The 2008 Annual General Meeting of the Society, marking the end of its second year of existence, was held at the State Library of New South Wales on Saturday 29 November in the historical and serene atmosphere of the Friends'  Room. The former Mitchell Library Reading Room was the perfect venue for a relaxed, bookish meeting attended by a dozen or so members, and was kindly provided for us by our guest speaker Paul Brunton, the Mitchell Library's senior curator.

The routine business of the day was first dealt with: the minutes of the 2007 AGM were confirmed; the President gave his report highlighting the continuing positive feedback from members concerning the Newsletter, the major event and membership drive associated with the State Library of Queensland exhibition and noting that 22 new members had joined in 2008 resulting in 60 financial members for the year; the Treasurer's report showing that the Society was in the black and proposing modifications to streamline some of the Society's administrative processes (which were all agreed to). The current office bearers were re-elected: President, Mark Ferson; Secretary, Mary Keep; Treasurer, Ronald Cardwell; and Vice President, Mike Carter. In addition Roy Howard offered to join the Committee to undertake any tasks that would aid the running or promotion of the Society.

With the formal business concluded, those present were given a pleasant surprise in the form of a brief address by Jennifer Lamm, President of the Auckland Ex Libris Society. Jennifer was in Sydney serendipitously for the weekend to receive the award of the Master of Laws from the University of Sydney and was delighted to be able to attend the AGM. She spoke a few words about the various forms of cross fertilisation between the two societies through sharing of interests and members. At last it came time for the guest of honour, Paul Brunton, to speak on 'Collecting other people's books: David Scott Mitchell's sources.'

Paul's talk was based around 15 of Mitchell's own books held by the Library. He used the bookplates, inscriptions and other marks of provenance to weave a story firstly about the origins of Mitchell's bibliophilia and then of his later collecting when he used, at times, ruthlessness and subterfuge, to gain his desiderata (desired objects) at almost any cost. Mitchell's passion and the foresight of key players involved with the then Public Library of New South Wales and the State Government, if swayed by the eloquence of eminent book seller George Robertson, led to the deposition of Mitchell's unique and irreplaceable collection in Sydney where it is used by historians and researchers from all around the world. Further information on Paul's talk appears in issue no. 12 of the Newsletter.