What's on

Looking for something fun to do, with a cultural twist? Take a look at our events and exhibitions! We host all kinds of talks, workshops, films, guided tours and more, for audiences across all age groups, including families. Our events help you get to know our amazing collections and tell the story of Victoria's history. Many events – including our exhibitions – are free.

Featured events & exhibitions

Friday, 5 May 2017–Sunday, 30 July 2017

On Gunaikurnai Country: Gippsland Aboriginal Elders, leaders and artists

bookings required

Tuesday, 1 August 2017 - 6:00pm–7:15pm

Blood & guts

Sept bookings open

Tuesday, 4 July 2017–Thursday, 6 July 2017

School holiday program: Story Camp

bookings required

Wednesday, 5 July 2017 - 6:00pm–7:15pm

Contemporary book design

Final days

Friday, 17 March 2017–Sunday, 16 July 2017

Katayoun Javan: Building a home away from home

All events & exhibitions

Daily

Cowen Gallery exhibition

Enjoy the Library's free permanent exhibition of oil paintings and portrait sculptures.

Cost: Free

09 April 2015–04 June 2018

Writing the war: personal stories from WWI

Hear extraordinary stories of war in this moving exhibition about the Australian experience of WWI.

Cost: Free

Touring exhibition

Daily

Play Pod

Play Pod is the Library's program for children aged under eight years, packed with activities to read, create and play.

Cost: Free

10 June 2016–20 January 2018

Story Island: an adventure in pictures

Come on a journey of imagination at your local public library to touch the skin of a dragon, tickle a wombat’s furry tummy and hide away in a reading pod!

Cost: Free

touring exhibition

Daily

The changing face of Victoria

Visit a remarkable free exhibition that tells the stories of the people, places and events that have shaped Victoria.

Cost: Free

Daily

Mirror of the world: books and ideas

Delight in the Mirror of the world: books and ideas exhibition, and discover the many rare and beautiful books held in our collections.

Cost: Free

09 January 2017–15 December 2017

'Changing face of Victoria' tour

Visit the La Trobe Reading Room and see highlights of the 'Changing face of Victoria' exhibition in this free guided tour, held daily at 2pm except public holidays and except from 22 May to 2 June 2017.

Cost: Free

09 January 2017–15 December 2017

'Mirror of the world' tour

Visit the La Trobe Reading Room and see highlights of the 'Mirror of the world' exhibition on this free guided tour, running daily at 11.30am.

Cost: Free

17 March 2017–16 July 2017

Katayoun Javan: Building a home away from home

Explore themes of immigration, home and diaspora in Katayoun Javan's moving exhibition about Iranian immigrants to Victoria.

Cost: Free

Final days

05 May 2017–30 July 2017

On Gunaikurnai Country: Gippsland Aboriginal Elders, leaders and artists

See Angela Lynkushka's stunning new portrait series of Aboriginal community Elders, leaders and artists from the Gippsland region.

Cost: Free

04 July 2017–06 July 2017

School holiday program: Story Camp

Meet and learn from some of Australia's most exciting and inspiring storytellers in a free school holiday workshop for 12 to 15-year-olds.

Cost: Free for young people from eligible schools

Sept bookings open

06 July 2017, 10:00am–2:00pm

School holiday activity: calligraphy & the art of illuminated manuscripts

In this free school holiday workshop as part of Rare Book Week, experiment with modern-day calligraphy materials to learn techniques from the past, for ages 5–12.

Cost: Free

06 July 2017, 10:30am–11:00am

Storytime

Have fun every Wednesday and Thursday with stories, songs, rhymes and creative activities for children aged three to five, their parents and carers.

Cost: Free

06 July 2017, 10:30am–12:00pm

School holiday workshop: make your own book

Be inspired by the Library’s collection of beautiful books and create your own masterpiece to take home! Bookings required.

Cost: Free

booked out

06 July 2017, 11:00am–11:45am

The John Emmerson Collection

This free Rare Book Week session looks at highlights of the Library's Emmerson collection, one of the largest collections of rare English printed works in the world.

Cost: Free

Booked out

06 July 2017, 11:30am–12:00pm

Baby bounce

Share this fun session of stories, songs and rhymes with children aged two and under, held three times a week.

Cost: Free

06 July 2017, 11:30am–12:30pm

World of possibilities tour

Come behind the scenes for an exclusive tour of our beautiful and historic spaces, before they are transformed as part of the Library’s Vision 2020 redevelopment.

Cost: $25

Bookings open for new dates

08 July 2017, 1:00pm–2:00pm

Ned Kelly tour

Discover the story of Victoria’s infamous bushranger Ned Kelly in this free guided tour running every Wednesday and Saturday, except public holidays and except from 24 to 31 May 2017.

Cost: Free

08 July 2017, 3:00pm–3:45pm

Curators’ tour: 'Mirror of the world'

Join curators Des Cowley and Anna Welch to view and learn more about some of the rare, beautiful and historically significant books from our 'Mirror of the world: books and ideas' exhibition.

Cost: Free

bookings required

09 July 2017, 11:00am–4:00pm

Jane Austen on film

Celebrate the enduring wit of Jane Austen at the Library, with a day of Austen film adaptations.

Cost: Free

booked out

09 July 2017, 1:00pm–1:30pm

Glee Plus love the lyrics

Enjoy a literary-inspired performance of contemporary classics by Melbourne glee club Glee Plus, in the beautiful surrounds of the Cowen Gallery.

Cost: Free

11 July 2017, 10:30am–11:00am

Welcome to the Library tour

Take a free guided tour exploring the Library’s many spaces and services – tours run every Tuesday, except public holidays.

Cost: Free

11 July 2017, 6:00pm–7:15pm

The Policy Pitch

An ongoing discussion series in which experts and thinkers tackle some of the most important problems facing Australia.

Cost: Free

bookings required

13 July 2017, 6:00pm–6:30pm

Dome after dark: the race to decode the hieroglyphs

Hear about the great 19th-century race between England and France to crack the ancient Egyptian code of hieroglyphs, in this free talk.

Cost: Free

booked out

18 July 2017, 10:30am–12:30pm

Finding families

Start to build your own family tree with the help of this class in family history.

Cost: Free

booked out

19 July 2017, 6:00pm–8:00pm

Countdown: 30 years on

Join Ian 'Molly' Meldrum and MC Myf Warhurst for a special, free event to celebrate 30 years since the final episode of Countdown!

Cost: Free

Final ticket release Sunday

25 July 2017–05 August 2017

Blood: what's your type?

Drop in to the Science Gallery's pop-up laboratory on the Library forecourt and have your blood type tested on the spot!

Cost: Free

27 July 2017, 1:30pm–3:00pm

Dome to dungeons tour

Take a tour behind the scenes and explore the Library from top to bottom.

Cost: Free

booked out

27 July 2017, 6:00pm–6:30pm

Dome after dark: Victoria’s calisthenics craze

Discover how German marching drills, a Ballarat debating society and the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova contributed to the development of a unique sport in Victoria!

Cost: Free

bookings required

28 July 2017–29 October 2017

50 years of La Mama

Celebrate 50 year's of experimental local theatre in this free display of images of Melbourne's iconic La Mama Theatre.

Cost: Free

29 July 2017, 10:00am

Open House Melbourne: Conservation Lab guided tour

Come behind the scenes to explore the State Library's intriguing Conservation Lab and hear about the work of conservators.

Cost: Free

booking fast

29 July 2017, 10:00am–4:00pm

Open House Melbourne: self-guided Library tour

Join a free, self-guided Open House tour and explore the Library from dome to dungeon!

Cost: Free

01 August 2017, 6:00pm–7:15pm

Blood & guts

Get gruesome in this free seminar, where a medical historian and a molecular parasitology specialist discuss the microscopic mysteries under our skin!

Cost: Free

bookings required

04 August 2017–26 November 2017

Looped: artist books in the round

Experience Gracia & Louise's special artist book unfold 'in the round' in the heritage dais in the domed La Trobe Reading Room.

Cost: Free

10 August 2017, 6:00pm–6:30pm

Dome after dark: artists & books

Explore a selection of beautiful historical and contemporary illustrated books in this free 'Dome after dark' talk.

Cost: Free

bookings required

11 August 2017–12 November 2017

Self-made: zines and artist books

Discover the evolution of do-it-yourself publishing in this free exhibition of fanzines, punk zines, underground press publications and artist books designed to buck the commercial gallery system.

Cost: Free

11 August 2017, 11:00am–11:45am

Curator floortalks: 'Self-made'

Hear curator Monica Syrette talk about the free exhibition 'Self-made: zines and artist books', which showcases do-it-yourself publications, artist books and underground publications.

Cost: Free

bookings required

13 August 2017, 2:00pm–3:00pm

Immersive science: the next frontier in Australian astronomy

Join astronomers Dr Alan Duffy and Dr Katie Mack on an exploration of the Universe in a free immersive science talk blending live events and virtual reality.

Cost: Free

Bookings required

15 August 2017, 12:30pm–1:15pm

'Self-made' tour

See highlights of the 'Self-made: zines and artist books' exhibition of underground publications and artist books in a free guided tour, held every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday except public holidays.

Cost: Free

17 August 2017, 1:00pm–1:45pm

Zine scene

Join 'Self-made' curator Monica Syrette and State Library Arts Librarian John Stevens in a free and exclusive behind-the-scenes viewing of rare zines from the Library’s History of the Book Collection.

Cost: Free

bookings required

17 August 2017, 2:00pm–3:30pm

Using eresources from home

Learn to access ebooks, newspapers and journal articles from the comfort of home.

Cost: Free

Bookings required

18 August 2017, 7:30pm–8:30pm

Calisthenics in the dome: a tribute to Miss Vera Hopton

Watch a free calisthenics performance in the dome to celebrate the 'Great Lady' of calisthenics, Miss Vera Hopton.

Cost: Free

bookings required

24 August 2017, 11:00am–12:15pm

Author in-conversation: Robert La Nauze on George Thwaites & sons

Join Robert La Nauze for a talk on 'Made to order', his book on colonial cabinet makers George Thwaites and sons, whose cabinetry graced the finest buildings of ‘marvellous Melbourne'.

Cost: Free

bookings required

24 August 2017, 2:00pm–3:30pm

Search & find

Improve your online research skills in this one-hour workshop.

Cost: Free

Bookings required

24 August 2017, 6:00pm–6:30pm

Dome after dark: the first royal tour

Revisit the pomp and ceremony of the first ever British royal tour in 1867, in this free 'Dome after dark' talk.

Cost: Free

bookings required

22 September 2017, 7:00pm–9:00pm

Australian poetry slam Victorian state final

Attend a live literary performance competition where the audience is the judge!

Cost: Free

Bookings required

What's on

Featured events & exhibitions

On Gunaikurnai Country: Gippsland Aboriginal Elders, leaders and artists

Blood & guts

School holiday program: Story Camp

Contemporary book design

Katayoun Javan: Building a home away from home

Filter events by date

Filter by event type

Filter by cost

All events & exhibitions

Cowen Gallery exhibition

Writing the war: personal stories from WWI

Play Pod

Story Island: an adventure in pictures

The changing face of Victoria

Mirror of the world: books and ideas

'Changing face of Victoria' tour

'Mirror of the world' tour

Katayoun Javan: Building a home away from home

On Gunaikurnai Country: Gippsland Aboriginal Elders, leaders and artists

School holiday program: Story Camp

School holiday activity: calligraphy & the art of illuminated manuscripts

Storytime

School holiday workshop: make your own book

The John Emmerson Collection

Baby bounce

World of possibilities tour

Ned Kelly tour

Curators’ tour: 'Mirror of the world'

Jane Austen on film

Glee Plus love the lyrics

Welcome to the Library tour

The Policy Pitch

Dome after dark: the race to decode the hieroglyphs

Finding families

Countdown: 30 years on

Blood: what's your type?

Dome to dungeons tour

Dome after dark: Victoria’s calisthenics craze

50 years of La Mama

Open House Melbourne: Conservation Lab guided tour

Open House Melbourne: self-guided Library tour

Blood & guts

Looped: artist books in the round

Dome after dark: artists & books

Self-made: zines and artist books

Curator floortalks: 'Self-made'

Immersive science: the next frontier in Australian astronomy

'Self-made' tour

Zine scene

Using eresources from home

Calisthenics in the dome: a tribute to Miss Vera Hopton

Author in-conversation: Robert La Nauze on George Thwaites & sons

Search & find

Dome after dark: the first royal tour

Australian poetry slam Victorian state final