Rare Book Week
About Rare Book Week
Rare Book Week is an annual, Melbourne-wide program of free talks and events that celebrate the importance of books, literacy and literature in our lives. It has been a key event in literary Melbourne’s calendar since 2012.
The Library supports and actively participates in Rare Book Week through free public events held at the Library. Continue reading to learn more about these events and rare books at the Library.
Rare books at the Library
Detail from Robert Thornton's Temple of Flora, printed by T Bensley, London, 1807
What is it that makes a book a rare book? A book may designated 'rare' because it is old or valuable, beautifully produced, a famous work, or all of these.
The Library's Rare Book Collection places particular emphasis on the history of the book, and includes many works that showcase the art and design of book illustration and production techniques. While the majority of the books in the collection are old, we also collect recently published books that show new trends in publishing, such as graphic novels and zines, and books handmade by artists.
Learn more about the Rare Books Collection.
Support the Rare Books Collection
Image three: Dictionaries on display, World of the Book
Support the Rare Books Collection by assisting the Library to acquire rare and significant books that will build on its unique and extraordinary holdings, ranging from medieval manuscripts and early printed books, through to 20th century modernist literature and contemporary artists books.
World of the Book Curator Tour
Eugene Hyland
Join the curators of World of the Book for a special tour of the rare, sacred, iconic and historically significant books within the Library’s most popular exhibition.
Friday 31 July 2026, 12-1pm
A Room of One’s Own: The Woman Writers Fund at State Library Victoria
Join State Library Victoria curator Anna Welch for an introduction to the Library’s pioneering Women Writers Fund, established in 2021.
Saturday 25 July, 11am-12pm
Anatomy of a Book: Medical Books from State Library Victoria
Explore highlights of the Library’s impressive holdings of medical texts, from a medieval pharmacopeia manuscript through to magnificent early modern works.
Monday 27 July, 4-5pm
Rare Book Week: Rebel Heart Curator Tour
Eugene Hyland
Join an exclusive curator tour through the Library's latest exhibition Rebel Heart: Love letters & other declarations.
Tuesday 28 July, 12-1pm
Book Arts from the Medieval to the Contemporary
This collection-viewing experience will introduce audiences to the materiality, aesthetics, techniques and history of handmade books.
Tuesday 28 July, 4-5pm
Irish Texts in State Library Victoria’s Rare Book Collection
This session will examine a range of important Irish works works from the seventeenth to the twentieth century.
Wednesday 29 July, 4-5pm
The Queen of Crime: All About Agatha
Join us for a talk as we celebrate the extraordinary legacy of Agatha Christie.
Thursday 30 July, 4-5pm