Portrait of the Chairman of the Board of Directors J.H. Cockayne. Joining the Board in 1981, he rose to the position of Chairman in 1985 and retained this until the Library merged with the Association for the Blind in 1991.B/W photograph of J.H. Cockaynejohn cockayne, braille and talking book library

Introduced in 1974, the Braille Book of the Year was created to both acknowledge excellence in writing as well as raise the profile of Braille books. In 1990, the award was won by Alex Miller for his book 'The Tivington Knot'. Presentations were made by Paul Karsten, Joyce Nichols, Fran Awcock, John Cockayne, Judith Stolls and the recipient Alex Miller. The narrator's award went to Bruce Kerr for audio version. 11 Black and White photographs and 3 proof sheetsawards, braille & talking book library, alex millar, paul karsten, joyce nichols, fran awcock, john cockayne, karl hughes, wilma bedford, bruce kerr, lindsay mcmillan, book of the year

Annual report of the Braille & Talking Book Library including Minutes of the AGM, Board of Director's Report, President's report and financial statements. Items also included are: the launch of 'In charge of the mess' cookbook with the Gas & Fuel Corporation of Victoria, fundraising cocktail party at 'Onions' restaurant (opposite the Library), Life Governor's Certificate to Edward Webb, production of Braille VFL and Cricket fixtures, subsidy of 33.33% on production of Braille and audio books, doubling of qualified librarians, continued increase in loans, retirement of staff members Elsa Wiltshire and Charlotte Riley, and committee members Norma Brumley and Dr John Foster, and appointment of Barbara Johnson and John Cockayne.1 volume of text and illustrationsannual report, braille and talking book library, joy kerr, maxene hewitt, david blyth, jo griffiths, arnold bridges, john cockayne, basil pateras, maurice kaminsky, noel de la hunty, maria dupontis, edward j webb, hector bathurst, david wluka, jan smark, merle griffen, karen wigan, chris gahan, helen hall, geoffrey blainey, joyce gaze, book of the year, ruth martin, james wright, elizabeth bond, beverley dunn, janet horn, john bayliss, ken horn, elsa wiltshire

Annual report of the Braille & Talking Book Library including Minutes of the AGM, Board of Director's Report, President's report and financial statements. Items also included are: a rocking chair gifted to Alice McClelland on her 60th year of involvement, retirement of Merle Griffin, 'Please Touch' exhibition at National Gallery of Victoria, creation of the Benalla Studio - funded by the Benalla Auxiliary and able to accommodate 3-4 people in a session, Margaret Ingham appointed Children's Book Specialist, renaming of existing studios to R Graeme Orr Studios (to honour former President), Library Talk commended at Public Relations Awards given by Australian Library Promotions Council, visit by children's television character 'Norm the Kangaroo' who filmed a segment of 'Shirl's Neighbourhood' around the building, thanks for Joyce Nicholson, Barrett Reid and Dr Stephen Murray-Smith as Award Selection Panel for Braille Book of the Year, need for newer building as Commercial Road premises are expensive to heat and light and all available space is occupied, book bounty scheme available for braille and audio books, Louis Braille Productions Ltd set up as a subsidary company, book reading broadcasts by ABC shows will be donated free of charge, inaugural children's catalogue of Braille books produced, resignations of Dr Simon Haskell and David Hume, appointment of Elaine Leahy and Norm Fidge, and death of Maxene Hewitt and establishment of children's book collection known as 'The Maxene Hewett Collection for Children' in her honour. There is also a photograph and staff listing as part of the annual report.1 volume of text and illustrationsbraille & talking book library, hector bathurst, maxene hewitt, alice mcclelland, alison forbes, jan smark, norm the kangaroo, nick gleeson, john poliness, andrew turk, merle griffen, gladys fanning, e.e. haynes, janene morrison, beverley jackson, dianna martin, margaret komen, penny crawford, merrie handbury, shirley robinson, sue hanson, faye donnelly, jane grimwade, jennifer spry, iris whittaker, john cockayne, martin nicol, jan odle, peter sellars, paul korsten, blanche d'alpuget, luu ngac hua, sir brian murray, warren horton, robert miller, sydney alderson

Annual report of the Braille & Talking Book Library including Minutes of the AGM, Board of Director's Report, President's report and financial statements. Items also included are: embedding the new philosophy 'that all may read', VIP Tours began with tour of library and lunch at 'Onions' restaurant afterwards, increased loans but also a 5 month waiting list for new borrowers, Children's Christmas Party conducted, Barrett Reid, Joyce Nicholson and Dr Stephen Murray-Smith continue to be the literary panel for Braille Book of the Year, Annual Garden Party at Benalla, 63rd work anniversary of Alice McClelland, computerisation of card catalogue has received funds and should be completed by early 1986, and have the added benefit of eliminating wait times for new borrowers, resignation of Clare Lovegrove and Beverley Johnson and appointment of Seija Makinen and Alana McCann, first joint commission of braille books from RIDBC by Library and 8 state organisations, and purchase of an electric conveyor belt to help load the Australia Post truck with the daily 30 bags of mail received and the same outgoing.1 volume of text and illustrationsannual report, braille and talking book library, john cockayne, nancy phelan, book of the year, barrett reid, jan smark, jim simmonds, maria cafici, milena bektus, maria darroch, lee saunders, john sullivan, eve mahlab, fedora trinker, toula theophilus, ralph hunter

Annual report of the Braille & Talking Book Library including Minutes of the AGM, Board of Director's Report, President's report and financial statements. Items also included are: naming the computer which will store the book catalogue for the library 'Tilly', RVIB declared a public library and Minister for the Arts has determined for services to rationalise with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman meeting their counterparts with meetings ongoing, first time borrowers asked to nominate their choice of winning title for Braille Book of the Year, with the literary panel of Stephen Murray-Smith, Joyce Nicholson and Barrett Reid making a short list from which borrowers voted, first time presentation held in the afternoon (with increased attendence) and inaugural Narrator's Award (The Bathurst in honour of former President Hector Bathurst) to Eirene Pappas, Hector Bathurst to receive OAM, Jan Smark Nilsson appointed to National Advisory Committee on Library Services to People with Disabilities and Australia Post approval to change cassette mailing pouches.1 volume of text and illustrationsannual report, braille and talking book library, john cockayne, peter walsh, jan smark, betty roland, book of the year, matcham skipper, stephen murray-smith

Annual report of the Braille & Talking Book Library including Minutes of the AGM, Board of Director's Report, President's report and financial statements. Items also included are: CEP (Community Employment Programs) allowed for duplication of master tapes for storage off-site and development of computer catalogue records, budget estimate requires raising $600,000 in funds which has resulted in 1987 facing serious financial challenges, negotiations with RVIB broken down as print-handicapped philosophy not shared, Braille Book of the Year judges (Joyce Nicholson, Barrett Reid and Stephen Murray-Smith) shortlisted titles for readers to vote upon (John Bryson, Evil Angels) and best narrator (The Bathurst) went to Sean Myers, organisational restructure, resignation of Barbara Johnston and David Blyth, appointment of Jill Keeffe, new borrowers now waiting 11 months to receive first book due to limited staffing levels, bright orange cassette containers introduced (replacing pouches), Otari duplicating system first year in use, 'In Future' and 'Australian Geographic' began, 45 audio magazines including 1 Greek and 3 Italian now circulating, Braille Reading Marathon held, large print collection expanded due to Fitzroy Public Library discarding stock, Versapoint embosser purchased and link with Royal Society for the Blind in South Australia through Braille book catalogue.1 volume of text and illustrationsannual report, braille and talking book library, paul eddington, elaine harris, john bryson, book of the year, jan smark, alison forbes, paul korsten, maria cafici, alannah mccann, joan harris, carole yelland, iris whittaker, seija makinen, lloyd smith, john cockayne, max charlesworth, john blackman, joyce nicholson, stewart culbard, ken robertson, rita erlich, carmen hannaker, paul korner, fiona woods, helene dennett, pat rosenbrook, wendy kemp, bobby mccartney-snape, merrie handbury, jane grimwade, julie stafford, pamela reynolds, jean mccaughey, dianne monopoli, norman curry, peter cole-adams

Annual report of the Braille and Talking Book Library including Minutes of the AGM, Board of Director's Report, President's report and financial statements. Items also included are: consultants used to streamline structure to reduce costs, take advantage of computer catalogue and resignation of Iris Whittaker and Seija Makinen, legacy from Valmai Jean Grey Bequest, Anne Barca, David Scott and Peter Walsh joined the Board, Braille Book of the Year panel (Joyce Nicholson, Stephen Murray-Smith, Barrett Reid) continue to short list titles for readers to vote on and Australia Council funds production of these titles, increased wait times to 18 months for new borrowers, introduction of computerised Profile matching for readers, full audio rights secured for six titles by LBP Ltd (Louis Braille Productions) and tone indexing introduced on to magazines at beginning of 1988.1 volume of text and illustrationsannual report, braille and talking book library, jan smark, derryn hinch, e.m. kelsall, book of the year, barrett reid, peter hosking, hector bathurst, ian cathie, john cockayne, alison forbes, jane lascala, john brown, peter brown, muriel muhlen, ethel allen, dorothy cleeland, constance clark, mabel bladon, margaret vrachnas, norah cockcroft, aubrey bladon, victoria williams

Annual report of the Braille & Talking Book Library including Minutes of the AGM, Board of Director's Report, President's report and financial statements. Items also included are: the legacy of Mary Daly (consisting of 2 houses), launch on March 5 of LBP LTD by Minister of the Arts Ian Cathie, the death of Stephen Murray-Smith, the revaluation of land and buildings from 1918 value of 18000 pounds to $1,250,000, purchase of small property at 46 Commercial Road (opposite Library) to alleviate over-crowding, Mike Janes joins Board, Referendum materials produced for the AEC, purchase of Versabraille, acquisition of a fax machine, implementation of computer in technical services halted, new shelving purchased for the library, and Clarke & Smith books actively being phased out.1 volume of text and illustrationsannual report, braille and talking book library, sally morgan, book of the year, john cockayne, suzanne johnston, jan smark, paul korsten, brenda thurogood, alison forbes, maria cafici, nancye cain, derryn hinch, hector bathurst, graeme murphy

Annual report of the Braille & Talking Book Library including Minutes of the AGM, Board of Director's Report, President's report and financial statements. Items also included are: the continuing financial underfunding by government, Paul Carter joined Literary Panel of Joyce Nicholson and Barrett Reid for Braille Book of the Year shortlist, property purchased opposite library was sold as expected monies did not come through, David Scott appointed and later resigned as Treasurer, Mike Janes has taken appointment, Fred Gaze resigned, Peter Corrigan and Ron McCallum have joined the Board, appointment of Robert de Graauw to audio production, continued fundraising by Benalla Auxiliary, removal of wait list time for borrowers, and only 16 people receiving Clarke & Smith books since movement towards cassette.1 volume of text and illustrationsannual report, braille and talking book library, marion halligan, john cockayne, beverley dunn, jan smark, paul korsten, khai la, helen hall, martha hills, anne reilly, maria cafici, patricia convery, don schauder, naomi orr, vyvette baptist, charmaine chan, david harding, deneille sutton, meike mellars, susan staggard, robert de graauw, mike janes, fred gaze, ron mccallum

Annual report of the Braille & Talking Book Library including Minutes of the AGM, Board of Director's Report, President's report and financial statements. Items also included are: inability to merge with RVIB and ratified agreement to merge with Association for the Blind, 21st year of fundraising of the Benalla Auxiliary, low morale and productivity prior to merger, ongoing issue with staff turnover, continued delays with computer system and decision to purchase Urica system, toll free number for borrowers as well as advisory groups introduced to insure Library remains consumer focused, Rose Blustein appointed Chief Librarian, automated circulation system introduced which has decreased backlog in processing mailbags, and the Braille and Talking Book Library ceased trading 4 October 1990 due to the merge.1 volume of text and illustrationsannual report, braille and talking book library, tilly aston, john cockayne, helen hall, elsie simper, alex miller, book of the year, joan harris, rose blustein