| 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. |
