DailyCowen Gallery exhibitionEnjoy the Library's free permanent exhibition of oil paintings and portrait sculptures.Cost: Free
09 April 2015–04 June 2018Writing the war: personal stories from WWIHear extraordinary stories of war in this moving exhibition about the Australian experience of WWI.Cost: FreeTouring exhibition
DailyPlay PodPlay 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 2018Story Island: an adventure in picturesCome 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: Freetouring exhibition
DailyThe changing face of VictoriaVisit a remarkable free exhibition that tells the stories of the people, places and events that have shaped Victoria.Cost: Free
DailyMirror of the world: books and ideasDelight 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' tourVisit 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' tourVisit 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
17 March 2017–16 July 2017Katayoun Javan: Building a home away from homeExplore themes of immigration, home and diaspora in Katayoun Javan's moving exhibition about Iranian immigrants to Victoria.Cost: Free
05 May 2017–30 July 2017On Gunaikurnai Country: Gippsland Aboriginal Elders, leaders and artistsSee Angela Lynkushka's stunning new portrait series of Aboriginal community Elders, leaders and artists from the Gippsland region.Cost: Free
24 June 2017, 1:00pm–2:00pmNed Kelly tourDiscover 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 June 2017, 10:30am–11:00amWelcome to the Library tourTake a free guided tour exploring the Library’s many spaces and services – tours run every Tuesday, except public holidays.Cost: Free
27 June 2017, 10:30am–11:00amBaby bounceShare this fun session of stories, songs and rhymes with children aged two and under, held three times a week.Cost: Free
28 June 2017, 11:30am–12:00pmStorytimeHave fun every Wednesday and Thursday with stories, songs, rhymes and creative activities for children aged three to five, their parents and carers.Cost: Free
29 June 2017, 11:00am–12:15pmAuthor in-conversation: John Barnes on Charles Joseph La TrobeJoin author John Barnes as he reveals new perspectives on Charles Joseph La Trobe, the subject of his new biography, 'La Trobe: traveller, writer, governor'.Cost: Freebooked out
29 June 2017, 6:00pm–6:30pmDome after dark: Sir Redmond Barry & the World's Fair, 1876Join us for a free talk about the inaugural World's Fair in 1876 which attracted ten million visitors, including Sir Redmond Barry.Cost: Freebooked out
01 July 2017, 1:30pm–4:00pmThe magic of the artsJoin an expert panel for a fascinating half-day seminar exploring hidden treasures in our Arts Collection, in this free Rare Book Week session.Cost: Freebookings required
01 July 2017, 3:00pm–3:45pmCurators’ tour: 'Mirror of the world'Join curators Des Cowley and Anna Welch to view and learn more about some of the rare, beautiful and historically significant books from our 'Mirror of the world: books and ideas' exhibition.Cost: Freebookings required
03 July 2017, 10:00am–2:00pmSchool holiday activity: calligraphy & the art of illuminated manuscriptsIn this free school holiday workshop as part of Rare Book Week, experiment with modern-day calligraphy materials to learn techniques from the past, for ages 5–12.Cost: Free
03 July 2017, 10:30am–12:00pmSchool holiday workshop: make your own bookBe inspired by the Library’s collection of beautiful books and create your own masterpiece to take home! Bookings required.Cost: Freebooked out
03 July 2017, 11:00am–11:45am'The Banks’ florilegium' & some of its relativesJoin this free Rare Book Week event that looks at some of the magnificent engraved plates in the Library's rare set of 'The Banks' florilegium'.Cost: FreeBooked out
04 July 2017–06 July 2017School holiday program: Story CampMeet 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 schoolsBookings required
04 July 2017, 10:15am–12:15pmNewsworthyLearn how to find our newspapers in hard copy, online and microfilm, and to search for individual articles.Cost: FreeBookings required
04 July 2017, 11:00am–11:45amFrom manuscript to print: books in transition in the 15th centuryJoin book historian Anna Welch in this free Rare Book Week event, exploring the repercussions of the transition from handwritten to printed books in the 15th century.Cost: Freebooked out
04 July 2017, 2:00pm–3:30pmUsing eresources from homeLearn to access ebooks, newspapers and journal articles from the comfort of home.Cost: FreeBookings required
05 July 2017, 11:00am–11:45amShaped books: from die-cuts to laser productionJoin Children's Research Librarian Juliet O'Conor for a discussion about shaped children’s books from the Library's collection, in this free Rare Book Week event.Cost: Freebooked out
05 July 2017, 2:00pm–3:30pmSearch & findImprove your online research skills in this one-hour workshop.Cost: FreeBookings required
05 July 2017, 6:00pm–7:15pmContemporary book designExplore the art of book cover design in Australia in this free Rare Book Week panel session, chaired by WH Chong of Text Publishing.Cost: Freebookings required
06 July 2017, 11:00am–11:45amThe John Emmerson CollectionThis free Rare Book Week session looks at highlights of the Library's Emmerson collection, one of the largest collections of rare English printed works in the world.Cost: FreeBooked out
09 July 2017, 11:00am–4:00pmJane Austen on filmCelebrate the enduring wit of Jane Austen at the Library, with a day of Austen film adaptations.Cost: Freebookings required
09 July 2017, 1:00pm–1:30pmGlee Plus love the lyricsEnjoy a literary-inspired performance of contemporary classics by Melbourne glee club Glee Plus, in the beautiful surrounds of the Cowen Gallery.Cost: Free
11 July 2017, 6:00pm–7:15pmThe Policy PitchAn ongoing discussion series in which experts and thinkers tackle some of the most important problems facing Australia.Cost: Freebookings required
13 July 2017, 6:00pm–6:30pmDome after dark: the race to decode the hieroglyphsHear about the great 19th-century race between England and France to crack the ancient Egyptian code of hieroglyphs, in this free talk.Cost: Freebooked out
18 July 2017, 10:30am–12:30pmFinding familiesStart to build your own family tree with the help of this class in family history.Cost: Freebookings required
19 July 2017, 6:00pm–8:00pmCountdown: 30 years onJoin Ian 'Molly' Meldrum and MC Myf Warhurst for a special, free event to celebrate 30 years since the final episode of Countdown!Cost: Freebookings required
25 July 2017–05 August 2017Blood: 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
27 July 2017, 1:30pm–3:00pmDome to dungeons tourTake a tour behind the scenes and explore the Library from top to bottom.Cost: Freebooked out
27 July 2017, 6:00pm–6:30pmDome after dark: Victoria’s calisthenics crazeDiscover 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: Freebookings required
28 July 2017–29 October 201750 years of La MamaCelebrate 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–4:00pmOpen House Melbourne: self-guided Library tourJoin a free, self-guided Open House tour and explore the Library from dome to dungeon!Cost: Free
29 July 2017, 10:00amOpen House Melbourne: Conservation Lab guided tourCome behind the scenes to explore the State Library's intriguing Conservation Lab and hear about the work of conservators.Cost: Freebookings required
01 August 2017, 6:00pm–7:15pmBlood & gutsGet gruesome in this free seminar, where a medical historian and a molecular parasitology specialist discuss the microscopic mysteries under our skin!Cost: Freebookings required
04 August 2017–26 November 2017Looped: artist books in the roundExperience 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–6:30pmDome after dark: artists & booksExplore a selection of beautiful historical and contemporary illustrated books in this free 'Dome after dark' talk.Cost: Freebookings required
11 August 2017–12 November 2017Self-made: zines and artist booksDiscover 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–11:45amCurator 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: Freebookings required
13 August 2017, 3:00pm–3:45pm'Self-made' tourSee 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
17 August 2017, 1:00pm–1:45pmZine sceneJoin '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: Freebookings required
18 August 2017, 7:30pm–8:30pmCalisthenics in the dome: a tribute to Miss Vera HoptonWatch a free calisthenics performance in the dome to celebrate the 'Great Lady' of calisthenics, Miss Vera Hopton.Cost: Freebookings required
24 August 2017, 11:00am–12:15pmAuthor in-conversation: Robert La Nauze on George Thwaites & sonsJoin 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: Freebookings required
24 August 2017, 6:00pm–6:30pmDome after dark: the first royal tourRevisit the pomp and ceremony of the first ever British royal tour in 1867, in this free 'Dome after dark' talk.Cost: Freebookings required
