Broken glass 2: eclectic boogaloo. More imperfect gems from the Pictures Collection

Broken glass 2: eclectic boogaloo. More imperfect gems from the Pictures Collection

November 21, 2024

Ask a librarian, Photography, Preservation:

In ‘Broken Glass (part 1)’, we looked at how the Library captures glass plate negatives, and explored some interestingly damaged photographs from the Library’s collection. In this – part 2 – we look at how the Library houses the negatives and show some more examples of unexpected beauty.

Online Collection Spotlight: Naxos Spoken Word Library

Online Collection Spotlight: Naxos Spoken Word Library

November 15, 2024

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights, Our stories:

Love a good story but feeling overwhelmed by that heavy book, classic literary prose, or confounding nature of James Joyce’s wit? Want to explore new and classic literature, biographies, histories, and philosophies but struggling to find the time? Then listen up and be inspired by the range of audio books available through Naxos Spoken Word Library!

Greater love hath no man. 90 years of the Shrine

Greater love hath no man. 90 years of the Shrine

November 10, 2024

Ask a librarian, Buildings & streets, Victorian history:

The eleventh hour, the eleventh day, the eleventh month. Every year at this exact time we remember those who gave us the greatest gift: freedom. On November 11, 2024 the Shrine of Remembrance will commemorate it’s 90th anniversary.

Broken glass: accidental beauty in the Library’s photographic collection

Broken glass: accidental beauty in the Library’s photographic collection

November 7, 2024

Ask a librarian, Photography:

We are always looking for that perfect image of the past. While often seen as a detriment, broken glass and chemical emulsion damage on early photographic glass plate negatives can have their own particular beauty. Explore a selection of interestingly damaged photographs from the Library’s collection.

The clairvoyant and the magician: Mystic Mora and Doc Rowe

The clairvoyant and the magician: Mystic Mora and Doc Rowe

October 31, 2024

Ask a librarian, Our stories, Victorian history:

A clairvoyant and a magician – a magical pairing you might say. For the celebrated entertainment duo Mystic Mora and Doc Rowe, it was a union that brought extraordinary success and fame, and a life full of exotic travels and uncommon adventures.

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

Local History Grants Program is now open

Local History Grants Program is now open

October 23, 2024

Grants, News:

The Local History Grants Program are now open. Up to $15,000 can be awarded to projects that preserve, record or publish Victorian local history.

Melbourne’s Marvellous Madame Weigel

Melbourne’s Marvellous Madame Weigel

October 21, 2024

Collections, People & professions, Such was life, Victorian history:

Madame Weigel’s Journal of Fashion became a staple of Australian life for those interested in being well dressed, well presented, and well informed. This treasure trove has recently been digitised and made available online.

Online Collection Spotlight: Political Extremism and Radicalism

Online Collection Spotlight: Political Extremism and Radicalism

October 18, 2024

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights, Our stories:

Discover the philosophies and tactics of extremist groups in the 20th century with the Political Extremism and Radicalism database.

Mary Fortune: pioneer of Australian detective stories

Mary Fortune: pioneer of Australian detective stories

October 15, 2024

Arts & literature, Ask a librarian, Victorian history:

Mary Fortune was the author of the longest running 19th-century crime fiction series published in a periodical and one of the earliest female crime writers in the world.

Such was life

Online Collection Spotlight: Bloomsbury Historic Dress in Detail

Online Collection Spotlight: Bloomsbury Historic Dress in Detail

December 23, 2025 0 comments

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

Online Collection Spotlight: American Music

February 6, 2026 0 comments

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.