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

Saturday, 1 December 2018–Tuesday, 31 December 2019

Peter Wille: Out driving

bookings required

Monday, 17 June 2019 - 1:30pm

Dome to catacomb tour

Tuesday, 4 June 2019 - 11:30am–12:30pm

'World of the book' tour

Monday, 3 June 2019 - 10:45am–11:15am

Welcome to the Library tour

Wednesday, 24 July 2019 - 6:00pm–7:00pm

2019 Redmond Barry Lecture – Ballet: not just tutus and tiaras.

All events & exhibitions

08 March 2018–19 January 2020

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

touring exhibition

Daily

Peter Wille: Out driving

Explore this temporary exhibition showcasing images of Melbourne's architectural wonders throughout the 1950's and 1960's.

Cost: Free

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

World of the book

Explore a world of ideas and imagination in this exhibition showcasing the history of book design, production and illustration.

Cost: Free

Daily

Cowen Gallery exhibition

The newly curated Cowen Gallery exhibition showcases works from the Library’s paintings collection, exploring regional and urban themes.

Cost: Free

01 June 2019–31 July 2019

Dome at dusk

Join us under the Dome at dusk for a series of specialist collection talks.

Cost: Free

bookings required

17 June 2019, 10:45am–11:15am

Welcome to the Library tour

Take a free guided tour exploring the Library, daily from 10.45am to 11.15am.

Cost: Free

17 June 2019, 11:30am–12:30pm

'World of the book' tour

See highlights of the 'World of the book' exhibition on this free daily tour at 11.30am.

Cost: Free

17 June 2019, 1:30pm

Dome to catacomb tour

Sneak a peek behind the scenes at the iconic State Library and roam the building from top to bottom in this tour.

Cost: Free

bookings required

17 June 2019, 2:00pm–3:00pm

'The 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. Ned Kelly's armour is temporarily off display

Cost: Free

18 June 2019, 10:30am–12:00pm

Researching with eresources

Learn more about how to access resources and navigate the Library's catalogue.

Cost: Free

bookings required

19 June 2019, 1:00pm

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.

Cost: Free

bookings required

20 June 2019, 12:00pm

2222

Hear the visions of five emerging writer's in this self-guided listening tour for The Emerging Writers' Festival.

Cost: $10.00

Bookings required

20 June 2019, 6:00pm–6:30pm

Dome at Dusk: Feed your land and it will feed you

Join curator Bethan Johnson to explore how the hopes of modernity shaped farming in Victoria.

Cost: Free

bookings required

20 June 2019, 7:00pm–8:00pm

Ways of listening

Join Emerging Writers’ Festival’s three Melbourne Recital Centre Writers-in-Residence for a night of discussion, performance and live music.

Cost: Full price $30, concession $25.

Bookings required

22 June 2019, 9:00am–5:00pm

Emerging Writers’ Festival National Writers Conference

Join 70 artists across two days of panels, discussions, workshops and more!

Cost: Early bird full price $80, concession $60 for a limited time only.

bookings required

01 July 2019–03 July 2019

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 (eligibility criteria apply)

02 July 2019, 10:15am–11:15am

Newspapers and Family History Reading Rooms tour

Learn research skills to help you navigate the family history collections.

Cost: Free

bookings required

02 July 2019, 6:30pm–8:30pm

Foundry658 Accelerator Demo Night

Australian Centre for the Moving Image and State Library Victoria invite you to celebrate Foundry658 Demo Night.

Cost: Free

Bookings required

03 July 2019, 7:00pm–10 July 2019, 7:00pm

Australian Poetry Slam heats

Join in the excitement and register for the 2019 Poetry Slam heats!

Cost: Free

bookings required

04 July 2019, 6:00pm–6:30pm

Dome at Dusk – Australian Gothic: Picnic at Hanging Rock

Hear Dr Catherine Padmore explore material relating to the book and it's author Joan Lindsay’s life.

Cost: Free

06 July 2019, 3:00pm–3:45pm

World of the book curator tour

Join our curators for a special Rare Book Week tour of State Library's permanent exhibition, World of the book.

Cost: Free

08 July 2019, 6:00pm–7:00pm

Second-hand or rare? A tale of two private libraries

Hear Shane Carmody's special talk for Rare Book Week.

Cost: Free

bookings required

09 July 2019, 11:00am–11:45am

Library magic: The WE Alma Collection

Hear unexpected delights from the The WE Alma Collection for Rare Book Week.

Cost: Free

Bookings required

10 July 2019, 11:00am–11:45am

The John Emmerson Collection

Hear about one of the world’s largest collections of rare English printed works for Rare Book Week.

Cost: Free

bookings required

11 July 2019, 11:00am–11:45am

Medieval and early modern marginalia

Explore examples of curious marginalia from medieval and early modern books for Rare Book Week.

Cost: Free

12 July 2019, 11:00am–11:45am

The search for the Great Southern Land

Discover the legends about this fictional southern land through the Maps Collection for Rare Book Week.

Cost: Free

bookings required

16 July 2019, 10:30am–12:00pm

Accessing ebooks

Learn everything you need to know about searching and downloading ebooks to a PC or your own device.

Cost: Free

Bookings required

18 July 2019, 6:00pm–6:30pm

Dome at Dusk – Georgiana McCrae: linguist, painter and diarist

Find out more about the sketches, paintings and aretafcts of Georgiana McCrae.

Cost: Free

Bookings required

24 July 2019, 6:00pm–7:00pm

2019 Redmond Barry Lecture – Ballet: not just tutus and tiaras.

Join acclaimed ballet dancer David McAllister AM as he delivers the 2019 Redmond Barry lecture Ballet: not just tutus and tiaras.

Cost: Free

26 July 2019, 10:00am–1:00pm

VCAA Plain English Speaking Award State Final

Watch as students aged 15–18 years from government, Catholic and independent schools battle it out at the state final of the Plain English Speaking Awards (PESA).

Cost: Free

Bookings required

26 July 2019, 2:00pm–3:00pm

VCE Research Essentials Workshop

Extend your practical research skills and learn about the tools and resources offered at the Library, vital for VCE and beyond.

Cost: Free

Bookings required

01 August 2019, 6:00pm–6:30pm

Dome at Dusk: Poetry for the eye

Learn more about concrete poetry’s beginnings through to the diverse methods used today.

Cost: Free

bookings required

05 August 2019–05 September 2019

Branching out

Gain the tools you need to discover more about your own family tree during this four-week online course.

Cost: Free

bookings required

06 August 2019, 2:00pm–4:00pm

Finding families

Learn the principles of family history, access research resources and tour the Family History collection in this introductory workshop.

Cost: Free

bookings required

15 August 2019, 10:15am–11:15am

Newsworthy

Learn how to find our newspapers in hard copy, online and microfilm, and to search for individual articles.

Cost: Free

bookings required

15 August 2019, 6:00pm–6:30pm

Dome at Dusk: The Bells Beach pilgrimage

Discover the history behind the world’s longest running surfing competition.

Cost: Free

Bookings required

22 August 2019, 7:00pm

White Night Melbourne

Introducing White Night 'Reimagined' Melbourne's spectacular festival presented over 3 consecutive nights!

Cost: Free

26 August 2019, 2:00pm–3:00pm

Welfare records for family historians

Discover what kinds of records the Library holds, what they contain, who can access the records and how.

Cost: Free

Bookings required

29 August 2019, 6:00pm–6:30pm

Dome at Dusk: Australian Book Design

Join guest speakers from Australia’s thriving book design community.

Cost: Free

bookings required