Articles by: Caitlyn Grant

he Twins, directed by Lynne Ellis, La Mama, 1990. Photo by Maggie Diaz. This item is in copyright;  H2014.1059/99b

Cracking the narrative: pruning the misinformation from your family tree

August 11, 2025

Family matters, Research tips & tricks:

Is misinformation sinking its tendrils into your family tree? Are dates not lining up, people aren’t where they should be, or maybe there’s no record of Grandma Joan before the age of 25? Our Family History Librarians are here to help you separate fact from fiction in your lineage, and give you some tips to strengthen your research.

David G (1966) Anti conscription demonstrations through Melbourne streets,

Online Collection Spotlight: Power to the People

July 11, 2025

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights:

Where can I find more information about the Australian labour movement? What was political ephemera like in the 1970s? Which former world leader excels at cleaning toilets…and what’s the best dish to make with flank of U.S. President? All these questions and much more are answered in this month’s Online Collection Spotlight on Gale’s Power to the People database!

Online Collection Spotlight: Life at sea

Online Collection Spotlight: Life at sea

January 17, 2025

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights:

Where can I learn about the American whaling industry? What would a ship’s master have in his chest? What would the dying words of a pirate be? And can anyone help me to tell the flags of the Union and Orient shipping lines apart? Find out all of this and more in the AM Digital database Life at Sea: Seafaring in the Anglo-American Maritime World, 1600-1900.

Discovering Sylvia Plath’s novel: The Bell Jar

Discovering Sylvia Plath’s novel: The Bell Jar

October 27, 2024

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights, Rare Books & Arts:

In honour of Sylvia Plath’s 92nd birthday, we explore the resources available at the Library for exploring the themes and context of Plath’s only published novel: The Bell Jar

Young woman, standing, wearing pleated skirt, holding pile of books, 1966. Photo by Mark Strizic. This work is in copyright. H2009.81/4079

Discovering Dewey 305.42: Women and their role in society

March 8, 2024

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights, Reference desk:

Most of the books in our collections are arranged by the Dewey Decimal Classification System. Join us on a tour of our stacks to explore Dewey number 305.42, which covers the subject of women and their role in society

Online Collection Spotlight: Travel Writing, Spectacle and World History

Online Collection Spotlight: Travel Writing, Spectacle and World History

November 15, 2023

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights, Social life & customs, Uncategorized:

What were the conditions like on the Trans-Siberian railway for women in the 1930s? Which American city was most like Melbourne in the 50s? And does anyone know what to wear to dinner when traveling first-class by ship? Learn about travel writing, but from a uniquely female perspective in the Travel Writing, Spectacle and World History database.

Elevated view of Domed Reading Room, State Library of Victoria, 1984, H84.376/2

The dais in the Dome

July 17, 2023

Buildings & streets, Our stories, People & professions, Such was life, Victorian history:

Once upon a time a staff member sat in the Dais in the La Trobe Reading Room, watching over any chattering public. We asked two long term SLV librarians how this used to work.

Rennie Ellis, 1987. H2011.130 1563

Online Collection Spotlight: Access Australia by NewsBank

July 8, 2023

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights, Research tips & tricks, Tips and tricks:

Are you looking for an article from the Coburg Leader in 2010? Want the week’s top stories read out to you while you prep dinner? How can you search for articles about affordable housing across many trusted Australian news sources all at once? For all these answers and more, read on to today’s online collection spotlight.

Trove: a treasure chest of family history gems

Trove: a treasure chest of family history gems

March 30, 2023

Family matters, Research tips & tricks:

If you’re a family history researcher in Australia, chances are you’ve stumbled upon Trove. The Trove digitised newspapers and gazettes collection is an invaluable resource for family historians, and allows for free, remote access to over 1000 historic Australian newspapers and gazettes, no matter where you are in the country. Let’s see what family history treasures we can unbox in Trove!

Pro abortion march, May 1979, 1979. Photo by Lyn McLeavy. This work is in copyright; H2012.7/6

Online Collection Spotlight: Women’s Studies Archive

March 6, 2023

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights:

Where can I find first-hand accounts of bush nurses working during the 1956 Murray River floods? Who was the first lesbian rights organisation in the US and where can I find their newsletter? And does anyone have a good recipe for sheeps’ head pie anymore? If any of these questions have sparked your interest, the Women’s Studies Archive has got you covered!