405 and 144,750 respectively, while book loans registered an almost 7% increase. These were the most basic measurements of the growing impact the Library continues to make in our own community, whether as a library or in its wider role as a cultural centre for an extraordinary range of activities. ‘Troubled Images’ was made possible by the unique special focus of our Northern Ireland Political Collection. A newer specialism, the Theatre and Performing Arts Archive, is now further proving the validity of the model. The major exhibition ‘Fighting the Waves’, featuring three decades of theatre photography, also marked the donation of the Chris Hill Photographic archive of 17,000 theatre photographs, possibly the most significant of the many donations to collections received during the year. It was appropriate that the Governors agreed in June that the Theatre and Performing Arts Archive should move beyond temporary provision and be viewed as ‘a core collection of the Library’. Our impact extends far further afield. In March, at the London award of the Ewart-Biggs Memorial Prize to the Library for our ‘Troubled Images’ project, Professor Roy Foster spoke of the Library as ‘a beacon of light, learning, and impartial inquiry’. The nine-venue tour by our ‘Troubled Images’ exhibition of the United States opened in March on the very day of the start of the Iraq war. As Bob O’Neill, Burns Librarian at Boston College, noted, the exhibition was ‘one of the most successful we have ever featured’ and partly because ‘it resonates with American viewers in a way that was not possible before September 11, 2001’. The Library continues to play a major role in projects of regional significance. Northern Ireland Publications Resource, in which the Library is joint lead partner with the Belfast Education and Library Board, has proved something of a model for the co-operative recording and archival preservation of local publications. CultureNorthernIreland, in which the Library is joint lead partner with the Nerve Centre, was ready for launch as a major website for the entire field by year-end. Whether at home or abroad the Library continues to enjoy an unprecedentedly high public profile with coverage in 172 newspaper and magazine articles, 47 radio programmes and 22 television programmes during the year. The year brought a major landmark with the completion of funding for our £3.4 million Millennium Development, thus bringing to a successful close seven years of work to achieve this objective. While work will continue on cataloguing and conservation aspects of the project into the first half of 2004, these operations are now fully underwritten. The final clearing of extension debt was achieved with the help of a £281,000 in-year grant from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure. While this has removed the dangerous debt burden faced by the Library at the end of 2002, the onward re-current funding position remains extremely difficult. In this context we particularly welcomed new grant support from the Irish Government’s Peace and Reconciliation Fund. The Library has also used Senator George Mitchell, guest speaker at the ‘Troubled Images’ launch in Washington with Library VicePresident, Bill Montgomery and Yvonne Murphy, Director of the ‘Troubled Images’ Tour. (Photograph: Stoff Smulson) 6 The Governors were delighted to award honorary membership during the year to Raymond Piper for his services to art. 2. Visitor Numbers and Membership Visitor numbers rose by 7% to a new record figure of 144,750 as compared with 135,230 in the previous year. With the help of a major recruitment campaign, subscribing membership again increased strongly, and by 9.7%, to a new record total of 4,405, as compared with 4,016 in the previous year. Net gains were made in all categories except life membership. Playwright Marie Jones launches our new e-commerce facilities. (Photograph: Phil Smyth) Department of Culture, Arts & Leisure Minister, Angela Smith, Barbara Rolston, Head of External Relations, Royal Mail (right), and Monica McErlane, NIPR Manager, at the launch of the ‘Celebrating Our Local History’ Competition. (Photograph: Kelvin Buyes) Table 1: Membership 2003 2002 + or - 15 14 1 610 621 - 11 Standard 1,714 1,659 56 Concessionary 1,057 885 171 Family* 167 (50) 136 (41) 31 (9) Student 250 236 14 Juvenile 264 194 70 External 52 39 13 276 (98) 232 (94) 44 (4) 4,405 4,016 389 Honorary the ‘Troubled Images’ tour of the United States as the launch pad for the American Friends of the Linen Hall Library, linked to the Linen Hall Library Foundation, which has secured United States tax exempt status. Life Amongst the many distinguished visitors we welcomed during the year were our own Minister, Angela Smith, and Brian Cowen, Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Irish Government. Corporate* Total * Figure counted in tickets issued with number of such multiple memberships shown in brackets. Librarian, John Gray, with Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Brian Cowen, and Governors of the Library, Jennifer Campbell and Eugene McKendry, at the award of Peace and Reconciliation Fund grants. (Photograph: Falls Community Council) 7 3. Borrowing Loans increased by 6.7%, with a strong gain of 15.2% in Irish loans, and a more modest advance by 4.7% in General loans. The full list of donors during the year was as follows: The Alliance Party, Robert Anderson, Con Auld, the Belfast Natural History and Philosophical Society, the Belfast Society, the Blackstaff Press, Brian Boothman, Andy Boyd, Anne Boyd, Maureen Brown, Felicity and Philip Bryers, Professor Junko Bunda, M Burch, Mr and Mrs Burke, Paul Butler, Colm Campbell, Tania Carlisle, Fionnuala Carson Williams, Maria Catalfio, Cathedral Community Services, Chris Hill Photographic, Francis Costello, the C.S. Lewis Association, the Democratic Unionist Party, Sheila Douglas, the Dunran Press, Aaron Edwards, B.R. Eggins, Dr Desmond Fitzgerald, B. Fitzpatrick, H.W. Gallagher, Rev Mervyn Gibson, R. Goodwill, D.W. Gordon, Bob Gourley, the H.O.P.E. Group, Keith Haines, David Hammond, Landon E. Hancock, Colin Harper, Councillor Tom Hartley, H. Hawthorn, P. Heywood, Janet Barling Hezlett, Stan Howes, Peter C. Hunter, Michael Hutchison, IMPACT, Island Publications, P. Jarvis, R. Jenkins, Alan Kabat, Alex Kane, Catherine Kelly, Mervyn Kidd, Eddie Linden, Dr Belinda Loftus, Maureen Marsh, Mike Maultsaid, John A. McBurney, Norman P. McCleland, George McConnell, Margaret McFadden, James McFetridge, John McGeough, Art McMillan, Patrick F. McMullan, George McNally, William McStay, David Millar, Millward Brown Ulster Ltd, Margaret Moore, J.J. Murphy, Gerard Murray, the Northern Ireland Anti-Poverty Network, the National University of Ireland, M. Neill, Newry and Mourne City Council, the Northern Ireland Unionist Party, Niall Ó Murchú, Marcus Patton, Raymond Piper, W. Pitcaithley, the Progressive Unionist Party, the Public Record Office for Northern Ireland, Sir George Quigley, Derek Reid, Replay Productions, J.E. Robson, the Royal Court Theatre, the Social Democratic and Labour Party, Vivien Simm, Sinn Féin, the Socialist Party, Sole Purpose Productions, J.E. Stanley, Walt Stevens, E.W. Storey, Diana Taggart M.B.E., Hazel Telford, D. Tennis, H.C. Thompson, Joseph Thompson, Brian Toal, B. Tomoko, the Ulster Political Research Group, the Ulster Unionist Party, Peter Urban, Eric Villiers, W. & C. Scott Ltd., Maureen Wadsworth, John and Hilary Wakeman, Agnes Watters, Dr R. Weatherup, Beverley Wendelken, Michael Williams, Ian Wood, and the Workers Party. Table 2: Loan Figures General Irish 2003 2002 + or - % 26,633 25,440 +1,193 +4.7% 6,932 6,017 +915 +15.2% 33,565 31,457 +2,108 +6.7% 4. Book Fund Expenditure within the normal book fund, at £38,597, was significantly lower than the £42,168 expended in the previous year, however exceptional expenditure on cataloguing and conservation undertaken within the Millennium Development programme was £147,879, an increase on the £142,539 expended in the previous year. 5. Gifts to Collections During the year the Library received 120 donations to its collections from individuals and organisations, this as compared with 96 in the previous year. They reflect the ever-widening range of our support across the community. A rare Downpatrick printing donated by Mr and Mrs Burke. (Photograph: Martin Mooney) Particularly noteworthy donations included the Hoey collection of c.1,000 volumes of Irish and general interest donated by Ms Vivien Simm; Chris Hill Photographic’s invaluable archive of some 17,000 theatre photographs; almost 100 books by or about C.S. Lewis presented by the C.S. Lewis Association; a gift from Raymond Piper of 75 of his early sketches featuring the Belfast Castle Estate; and major donations of ephemeral material to the Northern Ireland Political Collection by Belinda Loftus and Maria Catalfio. 6. Cataloguing and Conservation During the year computer-based records were created for 3,915 books, giving a cumulative total of 109,217 records to date. The Library’s conservation programme, also being undertaken in the context of the Millennium Development, came close to completion by year-end. 8 Once again the Collection benefited from numerous donations as recorded in paragraph 5. Troubled Images remained a major focus of attention. The award, in March, of the Christopher Ewart Biggs Award for 2003 was an auspicious prelude to the launch of the North American Tour in Boston. As detailed in paragraph 15, this successfully proceeded through five venues during the year. During the year the Collection liaised with and assisted an extensive range of organizations including: The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland; the American University, Washington DC; Amizade Global Service; Anderson College, North Carolina; Arts and Community Development, Dundrum; BBC Northern Ireland; Belfast City Council; the Belfast Education and Library Board; Belfast Exposed; the Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education; the Belfast Telegraph; the Bloody Sunday Tribunal; Boston College, Massachusetts; the British Library; California State University, Sacramento; Charles University, Prague; City University of New York; Coiste na n-Iarchimí; College of Santa Fe, New Mexico; College of St Catherine, Minneapolis; Colorado College; the Committee on the Administration of Justice; the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland; the Community Relations Council; Conciliation Resources; the Conservative Party; Cornell University, New York; Dagbladet Information, New York; Daily Telegraph; Dartmouth College, New Hampshire; Davidson College, North Carolina; the de Borda Institute, Belfast; Democratic Dialogue; the Democratic Unionist Party; DePaul University, Indiana; Dublin City University; Dublin Institute of Technology; East Belfast Community Development Agency; Eastern Connecticut State University; Esperia Films, Italy; Flax Art Studios, Belfast; Francis Keenan Solicitors, Belfast; Free University Berlin; Friends of the Union; Glenravel Local History Project; Global Exchange Reality Tours, San Francisco; the Green Party; Hertford College, Oxford; Hitotsubashi University, Japan; the House of Commons Information Office; Ierland Bulletin; INCORE; Institute of Technology, Tallaght; Iowa College; the Irish News; the Irish Republican Socialist Party; the Irish School of Ecumenics; the Irish Socialist Network; Irland Initiative Heidelberg; Janklow & Nesbitt UK Ltd; Jesus College, Cambridge; Justice for the Forgotten, Dublin; Keele University; King’s College London; La Repubblica, Italy; the Labour Party; Lancaster University; Leeds Metropolitan University; Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts; Macalester College, Minnesota; Manchester Hibernian Association; Manchester Metropolitan University; Marshall University, West Virginia; Jean Livingston with Alan Livingston at a reception to mark the completion of conservation work on 57 volumes of political photographs, cuttings and commentary, which belonged to her late husband, Tom Livingston. (Photograph: Yvonne Murphy) The Library continued to play a key role as joint lead partner in Northern Ireland Publications Resource (http://www.nibooks.org/), which aims to electronically record and archivally conserve all Northern Ireland publications. 7. Electronic Access The Library’s website has continued to expand during the year and covers every aspect of our services and activities. In November we introduced e-commerce facilities. The average weekly number of successful requests for pages increased to 3,710, as compared with 3,015 in the previous year. During the year, work on CultureNorthernIreland, a major site in which the Linen Hall Library is joint lead partner with the Nerve Centre in Derry, proceeded apace, and a public launch is scheduled for early 2004 (now live at http://www. culturenorthernireland.org). The Library was also a participant in the Act of Union project, which was successfully launched at Stormont (http://www.actofunion.ac.uk/) in September. 8. Northern Ireland Political Collection During the year 217 accredited researchers were granted access to the Collection to carry out in-depth research. Of these, 71 came from Northern Ireland, 56 came from Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland, and 90 came from outside the British Isles. In all a total of 1,377 researchers consulted 4,802 items during the year. 267 groups or individuals were given tours of the Collection. Long distance use continued to grow with 3,669 queries received by e-mail and 1,176 by telephone. 9 Methodist College, Belfast; Middlebury College, Vermont; Middlesex University; Mint Productions, Belfast; the National College of Art and Design, Dublin; the National Graves Association Ireland; the National Library of Ireland, Dublin; the National University of Ireland, Galway; the National University of Ireland, Maynooth; the National Writers Union of America; New Media Production and Distribution; New York University; Northeastern University, Massachusetts; the Northern Ireland Assembly; the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission; the Northern Ireland Office; Northern Ireland Publications Resource; the Northern Ireland Unionist Party; the Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition; Occidental College, California; the Office of the Oversight Commissioner; the Open University; the Pat Finucane Centre; the Police Service of Northern Ireland; Princeton University, New Jersey; the Progressive Unionist Party; Queen’s University, Belfast; Relatives for Justice, Belfast; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, New York; Republican Sinn Féin; the Richard Commission; the Royal Belfast Academical Institution; the Royal Irish Academy; the Royal Netherlands Naval College; Salford University; the School for International Training, Vermont; Sinn Féin, the Social Democratic and Labour Party; the Socialist Party; the Socialist Workers Party; St. Catherine’s College, Oxford; St. Mary’s University College, Belfast; St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto; Stanford University, California; Sunday Times; The Blanket; The Observer; Thomas P. O’Neill Library, Boston College; Trinity College Dublin; Trinity University, Texas; Trinity Western University, British Colombia; the Ulster Museum; the Ulster Political Research Group Scotland; the Ulster Unionist Party; the Ulster-Scots Agency; the Union Jack Shop, Belfast; the United Kingdom Unionist Party; United States Government, Department of State; Université Paris 7-Denis Diderot, France; University College Dublin; the University of Barcelona; the University of Bergen, Norway; the University of Birmingham; the University of Bradford; the Universidad de Burgos, Spain; the University of Caen, France; the University of California, Berkeley; the University of Colorado; the University of Denver; the University of East Anglia; the University of Ghent, Belgium; the University of Granz, Austria; the University of Hawaii; the University of Kansas; the University of Limerick; the University of Macerata, Italy; the University of Manchester; the University of Massachusetts; the University of Michigan; the University of North Carolina; the University of Oslo; University of Oxford; the University of Pennsylvania; the University of Pittsburgh; the University of Portsmouth; the University of Salford; the University of Sassari, Italy; the University of St. Andrew’s; the University of Stirling; the University of Texas at Austin; the University of Toronto; University of Valadollid, Spain; the University of Ulster; the University of Warsaw, Poland; the University of Wisconsin-Madison; the University of Wolverhampton; the United States Consulate, Belfast; Villanova University, Pennsylvania; Wadham College, Oxford; Washington University; Washington University in St. Louis; Western Washington University; the Women’s Support Network, Belfast; the Workers Educational Association and the Workers Party. 9. Languages of Ulster During the year 76 classes were organised in Irish, Mandarin, and ISL (Irish Sign Language). At year end a programme for Ulster-Scots was due to commence. One of Ireland's leading painters John B Vallely with University of Ulster’s Writer-in-Residence Gearóid MacLochlainn at the opening of their exhibition which ran in the Vertical Gallery during October. (Photograph: Phil Smyth) 10. Theatre and Performing Arts Archive Use of the Archive showed continued growth with 100 serious researchers as compared with 91 in the previous year. Of these 75 came from Northern Ireland and 25 from further afield. As noted elsewhere (see paragraph 12), we said farewell to Ophelia Byrne, Curator for the previous seven years. Her swansong was an impressive 10 presentation to the July Governors’ Meeting on the long-term importance of the Theatre and Performing Arts Archive. In June Irvine McKay was co-opted to the Board, and Brendan Mackin and Marnie O’Neill were also co-opted in August. 12. Staff In July we were sorry to lose Ophelia Byrne, who in various guises over the previous seven years, and latterly as Curator, had significantly realised the possibilities of the Theatre and Performing Arts Archive. Interim cover was provided by Jane Moore until the appointment in December of Hugh OdlingSmee as Curator of the collection. In May, Deborah Potter, our Conservation Project Co-ordinator for the previous two years departed for Glasgow, having made a major contribution to the physical state of our collections and our standards of custody. In August Fionnuala Carson Williams joined us as our new Outreach Officer, and in September Glynis Rolston commenced work as our Cultural Programming Officer. Carolyn Mathers, who had previously worked in this capacity, is now fully engaged as our Public Relations and Marketing Officer. In Irish and Reference, Gavin Carville and Elizabeth Devlin left in August and were replaced by Gerard Carr and Matthew Gammon. In General Services Lois Stafford joined us on a part-time basis in September. Richard Croxford (current Director), David Cargo (Chief Executive of Belfast Education & Library Board) and Brenda Winter (founding Director) celebrate the fifteenth birthday of Replay Productions in the Library. (Photograph: Phil Smyth) In Finance, Laura Hayes left in February and was replaced as a Finance Assistant by Audrey MacLennan in May. Jane Moore successfully managed the collection pending the arrival in December of the new Curator, Hugh Odling-Smee. She curated the exhibition, Fighting the Waves, which also marked the donation to the Library of the Chris Hill Photographic archive of theatre images. CultureNorthernIreland lost Robbie Meredith as a Content Developer in January. He was replaced by Martin Mooney, who was subsequently promoted to Senior Content Developer in November. Hugh Odling-Smee left CultureNorthernIreland in November to take up the post of Curator of the Theatre and Performing Arts Archive. In December, two new temporary Content Developers, Niamh MacNamara and Janice Smith, were appointed. The section has also been heavily engaged in other aspects of our forward programme including work on our Ulster Theatre website due for launch in 2004, and on our oral archive of Ulster theatre. 13. Publications During the year three issues each of the Linen Hall Library Newsletter and of our Events Guide were published. 11. Board of Governors At the Annual General Meeting in May the existing officers were re-elected, and Eugene McKendry, Barry Valentine and Brian Walker were elected as Governors for further three-year terms. They were joined in an elected capacity by Fiona Cash, who was originally co-opted in June 2001. We were sorry to lose the services of Ruth Hewitt and Tony Stewart, who resigned during the year. In December a limited edition re-print of the Library’s 1793 catalogue was published with the assistance of the Friends of the Linen Hall Library. 11 Louis de Bernières before reading to a packed house in April. (Photograph: Phil Smyth) We also organised a centenary debate on the contribution of George Orwell and, in conjunction with the Lyric Theatre, an evening to celebrate the life and work of our major benefactor, the late John Boyd. Meanwhile our Reading Group flourished and worked its way through a wide range of new and established writing. In February the Linen Hall Library and Tinderbox Theatre Company presented 'Hothouse', a festival designed to cultivate new theatre writing, which featured plays by Gregory Burke, Leo Butler, Morna Regan, Gary Owen and Michael Duke. In September the Library teamed up with Replay Productions in order to develop theatre for young audiences. Six months of script development work culminated in a festival featuring plays by Gary Mitchell, Damian Gorman, Marie Jones, Brenda Winter, Paul Boyd and John Rooney and five new Northern Irish writers: Maria Connolly, Andrea Grimason, Julie Kinsela, Maria MacManus and Kareen Pennefeather. Both projects resulted in full professional productions which toured throughout Northern Ireland. Stephen Douds, Tim Loane and Mark Carruthers, editors of 'Re-imagining Belfast', a new manifesto for the arts, which was launched in the Library in October. (Photograph: Phil Smyth) The Librarian’s essay, ‘Culture is for Change’ was published in Mark Carruthers et al (eds.), Reimagining Belfast a Manifesto for the Arts (Belfast: Cultural Resolution, 2003), pp.5-13. In conjunction with the United Irishmen Commemoration Society, and to mark the bicentenary of the execution of our former Librarian, Thomas Russell, John Gray’s ‘Who Fears to Speak’ was performed by a distinguished cast in the County Antrim Masonic Hall, Rosemary Street. 14. Arts and Cultural Programming The Library’s arts and cultural programming continued to flourish with 109 events compared with 59 in the previous year and covering the broadest possible spectrum of the arts and cultural field including children’s events, debate, discussion, drama, exhibitions, fiction, film, lectures, music, painting, poetry, and tours of the Library and of the town. Writers who took part included Colin Bateman, Tim Binding, Humphrey Carpenter, Declan Carville, Bernard Davey, Louis De Bernières, Catherine Dunne, Brian Feeney, Imelda Foley, David Guterson, Marie Jones, Mike Kenny, Ghada Kharmi, Martin Lynch, Medbh McGuckian, John Montague, Sinead Morrissey, Máire Cruise O’Brien, Rosamunde Pilcher, Libby Purves, Terence Reeves-Smith, and Elizabeth Wassell. 12 Room. In January and February we featured ‘A Will to Remember’ featuring paintings by Leslie Nicholl and poems by Sam Burnside and inspired by the memory of the Holocaust. In March, and working in conjunction with the Droichead Arts Centre and the Arttank Gallery, we featured a major retrospective exhibition of paintings by Gerard Dillon. Later in the month the ever-popular Beryl Cook featured and, with the help of Cineversity and their fine collection of film posters, we presented ‘Bollywood in Love’. In May Bombardier Aerospace helped us mark the centennial of flight with ‘100 Years of Flight’ largely drawn from their own archives. ‘Art in the Van’ in June was much admired and unique in origin – a collection of 47 paintings presented by contemporary Irish artists to Seamus Slevin on his retirement after many years of transporting their works of art hither and thither. This was followed in July and August by Elaine Callen’s ‘Don’t Step on the Bright Mosses’; pastel and charcoal works exploring the beauty of bog and mountain. In September the National Library of Ireland provided ‘Heirs and Graces’, an exhibition of photographs from Clonbrock House in Galway. In October John B Vallely and Gearóid MacLochlainn offered ‘A Visual and Poetic Celebration of Irish Traditional Music’, and later in the month Jim Manley’s ‘A Man Stepped Out for Death’ marked the bi-centenary of the execution of our former Librarian, Thomas Russell, in the context of the County Down landscape. In late October and November we featured ‘Fighting the Waves: Theatre in Ulster, 1970s – 2000s’. This exhibition, covering three decades of Ulster Theatre photography by Chris Hill and Jill Jennings, took place simultaneously in the Library and at the Lyric Theatre. John Gray, writer, and David Grant, director, with the cast of ‘Who Fears to Speak’ a dramatised life of Thomas Russell, performed to mark the bicentenary of his execution. (Photograph: Phil Smyth) Music in association with Moving on Music came from the Bad Plus, Crash Ensemble, EB Ensemble, the Lewis Smith Quartet, the Urban Jazz Quartet and Rick Walker. We also featured Ailsa, a night of songs by Robert Burns with Dr Fred Freeman and associated musicians, and the West Ocean String Quartet who performed in St George’s Church. In 2003 the Linen Hall worked in partnership with the following organisations: Belfast Festival at Queen's, Belfast Society, the British Film Institute, Cineversity, Creative Writers' Network, Droichead Arts Centre, Hot Shot Films, Lyric Theatre, Moving on Music, National Library of Ireland, Northern Ireland Film and Television Commission, Open House Festival, Queen's University (Drama, English and Irish Departments), Replay Productions, Tinderbox Theatre Company and United Irishmen Commemoration Society. The Linen Hall contributed 11 events to the Belfast Festival at Queen's in 2003 and 3 events to the Open House Festival. 15. Exhibitions The year saw a wide range of exhibitions making use both of the Vertical Gallery and the Northern Nisha Tandon at the opening of 'Bollywood in Love' exhibition. (Photograph: Phil Smyth) 13 We also featured a number of smaller exhibitions and displays; a selection of our treasures to mark World Book Day, dictionaries and translations to mark the European Day of Languages, and ‘You’re a Brick, Angela!’ a display of girls’ fiction from the personal collection of Patricia Craig. In addition we provided a display of descriptions and images on ‘Upper Ardoyne Through the Years’ to assist with the launch of the Upper Ardoyne Community Partnership. Our artist in residence, Amanda Montgomery, provided a new work ‘The Key’ based on the keys of Springfield Road Police Station, which were presented to the Northern Ireland Political Collection by the Northern Ireland Police Service. Librarian John Gray with Lord Mayor, Councillor Martin Morgan at the opening of the Bicentenary of the 1803 Rebellion conference in November. (Photograph: Phil Smyth) Troubled Images Tour of North America The nine-venue North American Tour of Troubled Images was launched in March at Boston College. It then travelled to the Meridian International Center in Washington D.C. (May and June), the State Library of New Hampshire (July and August), The Irish American Heritage Center in Chicago (September) and the Graduate School of International Relations at the University of Denver (October/November). We are indebted to all the venues for the enthusiasm with which they took on the venture. All organised major opening events featuring key speakers such as Senator George Mitchell in Washington, and Jim Lyons, former President Clinton’s economic advisor on Ireland, in Denver, and also organised associated programmes. The exhibition was seen by some 6,600 visitors at the five venues covered this year, and secured widespread media publicity at each location. Conference in Glasgow, and at a Burns Conference in Derry. He also spoke to the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators. John Killen spoke to Dromara Historical Society. Gerry Healey spoke at Lisburn Downtown Centre. Fionnuala Carson Williams gave talks to Jordanstown Women’s Institute, and to post-graduates in the School of English at Queen’s University. 17. Workshops In the context of the Library’s Outreach Programme, workshops were organised with creative writing students from the Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education; with students from Belfast Royal Academy and Belvedere College, Dublin; Focolare International Interdenominational Movement; Gilnahirk Ladies Group; the Icons of Identity Group from St Mary’s University College, Belfast; The Junction Club, Ballymacarrett; the Knights of the Round Table, Queen’s University Belfast; Knock Men’s Probus Group; the New Voices Group, Cregagh; and Turf Lodge Women’s Initiative. 16. Lectures The Library once again provided the venue for the winter lecture programme of the Belfast Society. In April we again organised a series of lectures with the Royal Irish Academy, with the Library serving as venue for six talks on the theme ‘A Tale of Two Cities: the Growth of Dublin and Belfast’. In November, in conjunction with the United Irishmen Commemoration Society, we hosted a one-day conference on Emmet’s Rebellion of 1803. 18. Visits to the Library Those touring the Library included groups from: The Association of Commonwealth Universities; Atlantic Philanthropies; Ballybeen Women’s Group; Bangor Soroptomists; the Belfast Naturalists Field Club; Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education; the British Council; Carrickfergus Historical Society; the Chartered Management Institute; CHR Travel; the Council of Irish Genealogical Organisations; Craigavon Historical Society; Gilnahirk Women’s Institute; Girdlestone Orthopaedic Society; the Irish Association; Larne Family History Society; Loup Women’s Group; Maynooth University; Methodist College Past Pupils’ Association; the MS Society of Northern Ireland; the National Trust; New Voices, Belfast; Queen’s University/Association of Commonwealth Universities; the Peninsular History Group; Rathmore Grammar School, Belfast; St Rose’s High School, Belfast; Short Strand Community Group; Other lectures included Terry Eagleton on culture, Marianne Elliott on Robert Emmet, Councillor Nelson McCausland on cultural policy, Dr Anthony Malcomson on Nathaniel Clement, and Dr Maurice Hayes on Sir Hans Sloane. We also hosted a debate on ‘Cultural Quarters’ in the context of ‘re-imagining the Belfast map’. Staff spoke both in the Linen Hall with John Gray on the history of the Library, and Gerry Healey on genealogy, and also further afield and as follows: John Gray spoke at the International Burns 14 Tullycarnet Community Forum; the Ulster People’s College; the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Ulster; Villanova University, Pennsylvania; Wallace High School, Lisburn and Washington State University. The Deputy Librarian continues to serve as a member of the Northern Ireland Committee of Newsplan. Gerry Healey and Fionnuala Carson Williams are both members of the Council of the Belfast Society. The Library continues to be represented at meetings of the Local Studies Panel of LISC. Ophelia Byrne, now succeeded by Hugh Odling-Smee, has represented the Library on the Working Group of the Irish Theatre Archives Group. 19. Book Launches The following launched publications in the Library; Beyond the Pale, The Council for Education in World Citizenship Northern Ireland, Cultural Resolution, Four Courts Press, INCORE, Irish Academic Press, Limelight Publications, Pluto Press, the Restaurant Association of Ireland, the Scholastic Press, the Waterford Institute of Technology, Woodfield Press, the Ulster-Scots Agency, the University of Ulster and Young at Art. finances 20. Meetings The following made use of the Library for a variety of meetings and functions; The Arts Council for Northern Ireland, the Arts Marketing Association, the Bank of Ireland, the Bank of Scotland, Belfast Chamber of Commerce, the Belfast Society, the Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau, Belfast Women’s Training Service, Coiste na n-Iarchimí, the Cooperative Bank, the Gaelic Festival Drama Group, the Irish Government (Department of Foreign Affairs), the Joseph Rowntree Trust, the Justice not Terror Coalition, the Library and Information Services Council of Northern Ireland, North and West Belfast Health Trust, Northern Ireland Publications Resource, NIACRO, OFREG, PACT, Queen’s University School of English, the United Irishmen Commemoration Society, Relatives for Justice, the Royal Society of Ulster Architects, the Specialist Libraries and Information Services Forum of LISC, Sustainable Northern Ireland, UNESCO, and the Word of Mouth Writers’ Group. 22. Financial Overview The Library’s underlying financial position was substantially transformed by the provision of £281,000 in additional grant aid by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure towards the close of the year. Total income amounted to £1,355,645 as compared with £1,016,201 in the previous year, and expenditure was £1,283,286 compared with £1,100,166. The net surplus for the year of £71,217 compared with a deficit in the preceding year of £134,109. Unrestricted income amounted to £856,993 with unrestricted expenditure of £919,531 giving a deficit of £62,538 on the general operations of the Library. However, following transfers between funds, a net gain in this area of £86,991 was made. Debts at year-end had reached a peak of £422,428 as compared with £130,940 a year earlier, however this position was largely covered by the exceptional DCAL grant of £281,000, which was not received until after year-end. While the Library’s difficulties with accumulated debt have been substantially eliminated, the recurrent funding position remains difficult. In the year in hand it would have been impossible to maintain existing levels of activity without the welcome new assistance of the Irish Government’s Reconciliation Fund, and continued support from Atlantic Philanthropies. 21. Relations with Other Bodies The Library is joint lead partner with the Nerve Centre in CultureNorthernIreland, and joint lead partner with the Belfast Education and Library Board in Northern Ireland Publications Resource. The Library has agreements of association with Boston College Libraries and the State Library of New Hampshire. The Library’s new Development Board has focused on fund-raising, and in particular on the opportunities provided by the ‘Troubled Images’ Tour in North America. The Library has launched an American Friends of the Linen Hall Library, linked to the Linen Hall Library Foundation, which by year-end had also secured United States tax exemption. These steps are viewed as a medium to long term investment for the future and in the year in hand expenditure of £26,596 was incurred for these purposes. The Librarian and two Governors, Maurna Crozier and Eugene McKendry, serve on the Board of CultureNorthernIreland. The Librarian is a member of the Board of Northern Ireland Publications Resource, and Monica McErlane serves as its executive officer. The Librarian continues to serve as the Vice-Chairman of the Library and Information Services Council for Northern Ireland, as a Trustee of the National Library of Ireland, and as a member of the Council of the Belfast Society. 15 23. Income Total grant income rose to £880,783 as compared with £576,168 in the previous year, an increase of 53%. Grant income amounted to 65% of income as compared with 50% a year earlier. Unrestricted grants amounted to £423,472 as compared with £267,000 in the previous year, an increase of 59% and, as a percentage of unrestricted income, amounted to 49% as compared with 39% a year earlier. with £277,036 in the previous year. The critical importance of the £281,000 in additional inyear funding has already been noted. This was specifically £156,000 to assist with clearing all outstanding liabilities in respect of the Millennium Development, and £125,000 to assist with recurrent debt incurred when our operations were limited by building work. Otherwise the Department provided £215,500 by way of normal recurrent grant, £77,410 to support the CultureNorthernIreland project, and an additional grant of £20,000 to support the ‘Troubled Images’ tour of the United States. Income from shop rents amounted to £125,603, a 10% increase on the £114,476 received in the previous year. This gain stemmed from the signing of a new lease with the Co-Operative Bank for one of our shops. 27. Belfast City Council The City Council continued to provide vital core support to the Library. This core funding amounted to £31,425 as compared with £30,000 in the previous year, and in addition £4,625 was provided to assist with marketing costs making £36,050 in all. Membership income showed further impressive growth increasing to £152,346 or by 14% as compared with £133,089 in the previous year. Merchandising income grew to £182,817 or by 10% as compared with £165,814 in the previous year. 28. Other Grants The Irish Government through its Reconciliation Fund provided €30,000 (£20,297) to assist the Library in its general purpose of encouraging reconciliation and mutual understanding. 24. Expenditure Non-project staff costs increased by 9% to £405,843, as compared with £373,946 in the previous year. The book fund at £38,597 was 9% below the £42,168 expended in the previous year. Merchandising costs rose by 11% to £92,425 as compared with £85,298 in the previous year and closely in line with increased sales levels. Administration costs rose by 17% to £133,934 as compared with £114,082 in the previous year, this primarily as a result of increased computer systems costs. Establishment costs rose by 17% to £85,924 as compared with £73,705 in the previous year, principally as a result of increased insurance and repairs and maintenance costs. Atlantic Philanthropies provided £25,000 to assist the Library in its post-extension development, funding which the Library is using to support its Audience Development Programme and the Theatre and Performing Arts Archive. Other general grants were provided by the Belfast Society and the Friends of the Linen Hall Library, the latter also funded new furniture for the Coffee Shop and paid separately for the reprint of the Library’s 1793 catalogue. 25. Sales Operations Coffee Shop and functions catering operations increased income by 19% to £92,450 compared with £77,574; however expenditure rose by 24% to £77,260 as compared with £70,284. The net surplus on operations rose to £15,191 as compared with £7,290 in the previous year. Facility fees fell by 19% to £10,967 compared with £13,480. Significant support was given for a variety of projects: The Arts Council of Northern Ireland provided £40,315, including National Lottery funding for the Audience Development Project, and the Annual Support for Organisations Programme. Our Arts and Cultural Programming was also supported by a £2,500 grant from Tha Boord o Ulstèr-Scotch/ the Ulster-Scots Agency; by £1,000 grants from Delivery Services, Newtownabbey Borough Council, and the United Irishmen Commemoration Society, and a £250 grant from Moving on Music. Bombardier Aerospace gave a £5,000 grant (received in 2002) and major assistance with the ‘Centennial of Flight’ exhibition; Miller McCall Wylie have supported our music programming; the Europa Hotel has assisted with accommodation for visiting artists and Apartment, Christies and Oxford Exchange Restaurants have also provided sponsorship. Print sales had a particularly disappointing year with a net surplus of only £3,082 as compared with £10,408 in the previous year. By contrast gift sales earned a net £4,033 as compared with £1,672 in the previous year. ‘Troubled Images’ products continued to make a significant contribution at a net £3,842, but at a reduced level from the previous £6,649. 26. Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure The Department continued to play an indispensable role as our main core funder and in all provided £593,910 during the year, this as compared 16 The Community Relations Council provided £10,517 for our Outreach Programme. The Heritage Lottery Fund provided £134,790 for the Millennium Development. 29. Donations The following to whom we owe thanks made donations during the year: Belfast Literary Society, Miss Jean Forbes, Mrs Noeleen Heenan, Mr W McStay, Miss S Perry, and Mrs Muriel Simpson. 30. Projects Details in respect of these are provided at note 20 to the accounts. The most significant of these remains the Millennium Development. During the year income for all aspects of this amounted to £305,598, of which the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure provided £156,000, the Heritage Lottery Fund £134,790 for cataloguing and conservation, and the Community Relations Council £10,517 for outreach. Expenditure during the year amounted to £157,291 leaving a surplus for the year of £148,307. This enabled us to eliminate the previous deficit and to project completion of all aspects of the project by mid 2004 on a debt-free basis. Steve Mungavin, President Eugene McKendry, Honorary Secretary Harold Riddell, Honorary Treasurer John Gray, Librarian 17 the friends of the linen hall library I am delighted to be able to report that 2003 was an interesting and fulfilling year for the Friends of the Linen Hall. Our Paris trip in June was enormous fun. Undeterred by general transport strikes and demonstrations, we packed in visits to the Bibliothèque Nationale (both the Mitterrand and the Richelieu sites). We visited the medieval gems of the Cluny, the 18th century treasures of the Nissim de Camondo Museum, and also the Picasso and the Delacroix collections. We saw the Sainte Chapelle and the Conciergerie, and had a trip to Monet’s house and garden at Giverny. We enjoyed receptions at the British Council and the Irish Embassy, and it was especially appropriate to stay at the magnificently restored Irish College/ Centre Culturel Irlandais, Rue des Irlandais in the Latin Quarter. It was a delight to experience what has been achieved there, and to enjoy a special tour of the 18th century library with its extraordinary collection; we also attended a service in St Patrick’s Chapel, and enjoyed a cup of coffee afterwards with those from the Irish community in Paris who form its parish. We kicked off in February with a lecture from Dr Anthony Malcomson, well-known historian and author. His subject was ‘The Indispensable Irishman, Nathaniel Clement (1705-1777)’ – who combined being a treasury official, politician and builder of Áras an Uachtaráin. The amusing and illuminating account, up to Dr Malcomson’s usual high standard, was much enjoyed by the audience, and followed by a wine reception (with canapés courtesy of the Committee). To coincide with the Library Exhibition, we held a Friends Private View of ‘Gerard Dillon 1916-1971 – a retrospective’ in March. The evening included a showing of ‘Gerard Dillon – Painter and Decorator’, a film by Moore Sinnerton who introduced it and answered questions together with Dr Mary Cosgrove, art historian, who discussed the paintings on display. We are most grateful to both of them. We were greatly privileged to welcome Rosamunde Pilcher in March, whose title was ‘Diamond Jubilee’, celebrating 60 years of writing. She has of course a huge international reputation – The Shell Seekers is a perennial favourite for all generations of readers. An excellent speaker, her spontaneity held the audience enthralled, and many had the opportunity to talk to her afterwards. In thanking her for making this special visit to Belfast to take part in our programme, we are particularly grateful to record her generosity in re-donating her fee to the Friends’ coffers. It was a wonderful evening rounded off by an excellent buffet. 18th Century Library, Irish College, Paris. The end of June took us on ‘A literary sojourn in County Down’. We spent a superb morning as guests at the Manor House, Donaghadee, home of the Day family of Huguenot extraction. We record our particular thanks to all the family members who provided a commentary on house, gardens and library and kindly also gave us coffee. It was particularly good of them to allow us to share in their history, and we thank them for the considerable preparatory work involved. We then moved on to Rosemount House in Greyabbey where Daphne Montgomery and her family hosted us to lunch and a tour of both house and garden. The weather was extremely co-operative and it was a great pleasure to enjoy a relaxed afternoon in such a magnificent setting. We owe Daphne and Bill a huge debt of gratitude, and thank the Committee most sincerely also for their contributions to the catering. The event was oversubscribed and an absolute highlight of our year. Rosamunde Pilcher 18 Committee of the Friends of the Linen Hall Library in 2003 The final event this year was a Friends’ Lunch in the Ulster Reform Club in November. We thank Alex Graham and his staff for their help throughout. Lucy Faulkner, who founded the Friends, was present and we were pleased to have the Librarian and the Deputy Librarian as our guests. A raffle raised a further £200 for our funds. Jennifer Campbell (Chairman) Evelyn Walker (Secretary) Gwynneth Bain Peter Cavan Clare Kennedy Judy Lindsay Jane Mackie Daphne Montgomery Iris Weaver The Committee was delighted to make two substantial donations to the Library this year, in addition to our annual grant of £1,500. We contributed £1,600 to the reprint of the 1793 catalogue, issued in a facsimile edition in December 2003. This unique record gives a special insight into the initial collection that has grown into the substantial research library we belong to today. Secondly, we funded the purchase of furniture for the extended coffee shop, to a total of £1,100. Accounts are lodged in the Library and are available on request. During the year, the Friends’ income amounted to £21,165 and expenditure was £19,810. We thank John Gray and John Killen for their support over the year. We particularly thank those members of staff in administration, finance and marketing who deal with our membership and events; we owe a big debt to Patricia Saunders and her team who provide us with delicious food and wine at Friends’ events within the Library and who so ably sell our tickets. In conclusion, I thank our Honorary Secretary Evelyn Walker and all the Committee members who put so much effort into the organisation of such a successful programme. Thank you for participating in our events, and we look forward to seeing you during 2004. Jennifer Campbell (Chairman) 19 belfast library & society for promoting knowledge REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2003 contents Page 20 21 22 23 23 24 24-30 Governors and advisers Governors’ report Independent auditors’ report Statement of financial activities Note of historical cost surpluses/deficits Balance sheet Notes to the financial statements library information Governors Mr S Mungavin (President) Mr W Montgomery (Vice President) Dr E McKendry (Honorary Secretary) Mr H Riddell (Honorary Treasurer) Mrs J Campbell Miss F Cash Dr M Crozier Mr J Erskine Mrs R Hewitt (retired June 2003) Mr B Mackin (appointed August 2003) Professor V Mageean Mr I McKay (appointed June 2003) Mr J Nolan Ms M O’Neill (appointed June 2003) Sir G Quigley Dr A T Q Stewart (retired January 2003) Mr B Valentine Professor B Walker Mrs A Watters Belfast City Council Observer Councillor A Maginness Solicitors L’Estrange & Brett Arnott House 12-16 Bridge Street Belfast BT1 1LS Bankers Northern Bank Limited Donegall Square North Belfast BT1 5GJ Registered Auditors PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Waterfront Plaza 8 Laganbank Road Belfast BT3 1LR 20 report of the Governors for the year ended 31 December 2003 Risk management The Governors will review the major risks which the Library faces and believe that achieving the free reserves at the level stated above will provide sufficient resources in the event of adverse conditions. The Governors will examine other business and operational risks faced by the Library and confirm that systems to monitor and mitigate significant risks will be put in place. The Library, which operates under the name of the Linen Hall Library, is legally known as the Belfast Library and Society For Promoting Knowledge. The Board of Governors, who are also the trustees of the Library, submit their annual report and the audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2003. The Governors have prepared the accounts in accordance with the Charity Statement of Recommended Practice SORP “Accounting and Reporting by Charities”. Investments policy The Library maintains an investment in treasury stock which is held for the purpose of generating income. Objects The principal objects of the Library are the maintenance and development of an extensive library and cultural centre with the broad objective of promoting knowledge. Statement of Board of Governors’ responsibilities The Board of Governors is required to prepare financial statements for each financial year that give a true and fair view of the state of affairs and of the net movement in funds of the Library for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the Board of Governors is required to: • select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; • make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; • state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; • prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis, unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Library will continue in business. Organisation A Board of 15 members elected by the Library membership, and with up to 4 additional co-opted members, has overall responsibility for the Library and meets monthly. Review of activities and future developments The Governors consider the results for the year and the position of the Library at the end of the year to be satisfactory. The year-end position arose as a result of significant additional grants being received during the year, which contributed to a reduction in the Library’s borrowings on receipt after the year end. The Governors are aware of the difficult environment in which the Library operates and are working to minimise the impact on the Library whilst maintaining a stable financial position. The Board of Governors is responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Library. The Board is responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Library and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Results The statement of financial activities for the year is set out on page 23. Reserves policy The objective of the Governors is to achieve a level of unrestricted funds not committed or invested in tangible or fixed assets (the free reserves) held by the Library at approximately 20% of unrestricted resources expended, which equates to approximately £184,000. While the Library’s reserves are currently a deficit of £10,959, the Governors are working towards increasing these reserves and the achievement of their objective in the medium to longer term. Taxation The Library is a registered charity, and as such is entitled to certain tax exemptions on income and profits from investments, and surpluses on any trading activities carried on in furtherance of the Library’s primary objectives, if these profits and surpluses are applied solely for charitable purposes. 21 Auditors The auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, have indicated their willingness to continue in office, and a resolution concerning their reappointment will be proposed at the Annual General Meeting. By order of the Board Dr E McKendry Secretary 1 April 2004 independent auditors’ report to the members of the Linen Hall Library Basis of audit opinion We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards issued by the Auditing Practices Board. An audit includes examination, on a test basis, of evidence relevant to the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. It also includes an assessment of the significant estimates and judgements made by the Governors in the preparation of the financial statements, and of whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the library’s circumstances, consistently applied and adequately disclosed. We have audited the financial statements, which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet, and the related notes. Respective responsibilities of Governors and auditors The Governors’ responsibilities for preparing the annual report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable Northern Ireland law and United Kingdom accounting standards are set out in the statement of Governors’ responsibilities. Our responsibility is to audit the financial statements in accordance with the relevant legal and regulatory requirements and United Kingdom Auditing Standards issued by the Auditing Practices Board. This report, including the opinion, has been prepared for and only for the Library’s trustees as a body in accordance with the Educational Endowments (Ireland) Act 1885 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 report is shown or in to whose hands it may come save where expressly agreed by our prior consent in writing. We planned and performed our audit so as to obtain all the information and explanations which we considered necessary in order to provide us with sufficient evidence to give reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free from material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or other irregularity or error. In forming our opinion we also evaluated the overall adequacy of the presentation of information in the financial statements. Opinion In our opinion the financial statements give a true and fair view of the state of the Library’s affairs at 31 December 2003 and of its net incoming resources for the year then ended and have been properly prepared in accordance with the Educational Endowments (Ireland) Act 1885. We report to you our opinion as to whether the financial statements give a true and fair view and are properly prepared in accordance with the Educational Endowments (Ireland) Act 1885. We also report to you if, in our opinion, the Governors’ report is not consistent with the financial statements, if the Library has not kept proper accounting records or if we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors Belfast 1 April 2004 22 statement of financial activities for the year ended 31 December 2003 Unrestricted Funds Notes £ Incoming resources Donations, legacies and similar incoming resources Activities in furtherance of the charity’s objects Grants Members’ subscriptions Activities for generating funds: Rents Merchandising income Investment income Total incoming resources Resources expended Costs of generating funds: Book fund Merchandising related costs Costs of activities in furtherance of the charity’s objects: Project costs (including staff costs) Events and exhibition costs Staff costs (excluding project staff costs) Management and administration of Library Direct fundraising costs Total resources expended Net incoming/(outgoing) resources before transfers Restricted Funds £ Total Funds 2003 £ Total Funds 2002 £ 2 2,632 9,340 11,972 25,117 3 4 423,472 152,346 457,311 - 880,783 152,346 576,168 133,089 5 6 125,603 150,816 2,124 856,993 32,001 498,652 125,603 182,817 2,124 1,355,645 114,476 165,814 1,537 1,016,201 7 8 38,597 92,425 - 38,597 92,425 42,168 85,298 9/10 10 11 2,260 405,843 342,850 37,556 919,531 363,755 363,755 363,755 2,260 405,843 342,850 37,556 1,283,286 280,216 3,895 373,946 298,817 15,826 1,100,166 12 13 (62,538) 134,897 150,671 (150,671) 72,359 - (83,965) - Transfers between funds Net incoming/(outgoing) resources after transfers Other recognised gains and losses Unrealised (loss)/gain on investments Revaluation of fixed assets Net movement in funds Balance bought forward at 1 January 2003 Balance at 31 December 2003 15 88,133 (15,774) 72,359 (83,965) (1,142) 86,991 6,148,469 6,235,460 (15,774) 26,582 10,808 (1,142) 71,217 6,175,051 6,246,268 979 (51,123) (134,109) 6,309,160 6,175,051 The amounts above relate to the continuing operations of the Library. The Library has no recognised gains and losses other than those included in the results above. Note of historical cost surpluses/deficits Net incoming/(outgoing) resources for the year Surplus/(deficit) for the year, as reported under FRS3 Difference between historic and actual depreciation charges for the year on the revalued amount Historical cost surplus/(deficit) for the year All of the surpluses/(deficits) above relate to continuing operations of the Library. 23 2003 £ 2002 £ 72,359 72,359 (83,965) (83,965) 48,659 121,018 48,659 (35,306) balance sheet at 31 December 2003 Notes 2003 £ 2002 £ Fixed assets Tangible assets Investments 14 15 Current assets Stocks Debtors Cash at bank and in hand 4,116,966 2,129,453 6,246,419 4,199,297 2,130,595 6,329,892 16 17 34,869 422,428 300 457,597 (457,748) (151) 6,246,268 28,842 130,940 300 160,082 (314,923) (154,841) 6,175,051 1,703,056 4,532,404 6,235,460 10,808 6,246,268 1,614,923 4,533,546 6,148,469 26,582 6,175,051 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Net current liabilities Total assets less current liabilities 18 Funds Unrestricted funds: - General fund - Revaluation fund 19 19 Restricted funds Total funds 20 21 The financial statements on pages 23 to 30 were approved by the board on 1 April 2004 and were signed on its behalf by: Mr S Mungavin President Mr H Riddell Honorary Treasurer Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2003 1 Accounting policies These financial statements are prepared on the going concern basis under the historical cost convention, as modified by the revaluation of certain tangible fixed assets and in accordance with applicable accounting standards including the Statement of Recommended Practice on “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” published in October 2000 and applicable accounting standards. The principal accounting policies are set out below. Incoming resources All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when the Library is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. Legacies Legacies are recognised when received or when their amount is capable of measurement. Grants Revenue grants are credited to incoming resources on the earlier date of when they are received or when they are receivable, unless they relate to a specified future period, in which case they are deferred. Grants for the purpose of capital expenditure are credited to restricted incoming resources when receivable and transferred to unrestricted funds on purchase of asset. Subscriptions Members’ subscriptions are credited to incoming resources on receipt. Other income Voluntary income, donations and other income are included in full in the Statement of Financial Activities when received. 24 Resources expended All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Management and administration costs Management and administration costs are those incurred in connection with administration of the charity and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements. Irrecoverable VAT Any irrecoverable VAT is charged to the statement of financial activities, or capitalised as part of the cost of the related asset, where appropriate. Pensions The Library operates a defined benefit scheme through NILGOSC. As this is a multi-employer scheme and the Library’s contributions are set in relation to the current services period only, the contributions to the scheme are treated as if it were a defined contribution scheme. The cost of these contributions is charged in the accounts as incurred. Tangible fixed assets The cost of tangible fixed assets is their purchase cost, together with any incidental costs of acquisition. Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the cost, or valuation, of tangible fixed assets, less their estimated residual values, on a straight line basis over the expected useful economic lives of the assets concerned. The principal annual rates used are as follows: Land and buildings 2% straight line Computer equipment 25% straight line Fixtures & fittings 15% straight line Investments Listed investments are stated at market value at the balance sheet date. Listed investments include the net gains and losses arising on revaluations and disposals throughout the year. Books and periodicals are stated at an estimated market value. Stocks Stocks are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Fund accounting The Library has various types of funds for which it is responsible and which require separate disclosure. A definition of the various types of funds is as follows: Unrestricted funds Funds which are expendable at the discretion of the Library in furtherance of the purpose of the Library. In addition to expenditure on activities such funds may be held in order to finance capital investment and working capital. Restricted funds Restricted funds are to be used for specified purposes as laid down by the donor. Expenditure which meets these criteria is charged to the fund, together with a fair allocation of overheads and support costs. 2 Donations, legacies and similar incoming resources Donations Legacies Miscellaneous income Income tax reclaimable on covenants and gift aid Unrestricted £ Restricted £ 2003 £ 2002 £ 1,505 1,127 8,693 - 10,198 1,127 11,530 5,065 5,853 2,632 647 9,340 647 11,972 2,669 25,117 25 3 Grants Arts Council of NI Atlantic Philanthropies Belfast City Council Belfast Society British Enkalon Foundation Community Relations Council Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure Friends of the Linen Hall Library Heritage Lottery Fund Irish Government Millar McCall Wylie Proteus Shorts Bombardier Sundry grants 4 Unrestricted £ Restricted £ 2003 £ 2002 £ 25,000 31,425 2,750 340,500 1,500 20,297 2,000 423,472 48,119 4,625 10,517 253,410 1,100 134,790 4,750 457,311 48,119 25,000 36,050 2,750 10,517 593,910 2,600 134,790 20,297 6,750 880,783 31,323 25,000 33,750 2,750 3,000 651 277,036 1,500 192,979 1,500 679 5,000 1,000 576,168 2003 £ 2002 £ Members’ subscriptions Members’ subscriptions Income tax reclaimable on subscriptions 5 Merchandising income Sales of books Library books Sundries Sales of services Coffee shop Photocopying and fax Telephone Postage Performances Audience development events (restricted) Facility fees Consultancy General Sale of products Books, prints and pamphlets Troubled Images Tour income (restricted) Gift shop items Troubled Images Total 6 Investment income Dividends and interest 7 137,846 14,500 152,346 121,240 11,849 133,089 2003 £ 2002 £ 12,114 155 12,269 19,533 127 19,660 92,450 7,582 455 569 7,255 10,967 148 1,594 121,020 77,574 7,158 504 793 560 8,132 13,480 712 463 109,376 15,212 24,746 5,125 4,445 49,528 182,817 20,703 4,924 11,151 36,778 165,814 2003 £ 2002 £ 2,124 1,537 2003 £ 2002 £ 21,150 1,813 14,799 835 38,597 18,097 3,668 19,977 426 42,168 Book fund Irish Reference General Binding and conservation 26 8 Merchandising related costs Prints, books and pamphlets Coffee shop purchases Coffee shop salaries Gift shop expenditure Troubled Images 9 Project costs 2003 £ 2002 £ 13,470 45,225 32,035 1,092 603 92,425 7,260 37,118 33,166 3,252 4,502 85,298 Restricted funds 2003 £ Audience Development Cataloguing and Conservation CultureNorthernIreland Extension Languages of Ulster Outreach Project Cultural Programming Troubled Images - North American Tour 65,368 147,879 66,243 9,412 7,804 67,049 363,755 53,217 142,539 34,472 33,174 1,300 11,044 4,470 280,216 10 Staff costs Salaries Employer’s NI contributions Pensions Analysis of staff costs 2002 £ Unrestricted £ Restricted £ Total 2003 £ Total 2002 £ 364,494 28,924 12,425 405,843 157,228 10,859 2,942 171,029 521,722 39,783 15,367 576,872 449,832 27,739 14,297 491,868 2003 £ 2002 £ 171,029 117,922 405,843 373,946 576,872 491,868 The average number of employees, calculated on a full time equivalent basis, analysed by function was: Project staff Administration staff Charitable activities Cost of generating funds Management and administration of the Library 2003 Number 2002 Number 24 3 7 24 3 7 No employee received remuneration of more than £50,000. The Governors received no remuneration or reimbursement of expenses during the year. No indemnity insurance for trustees’ liability has been purchased by the Library. 27 11 Management and administration of Library Unrestricted funds 2003 £ Administration expenses Stationery Printing Advertising Photocopying Postage Telephone and fax Computer maintenance Training Professional fees Travelling expenses Bad debts Property management fees Miscellaneous Establishment Rent and rates Insurance Light and heat Repairs and maintenance Financial expenses Bank charges Bank interest Depreciation Buildings Computer equipment Office equipment Total 2002 £ 4,923 10,032 10,074 9,030 17,385 6,819 62,077 2,507 3,422 2,211 1,061 1,962 2,431 133,934 5,457 10,505 7,200 8,534 12,741 6,591 34,966 3,469 12,376 2,640 2,122 3,670 3,811 114,082 13,504 18,895 21,152 32,373 85,924 14,464 16,098 18,249 24,894 73,705 2,948 11,019 13,967 2,052 4,670 6,722 86,111 12,004 10,910 109,025 342,850 86,111 10,222 7,975 104,308 298,817 2003 £ 2002 £ 109,025 2,675 104,308 2,675 Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ 156,000 16,981 1,105 (8,423) 6,182 (649) 1,100 (21,625) 150,671 (156,000) (16,981) (1,105) 8,423 (6,182) 649 (1,100) 21,625 (150,671) 12 Net incoming resources Net incoming resources are stated after charging: Depreciation on owned assets Auditors’ remuneration for audit services 13 Transfers between funds Transfer from Extension Project Transfer to CultureNorthernIreland Transfer to Outreach project Transfer to Audience Development project Transfer to State of Play Exhibition Transfer to Languages of Ulster project Transfer to Friends of the Linen Hall Library Transfer to Cataloguing & Conservation The transfer of fully utilised restricted funds from the Extension Fund and Friends of the Linen Hall Library represents grants received of a capital nature that have been expended and have therefore been transferred to unrestricted funds on fulfilling the restriction. The transfers to the other projects are in respect of costs not originally specifically allocated against those projects. 28 14 Tangible fixed assets Office equipment £ Computer equipment £ Buildings £ Total £ Cost or valuation At 1 January 2003 Additions At 31 December 2003 57,459 15,280 72,739 36,600 11,414 48,014 4,305,569 4,305,569 4,399,628 26,694 4,426,322 Accumulated depreciation At 1 January 2003 Charge for year At 31 December 2003 12,158 10,910 23,068 16,068 12,004 28,072 172,105 86,111 258,216 200,331 109,025 309,356 Net book value At 31 December 2003 At 31 December 2002 49,671 45,301 19,942 20,532 4,047,353 4,133,464 4,116,966 4,199,297 The Library’s freehold and leasehold properties were revalued at 24 April 2001 on the basis of open market value and open market rental value for existing use by Charles Scott Independent Chartered Surveyors. The valuations were undertaken in accordance with the Appraisal and Valuation Manual of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors in the United Kingdom. The Governors are of the opinion the value has not changed since that date. 15 Fixed asset investments Valuation At 1 January 2003 Net loss on revaluation At 31 December 2003 Books & periodicals £ Listed investments £ Total £ 2,100,000 2,100,000 30,595 (1,142) 29,453 2,130,595 (1,142) 2,129,453 The Governors are of the opinion that the value of the books and periodicals remains unchanged since their valuation in 2001. 16 Stocks Goods for resale 2003 £ 2002 £ 34,869 28,842 2003 £ 2002 £ 13,080 409,348 422,428 17,341 113,599 130,940 17 Debtors All due within one year Trade debtors Other debtors Trade debtors includes £368,158 (2002: £75,919) of grants receivable at the year end. 18 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Bank loans and overdrafts Trade creditors Other creditors Accruals and deferred income 29 2003 £ 2002 £ 258,315 59,617 137,620 2,196 457,748 220,153 57,326 28,694 8,750 314,923 19 Unrestricted funds Balance at 1 January 2003 Revaluation of investments Transfers Net outgoing resources for the year Balance at 31 December 2003 General Fund £ Revaluation Fund £ 1,614,923 150,671 (62,538) 1,703,056 4,533,546 (1,142) 4,532,404 20 Restricted funds Millennium Development Extension Fund Cataloguing and Conservation Outreach Friends of the Linen Hall Library Troubled Images: Tour Audience Development project Cultural Progamming State of Play Exhibition Languages of Ulster CultureNorthernIreland Balance at 1 January 2003 £ Incoming resources £ Project expenditure £ Transfers £ Balance at 31 December 2003 £ (12,826) 28,061 6,182 (649) 5,814 26,582 156,000 139,080 10,517 1,100 49,796 56,945 7,804 77,410 498,652 (147,879) (9,412) (67,049) (65,368) (7,804) (66,243) (363,755) (156,000) 21,625 (1,105) (1,100) 8,423 (6,182) 649 (16,981) (150,671) 10,808 10,808 Extension Fund - project to extend the Library. Cataloguing and Conservation - project to catalogue and conserve the Library’s key collections. Outreach - project to make the Library’s resources accessible to the community at large. Friends of the Linen Hall Library - project which organised lectures, events and educational excursions to raise funds for the Library. Troubled Images: Tour - project to tour North America with the aim of promoting the Troubled Images CD Rom and book. Audience Development project - project to fulfil the potential of the extended Library as a cultural centre and arts archive. Cultural Programming - project to fulfil the potential of the Library as a cultural centre. State of Play Exhibition - project involving theatrical performances by young people, publication of a book and an exhibition on the theatre in Ulster. Languages of Ulster - project making accessible the diverse languages of Ulster. CultureNorthernIreland - project in partnership with the Nerve Centre to develop a major web-site to provide a gateway to the field of culture. 21 Analysis of net assets between funds Fund balances at 31 December 2003 are represented by: Tangible fixed assets Investment assets Net current (liabilities)/assets Total net assets at 31 December 2003 30 Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ Total Funds £ 4,116,966 2,129,453 (10,959) 6,235,460 10,808 10,808 4,116,966 2,129,453 (151) 6,246,268 31 32 Photograph: Chris Hill Photographic LINEN HALL LIBRARY 17 Donegall Square North Belfast BT1 5GB Northern Ireland