Students in the big time: University, the VFL and ‘Doc Park’

Students in the big time: University, the VFL and ‘Doc Park’

September 24, 2024

Our stories, Victorian history:

The AFL is huge business these days, but in 1908 the ninth club to join the competition was a team of students from Melbourne University. The amateur students couldn’t match the growing professionalism of the other clubs, but they did produce stars such as Roy Park.

Online Collection Spotlight: The OECD iLibrary

Online Collection Spotlight: The OECD iLibrary

September 23, 2024

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights:

This Online Collection Spotlight features the OECD iLibrary. The iLibrary includes a vast collection of high level research into all aspects of policy areas that effect our daily lives and our future.

Digger’s wedding, Melbourne 1853. Watercolour by S.T. Gill; H25973

Something to write home about: Melbourne in 1852

September 9, 2024

Ask a librarian, Victorian history:

Shipboard journals provide a fascinating insight into the migrant experience, and if we’re lucky they continue once the passenger stepped off the ship onto dry land. When John Askew arrived in Melbourne in 1852, he encountered a bustling city full of gold-diggers and the upwardly mobile. His impressions are both insightful and amusing.

Treasure Maps? Hidden gems in the State Library databases

Treasure Maps? Hidden gems in the State Library databases

September 3, 2024

Ask a librarian:

Overview of large map collections that can be found in State Library databases. More than 2000 maps are like hidden treasure, buried in our online collections.

Researching your home

Researching your home

August 28, 2024

Collections, Family matters, Research guides, Research tips & tricks:

Are you interested in the history of you home? Or would you like to discover more about the home your ancestor lived in?

Unless it’s a well-known property, it’s unlikely you will find a detailed history but there are ways you can try and find details about the house and the occupants who lived in it.

In today’s blog, we will look at what resources can be used to research the history of your house.

Digitised dogs

Digitised dogs

August 26, 2024

Collection, Such was life:

Celebrating this much loved (and digitised) species on International Dog Day.

Online Collection Spotlight – Decolonization: Politics and Independence in Former Colonial and Commonwealth Territories

Online Collection Spotlight – Decolonization: Politics and Independence in Former Colonial and Commonwealth Territories

August 25, 2024

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights:

Through primary sources, the ‘Decolonization: Politics and independence in former colonial and Commonwealth territories’ database, provides an insight into the development of Commonwealth nations and former British colonies in the post-World War II era, as they moved toward self-determination and the development of their own identities.

Collection Discovery: Children’s browsing collection

Collection Discovery: Children’s browsing collection

August 21, 2024

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights:

State Library Victoria has a collection of more than 4000 children’s books in our browsing collection, all of which are available in the Pauline Gandel Children’s Quarter. The collection spans from durable board books for the youngest learners to engaging graphic novels and detailed non-fiction for older children. With so many books to view we have created a collection discovery page to help families find the right book for them.

Portrait of Ken Pound for the Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants oral history project, 2010. Photo by Gwenda Davey. This work is in copyright. National Library of Australia; nla.obj-228944556

‘It really belongs to you people anyway…’: The story of Ken Pound

August 19, 2024

Collection, Rare Books & Arts:

To celebrate the Children’s Book Council of Australia Week, we pay tribute to the life of children’s literature collector, Ken Pound, and the collection he has left for us all.

How our ‘genies’ saved the census

How our ‘genies’ saved the census

July 29, 2024

Ask a librarian, Family matters, Our stories, Victorian history:

Researchers visiting the Library are often dismayed when they discover that prior to 2001, there are no surviving census returns for individuals in the Colony of Victoria. What were the reasons behind the destruction of our census records? And how did our ‘genies’ save the day?

Such was life

Digitised dogs

Digitised dogs

August 26, 2024 0 comments

Celebrating this much loved (and digitised) species on International Dog Day.

Arts

Portrait of Ken Pound for the Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants oral history project, 2010. Photo by Gwenda Davey. This work is in copyright. National Library of Australia; nla.obj-228944556

‘It really belongs to you people anyway…’: The story of Ken Pound

August 19, 2024 6 comments

To celebrate the Children’s Book Council of Australia Week, we pay tribute to the life of children’s literature collector, Ken Pound, and the collection he has left for us all.