What you need to know

Who can use the Library?

The State Library of Victoria is available for use by all Victorians looking for information, whether for their own interests, for work or for study purposes. Anyone can use the Library free of charge, but fees apply for services such as photocopying.

What kind of material does the Library have?

The Library holds an enormous amount of material, and not just books. There are also newspapers, magazines, journals, manuscripts, maps, pictures, objects, sound and video recordings, databases and more. 

While the Library has information available on almost every topic, from aeronautics to Zuni indians, its key strengths are Australian and Victorian history and literature, the arts and genealogy. The Library has the largest newspapers collection in Australia and extensive holdings of Victorian and Government publications. 

Where is the material kept?

Some material is kept in the Library's reading rooms and other public areas, but because the Library's collection is so large, it is not possible to make every item available in this way. Less-frequently used material and rare and fragile items are kept in special storage areas or in offsite storage. Library staff are able to retrieve material for you.

What if I just want to have a look around?

If you're not sure whether you want to become a regular user, you are always welcome to visit. Why not wander through our beautiful heritage spaces on a self-guided visit, visit the exhibitions on display in our galleries,  explore the possibilities of new interactive technologies or immerse yourself in a literary event.

Can I borrow material from the Library? 

The State Library is a reference library. This means that material is for you to use onsite only and cannot be borrowed by you directly. Many items are available, however, for interlibrary loan through other libraries. See the Interlibrary Loans policy for more information.