What's on

Looking for something fun to do, with a cultural twist? Take a look at our events and exhibitions! We host all kinds of talks, workshops, films, guided tours and more, for audiences across all age groups, including families. Our events help you get to know our amazing collections and tell the story of Victoria's history. Many events – including our exhibitions – are free.

Featured events & exhibitions

Friday, 5 May 2017–Sunday, 30 July 2017

On Gunaikurnai Country: Gippsland Aboriginal Elders, leaders and artists

bookings required

Tuesday, 1 August 2017 - 6:00pm–7:15pm

Blood and guts

Sept bookings open

Tuesday, 26 September 2017–Thursday, 28 September 2017

School holiday program: Story Camp

booked out

Thursday, 10 August 2017 - 6:00pm–6:30pm

Dome after dark: artists & books

Friday, 28 July 2017–Sunday, 29 October 2017

50 years of La Mama

All events & exhibitions

Daily

Cowen Gallery exhibition

Enjoy the Library's free permanent exhibition of oil paintings and portrait sculptures.

Cost: Free

09 April 2015–04 June 2018

Writing the war: personal stories from WWI

Hear extraordinary stories of war in this moving exhibition about the Australian experience of WWI.

Cost: Free

Touring exhibition

Daily

Play Pod

Play Pod is the Library's program for children aged under eight years, packed with activities to read, create and play.

Cost: Free

10 June 2016–20 January 2018

Story Island: an adventure in pictures

Come on a journey of imagination at your local public library to touch the skin of a dragon, tickle a wombat’s furry tummy and hide away in a reading pod!

Cost: Free

touring exhibition

Daily

The changing face of Victoria

Visit a remarkable free exhibition that tells the stories of the people, places and events that have shaped Victoria.

Cost: Free

Daily

Mirror of the world: books and ideas

Delight in the Mirror of the world: books and ideas exhibition, and discover the many rare and beautiful books held in our collections.

Cost: Free

09 January 2017–15 December 2017

'Changing face of Victoria' tour

Visit the La Trobe Reading Room and see highlights of the 'Changing face of Victoria' exhibition in this free guided tour, held daily at 2pm except public holidays and except from 22 May to 2 June 2017.

Cost: Free

09 January 2017–15 December 2017

'Mirror of the world' tour

Visit the La Trobe Reading Room and see highlights of the 'Mirror of the world' exhibition on this free guided tour, running daily at 11.30am.

Cost: Free

05 May 2017–30 July 2017

On Gunaikurnai Country: Gippsland Aboriginal Elders, leaders and artists

See Angela Lynkushka's stunning new portrait series of Aboriginal community Elders, leaders and artists from the Gippsland region.

Cost: Free

25 July 2017–05 August 2017

Blood: what's your type?

Drop in to the Science Gallery's pop-up laboratory on the Library forecourt and have your blood type tested on the spot!

Cost: Free

25 July 2017, 10:30am–11:00am

Welcome to the Library tour

Take a free guided tour exploring the Library’s many spaces and services – tours run every Tuesday, except public holidays.

Cost: Free

25 July 2017, 10:30am–11:00am

Baby bounce

Share this fun session of stories, songs and rhymes with children aged two and under, held three times a week.

Cost: Free

26 July 2017, 11:30am–12:00pm

Storytime

Have fun every Wednesday and Thursday with stories, songs, rhymes and creative activities for children aged three to five, their parents and carers.

Cost: Free

26 July 2017, 1:00pm–2:00pm

Ned Kelly tour

Discover the story of Victoria’s infamous bushranger Ned Kelly in this free guided tour running every Wednesday and Saturday, except public holidays and except from 24 to 31 May 2017.

Cost: Free

27 July 2017, 1:30pm–3:00pm

Dome to dungeons tour

Take a tour behind the scenes and explore the Library from top to bottom.

Cost: Free

booked out

27 July 2017, 6:00pm–6:30pm

Dome after dark: Victoria’s calisthenics craze

Discover how German marching drills, a Ballarat debating society and the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova contributed to the development of a unique sport in Victoria!

Cost: Free

booked out

28 July 2017–29 October 2017

50 years of La Mama

Celebrate 50 year's of experimental local theatre in this free display of images of Melbourne's iconic La Mama Theatre.

Cost: Free

29 July 2017, 10:00am–4:00pm

Open House Melbourne: self-guided Library tour

Join a free, self-guided Open House tour and explore the Library from dome to dungeon!

Cost: Free

29 July 2017, 10:00am

Open House Melbourne: Conservation Lab guided tour

Come behind the scenes to explore the State Library's intriguing Conservation Lab and hear about the work of conservators.

Cost: Free

booked out

01 August 2017, 6:00pm–7:15pm

Blood and guts

Get gruesome in this free seminar, where a medical historian and a molecular parasitology specialist discuss the microscopic mysteries under our skin!

Cost: Free

bookings required

04 August 2017–26 November 2017

Looped: artist books in the round

Experience Gracia & Louise's special artist book unfold 'in the round' in the heritage dais in the domed La Trobe Reading Room.

Cost: Free

10 August 2017, 6:00pm–6:30pm

Dome after dark: artists & books

Explore a selection of beautiful historical and contemporary illustrated books in this free 'Dome after dark' talk.

Cost: Free

booked out

11 August 2017–12 November 2017

Self-made: zines and artist books

Discover the evolution of do-it-yourself publishing in this free exhibition of fanzines, punk zines, underground press publications and artist books designed to buck the commercial gallery system.

Cost: Free

11 August 2017, 11:00am–11:45am

Curator floortalks: 'Self-made'

Hear curator Monica Syrette talk about the free exhibition 'Self-made: zines and artist books', which showcases do-it-yourself publications, artist books and underground publications.

Cost: Free

bookings required

13 August 2017, 2:00pm–3:00pm

Immersive science: the next frontier in Australian astronomy

Join astronomers Dr Alan Duffy and Dr Katie Mack on an exploration of the Universe in a free immersive science talk blending live events and virtual reality.

Cost: Free

Bookings required

15 August 2017, 12:30pm–1:15pm

'Self-made' tour

See highlights of the 'Self-made: zines and artist books' exhibition of underground publications and artist books in a free guided tour, held every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday except public holidays.

Cost: Free

15 August 2017, 6:00pm–7:15pm

The Policy Pitch

An ongoing discussion series in which experts and thinkers tackle some of the most important problems facing Australia.

Cost: Free

bookings required

17 August 2017, 1:00pm–1:45pm

Zine scene

Join 'Self-made' curator Monica Syrette and State Library Arts Librarian John Stevens in a free and exclusive behind-the-scenes viewing of rare zines from the Library’s History of the Book Collection.

Cost: Free

bookings required

17 August 2017, 2:00pm–3:30pm

Using eresources from home

Learn to access ebooks, newspapers and journal articles from the comfort of home.

Cost: Free

Bookings required

18 August 2017, 7:30pm–8:30pm

Calisthenics in the dome: a tribute to Miss Vera Hopton

Watch a free calisthenics performance in the dome to celebrate the 'Great Lady' of calisthenics, Miss Vera Hopton.

Cost: Free

bookings required

21 August 2017, 10:00am–4:00pm

Family History Feast

Enjoy free information sessions for family historians at this year’s ever-popular Family History Feast.

Cost: Free

Bookings required

24 August 2017, 11:00am–12:15pm

Author in-conversation: Robert La Nauze on George Thwaites & sons

Join Robert La Nauze for a talk on 'Made to order', his book on colonial cabinet makers George Thwaites and sons, whose cabinetry graced the finest buildings of ‘marvellous Melbourne'.

Cost: Free

bookings required

24 August 2017, 2:00pm–3:30pm

Search & find

Improve your online research skills in this one-hour workshop.

Cost: Free

Bookings required

24 August 2017, 6:00pm–6:30pm

Dome after dark: the first royal tour

Revisit the pomp and ceremony of the first ever British royal tour in 1867, in this free 'Dome after dark' talk.

Cost: Free

booked out

02 September 2017, 2:30pm–3:30pm

Strike a pose

Take a peek into the elegant and sometimes outrageous world of post-1970s Australian fashion photography. This free conversation – featuring panellists from the fashion world and photography industry – shares iconic works by renowned photographers Rennie Ellis, Helmut Newton, Athol Shmidt and others.

Cost: Free

Bookings required

22 September 2017, 7:00pm–9:00pm

Australian poetry slam Victorian state final

Attend a live literary performance competition where the audience is the judge!

Cost: Free

Bookings required

26 September 2017–28 September 2017

School holiday program: Story Camp

Meet and learn from some of Australia's most exciting and inspiring storytellers in a free school holiday workshop for 12 to 15-year-olds.

Cost: Free for young people from eligible schools

Sept bookings open

What's on

Featured events & exhibitions

On Gunaikurnai Country: Gippsland Aboriginal Elders, leaders and artists

Blood and guts

School holiday program: Story Camp

Dome after dark: artists & books

50 years of La Mama

Filter events by date

Filter by event type

Filter by cost

All events & exhibitions

Cowen Gallery exhibition

Writing the war: personal stories from WWI

Play Pod

Story Island: an adventure in pictures

The changing face of Victoria

Mirror of the world: books and ideas

'Changing face of Victoria' tour

'Mirror of the world' tour

On Gunaikurnai Country: Gippsland Aboriginal Elders, leaders and artists

Blood: what's your type?

Welcome to the Library tour

Baby bounce

Storytime

Ned Kelly tour

Dome to dungeons tour

Dome after dark: Victoria’s calisthenics craze

50 years of La Mama

Open House Melbourne: self-guided Library tour

Open House Melbourne: Conservation Lab guided tour

Blood and guts

Looped: artist books in the round

Dome after dark: artists & books

Self-made: zines and artist books

Curator floortalks: 'Self-made'

Immersive science: the next frontier in Australian astronomy

'Self-made' tour

The Policy Pitch

Zine scene

Using eresources from home

Calisthenics in the dome: a tribute to Miss Vera Hopton

Family History Feast

Author in-conversation: Robert La Nauze on George Thwaites & sons

Search & find

Dome after dark: the first royal tour

Strike a pose

Australian poetry slam Victorian state final

School holiday program: Story Camp