The Quad
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Elevated view of men seated in a courtyard, Australian Intercolonial Exhibition, Melbourne Public Library, 1866–67 -
Newspaper Room, State Library, 1951 -
Construction work on the former Newspaper Room in the basement of the domed reading room at the State Library of Victoria
Head past the Swanston Street Welcome Zone and into the heart of the Library's ground floor, known as the Quad.
The Quad's central hub is the information centre, which also provides access to the Library's Conference Centre and Theatrette.
Got a question? Staff in the information centre will be able to help. The contemporary, digitally enabled space is also the place to study or do some research, using the Library's public PCs or your own device. With a bustling and energetic campus atmosphere, the space caters to informal individual or collaborative work.
Flanking the Quad are the Library's four new activity centres:
- Conversation Quarter (reserved for large events)
- Ideas Quarter (including StartSpace)
- Create Quarter
- Pauline Gandel Children's Quarter
About the Quad
The Quad opened in December 2019 as part of the Library's Vision 2020 redevelopment project.
The Quarters were formerly known as the Courtyards. Formed by roofing over the original buildings' external walls, these spaces have evolved significantly over the Library's 160 years of history. Over time, the various spaces have functioned as external car parks, reading rooms and event spaces.
The information centre is housed in the basement area created by the construction of the Domed Reading Room in 1913. The space reveals the Dome's unusual concrete construction, and previously housed the Library's Newspapers Reading Room.
Hours
Daily 10am–6pm
Facilities
- Library staff
- public PCs
- print, scan & copy centre
- self-service point
- seating for 200+
- bookable meeting rooms
- creative technology studios
- assistive technology
- free lockers