Collection spotlights

Central map showing streets and allotments, surrounded by text. The text says there are 45 allotments, trains every ten minutes, and that the deposit required is ten pounds. Dalley’s Orchard (Riversdale Road, Henrietta Street and Marian Street), 1884

Online collection spotlight: Batten and Percy Auction Plans

July 19, 2024

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights:

As Melbourne began to be subdividen in the late nineteenth century, real estate agents produced maps and advertisements to advertise these land sales. In this blog post we take a closer look at these digitised plans and the sort of information they can reveal.

Online Collection Spotlight: the Analysis & Policy Observatory (APO)

Online Collection Spotlight: the Analysis & Policy Observatory (APO)

June 22, 2024

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights:

The Analysis & Policy Observatory draws together high level research reports across public policy ranging from science and technology, the natural and built environment, to health, education and social issues.

Snaps and stories: photo albums

Snaps and stories: photo albums

June 14, 2024

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights:

Covering a myriad of experiences – these albums range from the European grand tour, to the snaps, taken over many years recording working lives – places and faces; flower and vegetable gardens, and much loved pets.

Online Collection Spotlight – Refugees, Relief and Resettlement: Forced Migration and World War II

Online Collection Spotlight – Refugees, Relief and Resettlement: Forced Migration and World War II

May 17, 2024

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights:

Discover some of the official history of displaced persons and refugees in the post World War 2 period.

row of books on the shelf, with spines facing out

Discovering Dewey – 641.5 and beyond

April 30, 2024

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights:

Welcome to ‘Discovering Dewey’ – an occasional series revealing some of the books behind the numbers. Today we join librarian Jane Miller as she explores the rich array of cookbooks held in the Library’s catacombs at call number 641.5

William Hellermann: Visible Musics, 1976: ‘To the Last Drop’
William Hellerman, New York (1976)

Online Collection Spotlight: Oxford Music Online and Grove Musical Library

April 12, 2024

Collection spotlights:

State Library Victoria members can access hundreds of databases from home (if your home is in Victoria). That’s millions of articles, magazines, archives, ebooks, videos, songs, audiobooks and more, available… Read More ›

Online Collection Spotlight: Children’s Literature and Culture

Online Collection Spotlight: Children’s Literature and Culture

March 11, 2024

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights, Our stories:

Ever wonder what books were available for children 200 years ago? Keen to try your hand at some eighteenth and nineteenth century board games?
Trace the development of children’s reading, learning and play with the Children’s Literature and Culture database.

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: Gale Health and Wellness

Online Collection Spotlight: Gale Health and Wellness

February 14, 2024

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights, Health:

What are the latest COVID-19 variants? How is a colonoscopy conducted? What are the side effects of anti-anxiety drugs?

Find out answers to these medical questions and more in the Gale Health and Wellness database.

Online Collection Spotlight: Victorians on Film 

Online Collection Spotlight: Victorians on Film 

January 24, 2024

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights:

Interested in the early history of cinema? Curious about what daily life was like over 100 years ago? Would you like see the moon playing a banjo? Explore a collection of early cinematic wonders from the late Victorian and early Edwardian eras.