Gordian Knot tapestry gifted to State Library Victoria
News:
UK artist and Turner Prize recipient, Keith Tyson’s Gordian Knot Tapestry has been gifted to the State Library of Victoria by Elisabeth Murdoch.
Madame de Staël, liberal thinker and writer of the French revolutionary and Napoleonic periods
Madame de Staël was one of the most fascinating, intelligent and influential women of the French revolutionary and Napoleonic years. Brilliant, passionate and intense, she lived life through her passion for politics and love at the highest levels of society.
Alexis Wright named Boisbouvier Chair in Australian Literature
News:
The award-winning Indigenous novelist Alexis Wright has been appointed as the Boisbouvier Chair in Australian Literature at the University of Melbourne.
Seven million insights into the past shape a safer future for Victoria
News:
Around 7 million records detailing the history of land use in Victoria are now available online after a major digitisation project, funded by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, was released today at State Library Victoria.
Islamic Bookbinding
Collection Care, Conservation, Our stories, Preservation:
While the Western tradition of bookbinding is well represented in the State Library Victoria (SLV) collection, the Library also holds a small but fascinating assortment of manuscripts produced in the Islamic world. A clear understanding of the different materials and structures used in the production of Islamic manuscripts is essential for the Library’s Book Conservators to make informed decisions regarding appropriate methods for preservation, repair and display.
Illustrated children’s books: Randolph Caldecott (1846-1886)
Randolph Caldecott (1846-1886) broke late 19th century conventions of children’s book illustration by interpreting stories rather than decorating them, peopling them with cheeky caricatures involved in chaotic escapades.
Digital Panopticon: Tracing London convicts in Britain and Australia, 1780-1925
Exiting news for those of us who have an interest in researching British convicts transported to Australia. The free website, Digital Panopticon, launched recently in the UK, allows searches of… Read More ›
New Listening : Spring into Summer with music
Spring into Summer with some great new arrivals in pop, rock, jazz, classical, musical theatre, film soundtracks and opera featuring the following. Dream Lover : the Bobby Darin musical : Australian Cast Recording… Read More ›
Uncover a piece of history
News:
Imagine tall ships, schooners and yachts crowding the shimmering waters of Hobsons Bay for a grand regatta. Gleaming white sails unfurl and colourful flags fly in the seabreeze. This spirit of joy and the confidence of a young city are captured in an exquisite watercolour of early Melbourne, not seen publicly since it was painted in 1862.
Convict tattoos
What do the following things have in common: candlesticks, beehives, cock fights, drinking glasses, swans, flowerpots, crucifixes, stags, comets, and roses? Give up? They’re all convict tattoos.
Such was life
Online Collection Spotlight: Bloomsbury Historic Dress in Detail
Watch the wonders of fashion unfold with this informative and visually stunning peak into the history of clothing. This video database, with companion articles, explores historical contexts, materials, and construction methods, enabling you to see how different garments were worn, and the function that each item served.
Arts
Online Collection Spotlight: American Music
From Willie Nelson to Dinah Washington, Muddy Waters to Flaco Jimenez, you can enjoy a journey across the diverse musical roots of America with the Music Online: American Music database. Hosting an astonishing array of talent the collection consists of almost 7000 albums and 120,000 songs.
