Archive for November, 2015

It can feel a little submarine like down here. Photograph: Teagan Glenane

Life behind the stacks

November 30, 2015

Our stories:

11 kilometres of books, papers and ephemera are hidden beneath the streets of Melbourne. Anyone can access them, but they’ll need a State Library card.

Just inside the cover: the miniature art of the bookplate

Just inside the cover: the miniature art of the bookplate

November 27, 2015

Rare Books & Arts, Visual arts:

Guest blogger and library volunteer Christine Bell shares her passion for bookplates and throws some light on the work she’s doing behind the scenes on some of our own collections.

Aurora ‘secured’ to shore prior to being carried away by the ice

The other side of Shackleton’s Antarctic adventure

November 19, 2015

Our stories:

When Ernest Shackleton’s 1915 Antarctic expedition ran into trouble, the Ross Sea party that was laying out stores for his team continued unawares, facing harrowing challenges of their own.

The map that changed the world

The map that changed the world

November 17, 2015

People & professions, Such was life:

This year marks the bicentenary of the publication of the first geological map of England and Wales, laying the foundations for geological surveys across the world.

Aztec Music, 2012

New Listening: Broadway to La Scala, Brandenburg to Oz.

November 13, 2015

Music, Rare Books & Arts:

Some great new CD arrivals in pop, rock, rhythm & blues, film soundtracks, musical theatre, classical music and opera; something for just about everyone.

Well may we say, God save the Queen…

Well may we say, God save the Queen…

November 10, 2015

Politics, Such was life:

Forty years ago this week saw the climax of one of the most dramatic events in Australian political history when the Whitlam government was dismissed by the Governor-General Sir John Kerr.

Richard Flanagan appointed Australia’s inaugural Chair of Literature

Richard Flanagan appointed Australia’s inaugural Chair of Literature

November 4, 2015

News:

Internationally acclaimed Australian author Richard Flanagan has been appointed as the Boisbouvier Founding Chair of Australian Literature at the University of Melbourne, the first chair of its kind in Australia.

A little history of the humble lamp post

A little history of the humble lamp post

November 2, 2015

Our stories:

The humble lamp posts on either side of Redmond Barry’s statue might tend to be overlooked, but at 124 years, they are hardy survivors. This week our Pictures team take a closer look at some of Melbourne’s oldest working street fixtures.