Bequests

Making a bequest to your library

Our collections and services have been greatly enhanced by the generosity of people who have remembered the State Library when making their will. We invite you to share your wealth with all Tasmanians by making a bequest to the State Library.

To assist you with your decision, we have provided the information on some of the ways your bequest could be used.

Preserving Tasmania's Past

Tasmania's history, culture, politics and achievements are preserved by the TAHO.

The Tasmanian Archive and Heritage Office's collection covers the entire scope of life and activity in Tasmania. Through generous bequests of books, sound recordings and ephemera, the collection has grown in a rich and varied way to reflect Tasmania's historical and contemporary cultures.

The Allport Library and Museum of Fine Arts is the result of a bequest by the Allport family, who settled in Van Diemen's Land in 1831. Henry Allport, a Hobart solicitor, died in 1965 and bequeathed to the people of Tasmania an extraordinary collection of colonial paintings and prints, 18th and 19th century furniture, silver, fine china and a library of rare and antique books. Henry Allport also left a monetary bequest to ensure the continuing development and care of his legacy. The Allport treasures are now preserved and on display at the Allport Museum, a much admired part of our library in Hobart.

Bequests made to the Launceston Library have included books, manuscripts and photographs relating to Launceston and Northern Tasmania. Funds bequeathed have been used to improve display facilities to enhance people's appreciation and understanding of these important artefacts.

Building Tasmania’s Future

Many people’s lives are enhanced by the lifelong learning opportunities provided by the State Library.

Your bequest to the State Library can be used to provide improved services, collections, equipment and training to build a better future for all Tasmanians.

Here are some examples of the services we offer:

• Our weekly programs for babies and young children provide parents with a entertaining and social opportunity to improve their child’s early literacy development.
• Our computer training programs, free access to Internet and email, and vast collections of books, magazines and other items help people acquire new knowledge and skills.
• Our multicultural services assist people learning English as a second language as well as providing them with reading material in their native language.
• Our Home Library and Recorded Book services help people with special needs access reading material.
• Our adult literacy resources assist people who are learning to read and write.

If you would like further information on how your bequest to the State Library could be used, please contact our Major Gifts Coordinator on (03) 6233 7511.

Information about wills

A will is a legal document that states how you want your assets to be divided after your death.

To be legally valid, wills have to comply with specific legal requirements. We strongly advocate the use of a legal service when preparing your will. Most Public Trustees and many solicitors can prepare your will free or for a small charge. Public Trustees are independent, impartial and professional organisations.

If you already have a will and would like to make a bequest to the State Library, you can simply add a supplement to the document that sets out your instructions for a bequest.

We suggest the following wording:

"I give, devise and bequeath to the State Library of Tasmania … (insert here the percentage of the estate or other details) to be used for the general purposes of the Library and the receipt of the Manager (Library Support) or other proper officer of the State Library of Tasmania shall be sufficient to discharge my trustees."

Public Trustees advise that you review your will at least every 5 years so that changes in your personal relationships and asset structure can be updated.

Common forms of bequests

A Residual Bequest: after making provision for family and friends you can choose to leave what is left (the residue) to a beneficiary.

A Percentage: some people decide to share their estate among a number of people and allocate a percentage to beneficiaries. This removes the need to review your will regularly to take account of changes in your estate or to compensate for inflation.

Gifts of Property: artwork, stocks, bonds, shares, insurance policies, jewellery, antiques, a home or a farm can also be gifted in your will.

A Specified Cash Sum: while a specific amount of cash is a common form of bequest, it does not allow for inflation. The real value of the gift can be substantially less than intended due to the effects of inflation between the time of making the will and the allocation of the assets. It is preferable to allocate your estate by one of the above methods.

If you would like more information about making a bequest or a donation to the State Library of Tasmania, please contact our Major Gifts Coordinator on (03) 6233 7511, or at the address below.

Major Gifts Coordinator

Office of the Director

State Library of Tasmania

91 Murray Street

HOBART TAS 7000