Newspaper Reading Room

The Herald & Weekly Times Ltd Newspaper Reading Room is home to the Library’s Newspaper Collection.

Where is the Newspaper Reading Room?

One of four enclosed courtyards, the Newspaper Reading Room is located on the ground floor, just off the Information Centre and adjacent to the Copy Centre. The exact location of this room is clearly identified on the Library floor plan.

What's in this room?

The Newspaper Reading Room holds copies of recent Victorian, interstate and overseas newspapers as well as microfilm copies of older issues and out-of-print newspapers. This room also has a range of facilities to help you with your research including:

• computers which provide access to the catalogue, databases and the web
• PCs for CD-ROM and online newspapers
• indexes
• card catalogues
• copier/printers
• microfiche and microfilm readers and reader-printers
• microfiche/microfilm scanners with PCs attached for printing and downloading.

Information desk

Opposite the entrance to the room is the information desk, where you can pick up brochures explaining how to find and access items in the collection, place orders for material that will need to be retrieved from storage (subject to the conditions outlined in the Newspaper Access Policy), and get help with using equipment in the room.

Staff at the desk can also provide assistance with your specific newspaper inquiries and offer advice on the best way to locate the information you need.

Newspaper stands

Recent issues of Victorian, interstate and overseas newspapers are stored in large shelves on one side of the room. Readily available for reading and browsing, these newspapers should be returned to the trolleys that are located nearby.

Newspaper lounge

Furnished with comfortable armchairs, this area is reserved for people who are using materials from the Newspaper Collection.

Microfilm room

This is a dedicated space for viewing newspapers on microfilm. Designed to maximise the readability of the newspaper files, this room is quiet with subdued lighting. Microfilm is stored in large cabinets close to this room and should be returned to the trolleys for reshelving by Library staff after use.

Displays

On either side of the entrance to the Newspaper Reading Room there is a Herald & Weekly Times display of printers' tools and implements that traces the history of newspaper print production techniques.

Lining the walls of the reading room are facsimiles of newspapers, potted biographies of influential media proprietors and historical information about important Victorian newspapers.

When is this room open?

The Newspaper Reading Room can be visited during standard Library opening hours.