In Conversation with Richard Ovenden OBE and Adjunct Associate Professor Mary Carroll

The Power of Research Libraries

What is the role of libraries in shaping knowledge, community and democracy – and why does it matter now more than ever? 

Part of State Library Victoria’s 170th anniversary program, this special In Conversation event features Richard Ovenden OBE – the 25th Bodley’s Librarian at the University of Oxford and one of the world’s leading voices on libraries and archives – alongside Adjunct Associate Professor Mary Carroll, an expert in the history of public libraries in Victoria. 

In conversation with State Library Victoria’s Director, Collections and Chief Librarian, Roxanne Missingham, this live online discussion will explore the evolution and future of research and public libraries – from preserving knowledge and supporting scholarship, to expanding access, engaging diverse communities and fostering social and democratic participation. 

Drawing on global perspectives, the conversation will highlight how libraries understand their history and continue to serve as vital civic institutions – connecting people with ideas, history, and each other. 

Whether you are a researcher, library professional, student, or simply passionate about the role of libraries in public life, this is a unique opportunity to hear from an internationally recognised leader and reflect on the enduring importance of libraries. 

Register your tickets now.

Auslan interpretation is available on request. 

About Richard Ovenden OBE 

One of the world’s foremost advocates for the preservation of knowledge, Richard Ovenden OBE is the 25th Bodley’s Librarian and the Helen Hamlyn Director of the University Libraries at the Bodleian Library, University of Oxford – a role established in 1600. 

Since 1987, he has worked across a number of significant archives and libraries, including the House of Lords Library, the National Library of Scotland (as Curator of Rare Books), and the University of Edinburgh, where he served as Director of Collections. 

In 2025 he was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the British Academy, an Honorary Fellowship by the Royal Society of Literature, and the Royal Society of Literature’s prestigious Benson Medal. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, the Royal Society of Arts, and a Member of the American Philosophical Society and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He is an Honorary Fellow of St Hugh’s College, Oxford, and holds a Professorial Fellowship at Balliol College, Oxford.  

Richard has written extensively including Burning the Books: A History of the Deliberate Destruction of Knowledge, which was shortlisted for the 2021 Wolfson History Prize. 

About Adjunct Associate Professor Mary Carroll 

Mary Carroll is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the School of Information and Communication Studies at Charles Sturt University. She has had a long career as a library and information science practitioner and educator in the school, vocational and universities sectors in Australia. Coming to academia later in her career Mary's extensive research interests are focused on the intersection between libraries, books and learning in both the contemporary and historical context and on the values underpinning the profession of librarianship. Crossing sectors and historical eras Mary's research engages with the history of libraries and the place of libraries in the history of education, the story of women in librarianship and the professions and the place libraries have in addressing disadvantage. She values deeply the common vision of the library profession for free and accessible knowledge for everyone. 

Views expressed by the speakers do not necessarily represent the views of the State Library Victoria.