New family history ebooks

New family history ebooks

January 31, 2024

Family matters:

The State Library Victoria’s ebook collection continues to grow at a rapid place. We now provide free access to over 200,000 ebooks on such topics as social sciences, family history,… Read More ›

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.

Exploring the world in Western History: the Hakluyt Society and other exploration resources

Exploring the world in Western History: the Hakluyt Society and other exploration resources

January 17, 2024

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights:

Embark on a journey through remarkable voyages with the State Library’s collection of print and electronic resources detailing first-hand accounts of historic exploration.

Online Collection Spotlight – Food History: Printed and Manuscript Recipe Books

Online Collection Spotlight – Food History: Printed and Manuscript Recipe Books

January 8, 2024

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights:

What did US President Kennedy enjoy for breakfast? How do I stop a nosebleed? What are some antidotes for poisoning? Find the answers using the database, Food History: Printed and Manuscript Recipe Books, a collection of books on cookery and domestic management.

Nineteenth century Victorians

Nineteenth century Victorians

December 31, 2023

Photography, Social life & customs, Such was life:

The Etkins collection consists of wonderful portraits of people and places throughout 19th century Victoria.

Just digitised: Aileen Brown’s linocuts

Just digitised: Aileen Brown’s linocuts

December 22, 2023

Digitisation, Visual arts:

Explore the wonderful summery artworks of Aileen Brown, and see how her intricate linocut prints are made.

Japan and Korea through an Australian lens

Japan and Korea through an Australian lens

December 18, 2023

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights:

Famous Victorian photographer George Rose (1851-1942) travelled to Korea and Japan in 1904, capturing rare scenes of everyday life in both countries. Dynamic and varied, his images bring alive scenes of people at the market, labourers at work, children, Japanese women in kimonos enjoying social activities, not to mention temples, local architecture and rural scenery. Join us for a fascinating glimpse into these lost worlds.

The Garden Gazette and more – new in our popular digitised collections

The Garden Gazette and more – new in our popular digitised collections

December 14, 2023

Collection spotlights, Social life & customs, Uncategorized:

Explore this collection of newly digitised gardening and horticulture periodicals of the early 20th century.

Rosella Preserving Company

Rosella Preserving Company

November 29, 2023

Collection Care, Conservation, Preservation:

Some companies preserve and conserve food stuffs, but here in Collection Care, we preserve and conserve Victoria’s cultural heritage. Which, fittingly enough, now includes archival material from the Rosella Preserving Company, an iconic Australian business celebrated for its sauces, pickles, canned fruits, jams, soups and vegetables. ‘Rosella’ is a name familiar to many households with the colourful parrot logo adorning its products, including the pantry staple tomato sauce.

Collection Discovery is expanding

Collection Discovery is expanding

November 21, 2023

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

We’re expanding the Collection Discovery module to include new categories and showcase many more of the Library’s fabulous digitised collections. So what are you waiting for? Begin a virtual wander through some of our artworks, photographs, posters, maps, and much more now!

Such was life

Reconnecting with ‘The silver brumby’

Reconnecting with ‘The silver brumby’

April 2, 2025 17 comments

Librarian Daniel Giddens reconnects with one of his favourite children’s stories, ‘The silver brumby’, sharing what makes it so special to him, as well as exploring the background of its author, and the history and significance of its publication.

Arts

Think globally, act locally: feminist posters by Australian women artists from 1970s-1990s

Think globally, act locally: feminist posters by Australian women artists from 1970s-1990s

March 27, 2025 2 comments

The feminist resurgence in the period 1960-1990, referred to as second wave feminism, had a significant impact on the art world. Political graphics were no exception. This blog explores the State Library’s rich and extensive holdings of feminist posters by women artists from Melbourne’s alternative poster collectives.