Chronology

1853	Lieutenant Governor La Trobe includes 13,000 pounds in the estimates for the construction of a library building and the purchase of books.
1853	20 July First Trustees of the Public Library are appointed. The Senior Trustee is Supreme Court Judge Redmond Barry (later Sir Redmond Barry).
1854	16 January Trustees announce Joseph Reed as the winner of the architectural competition to design the Library.
1854	3 July Governor Sir Charles Hotham lays foundation stone.
1856	11 February Melbourne Public Library is opened by Major-General Edward McArthur, acting Governor of Victoria. The collection consists of 3846 volumes. Admission is free to everyone over 14 years of age. The first member of staff, Edward Washfold, is appointed Library Porter.
1856	May 5 Augustus Tulk is appointed as the first Chief Librarian.
1859	April 500 volumes purchased for circulation to inland towns as part of the Travelling Libraries Scheme. May Sir Henry Barkly opens the Queen’s Reading Room. This room accommodates the growing collection which has expanded to 13,000 volumes. Additional funds are sought for the construction of a north wing.
1861	First full stocktake of the collection.
1869	November Copyright Protection Act introduces Legal Deposit which entitles the Library to receive one copy of every book, journal and newspaper published in Victoria. December Act passed incorporating and providing for the management of Public Library, Museums and National Gallery of Victoria.
1877	The Trustees draw attention to the shortage of space.
1878	The Library purchases two of the original Batman deeds. The Library prints a new catalogue containing 101,000 volumes and pamphlets. The Library also renews its call for additional space.
1882	The Trustees prepare a report on the shortage of adequate Library accommodation. Anticipated funding does not eventuate and the plans for a building on Little Lonsdale Street do not proceed.
1886	The south wing in Little Lonsdale Street is opened. The first floor is dedicated to Library purposes providing space for 26,000 volumes. Trustees indicate that within two years additional space will be needed.
1890	Library, Museums, and National Gallery Act and Free Libraries Act are integrated as Libraries Act 1890.
1891	Although no funding is made available by the Government, the Trustees instruct the Librarian to prepare for the establishment of a lending branch which opens in August 1892. The catalogue of 200 000 cards (organised by author and subject) is made publicly available.
1892	Trustees recommend to the Government that provision be made for a new Library building.
1894	November Trustees resolve to encourage the foundation of a Library Association of Australasia. Two years later an intercolonial library conference is held and 600 guests attend a social gathering to welcome the delegates.
1896	For the first time in the Library's history no money is voted for new books. Drastic retrenchments, initiated in 1895, persisted for several years.
1899	Metropolitan Lending Library (for individual members of the community) is established.
1903	The Library accepts the first transfer of Government archives.
1904	Felton Bequest – the Library was the beneficiary of the Bequest during the years the Library and the National Gallery of Victoria were part of the one institution.
1905	The Library building is now considered to be inadequate. It is recommended that a new Library building be erected to commemorate the Library's jubilee.
1906	Amendments to the Commonwealth Copyright Act preserve the Library’s right to legal deposit of items published in Victoria.
1907	Architects Bates, Peebles and Smart are appointed to design the new Library building. In 1909 builders, JW and DA Swanson, are appointed to complete new Library building.
1913	14 November The Governor-General, Lord Denman, declares the Domed Reading Room open.
1914	Trustees approve the Chief Librarian’s recommendation to establish a Victorian Historical Museum charting the history and progress of Victoria. As there is no funding for an attendant, this exhibition is not opened until 1929 when it is installed in Barry Hall.
1917	Instances of falling plaster in the Domed Reading Room result in the dome ceiling being covered with fibrous plaster.
1919	Following the end of WWI (12 of the Library’s staff of 42 had enlisted), a large increase in readers is recorded.
1920	The high cost of books results in purchasing restrictions. An application is made to Government for supplementary funding.
1928	February Proclamation of the Libraries Act entitles the Trustees to receive a copy of every edition of every book published in Victoria, and the right to impose fines in enforcing rules and regulations. The Library reports that on an average day 3168 visitors use the Library.
1930	Adverse foreign exchange rates and the imposition of sales tax on imports cause the Trustees to temporarily cease direct purchasing from overseas.
1931	The Library celebrates its 75th anniversary – collection of volumes numbers over half a million.
1944	Libraries Act establishes the Library as a separate institution (premises still shared with the Museum and the National Gallery of Victoria).
1945	Free Library Service Board of Victoria is established to support the development of local public libraries through state subsidy and central advisory services.
1948	Library training school is established (the last intake to the school was in 1970) offering two courses each year (a 4-month course and a 12-month course).
1951	Victoria’s centenary is celebrated. Proposal that a separate building be erected to house the Library’s Australian collections. The foundation stone is laid on 2 July, the building completed in 1965.
1959	Dome is sheathed in copper to prevent water leaks.
1963	As a result of public and professional discontent with the services in the Library, Sir John Jungwirth is appointed to head the Board of Inquiry into Library Services in Victoria. In 1964 he makes 77 recommendations to improve library services, including replacing the State Library Trustees and the Free Library Service Board with a single authority.
1964	Library Council of Victoria Act provides for a council, sets out its functions, and establishes the new office of State Librarian.
1965	6 September Sir Henry Bolte, opens the La Trobe Library building which is the new home of the Australiana collection.
1971	The direct lending service to the public ceases operation.
1973	April With the passage of the Public Records Act, which establishes the Public Record Office of Victoria, the Library ceases to be the state’s archives.
1980	Introduction of automated cataloguing.
1981	Travelling Libraries scheme ceases operation.
1985	Publication of the first Selection Policy which guides collection acquisition. Second full stocktake of the collection (over 1 million volumes) is carried out.
1988	Library Act transfers responsibility for the support of local public libraries from State Library of Victoria to Victorian Ministry of the Arts.
1989	Implementation of the online public access catalogue which replaces the microfiche catalogue.
1990	Redevelopment of the State Library begins. The entire site (bounded by Swanston, Russell, La Trobe and Little Lonsdale Streets) will be refurbished for Library use. The Library remains open throughout the building redevelopment. The Library initiates a digitisation program with funding from the Myer Foundation to improve access to fragile and rare collections – by 2003 more than 175,000 items would be digitised.
1992	The north-east and south-east wings are completed for collection storage but these areas soon prove inadequate, providing no space for collection growth.
1994	VICNET and State Library of Victoria Foundation are established.
1995	The north-west courtyard and the Village Roadshow Theatrette open.
1996	State Library of Victoria website is launched providing access to the Library catalogue.
1997	Trescowthick Information Centre opens.
1998	Herald & Weekly Times Ltd Newspaper Reading Room and the restored Library forecourt are opened. VICNET completes project to connect all public library branches to the internet.
1999	Dome is closed for refurbishing - 19km of materials are relocated from the Domed Reading Room.
2001	Keith Murdoch Gallery opens.
2003	The Domed Reading Room reopens as the La Trobe Reading Room. Other spaces are also opened throughout the year including Experimedia, the Arts Reading Room, the Cowen Gallery, the Redmond Barry Reading Room, and reading rooms for manuscripts, maps, pictures and rare books.
2004	Library’s 150th anniversary.  New Library website is launched.
2006	The Library's cafe, Mr Tulk, opens. It is named for the Library's first Chief Librarian, Mr Augustus Henry Tulk.