State Library Victoria

I love the renovations, not having visited since before Covid. It's so light and airy and welcoming! The staff member who assisted me was friendly and so helpful. It's a lovely building with so much to explore.

This library is absolutely amazing and has all the facilities you need be it for study, finding books or even playing a game of giant chess out the front!

Cool place. But be quite, as there are real students who is actually studying in the library. It’s nice but not too tourist friendly tbh. Ha-ha. Anyway great experience! Nice architecture and design.

This is one of the best libraries I’ve ever been to! Definitely recommended for students who are looking for a beautiful place to study at.

Must visit in Melbourne. The newly renovated study space makes a huge difference in the study environment. The wifi has improved with the connection and speed. Have to come check out the old study space in the middle.

Silence is but a theory in the "silent" spaces. The La Trobe reading room furnishings offer a radical rejection of ergonomics. The wifi may as well be exhibited in the Cowen Gallery. Overall, the library is great except as a place of learning.

Self proclaimed as one of the best around, and agreed.renovations ongoing in Dec 2018 but a great facility for researchers. I became a member in minutes and could access most online digital references via institutional access using my mobile phone! Works only in the building though but what a great Privilege!

Amazing space to enjoy the day. Large collection of books and architecture. Kids are will inspire little ones to widen their imagination.

Beautiful library, generously open and staffed by a great team of people.

It's a traditional library and so much more. Exhibitions, galleries, work spaces, chess club, historical displays and a few random curios like the Shakespeare stained glass window.

Architecturally, a wonderful study and so much of the interior is accessible.

Cafe, book store and toilets all available. Wheelchair accessible too.

Very good in variety of books
the study rooms are almost crowded
no drinks is allowed except water which us bad especially I need coffee while studying
not enough capacity for the crowd

Such a glorious location to come and read a book or do an assignment.

The building itself is magnificent. Both awesome and welcoming at the same time.

State Library of Victoria is located at Swanston Street, Melbourne. It is approximately 2 minutes walk from Melbourne Central. The State Library is very huge. The most beautiful area in the library is the Dome Galleries (Level 4). If you wish to catch a great picture of the Dome, you can visit level 5 or 6 which are Exhibition Areas. Exhibition Areas usually closes early (Everyday 10 - 6pm except Thursday 10 - 9pm). Plan ahead before visiting the Dome. Do take note that you cannot bring drinks (other than plain water/ tap water) into the library.

Um, Hello where are the books. Hardly any of them. People bumping into each other because there texting.maby I'm old school but I miss the BOOK libary.also the staff and security could smile, that never hurts

Awesome architectural masterpiece with many different reading rooms, any book magazine or newspaper you might want and internet access and free wifi. Clean toilets. Accessible. Many different displays to explore around the dome for Victoria's history. A must visit for Melbourne. #letsguide

Beautiful library.
Very clean.
But it’s really busy in the day time.
If you’re there for study you can’t be really focused, because you will be be distracted by people who coming for photos like me lol.

Large areas of the library are closed & inaccessible at the moment. It gets busy & it not the quietest place to read or study. No lending of books. Free WiFi, sometimes the connection or speed is not great. Toilets are ok, not great. No drinks apart from water allowed inside, except they have a cafe selling tea, coffee, food etc inside & another cafe is attached to entrance on the other side, so this makes absolutely no sense. Don’t see why a cup of tea/coffee is ‘not allowed’ when in other libraries it is without any problem. The staff are also not very friendly. They stand around in random places staring at people whilst on their walkie-talkie as if the place is going to get bombed. It doesn’t create a calm & relaxed environment conducive to study. You can book to use a pc for 30 mins for free, which is good. However when I was making a booking it gave a time when a computer would be free, I checked my phone to check the current time to make sure that the suggested booking time would be ok for me. A member of staff came up behind me without me knowing & pushed my hand out the way, clicked to accept the booking & said “just accept it”. I felt this was really inappropriate, because I was checking I could make that time before accepting & potentially blocking the pc from someone else’s use for half an hour. But also because the staff member (who was also of the opposite gender) touched me without my consent & pushed my hand out the way. I was in the state library of Western Australia last week & even though they had a WiFi problem it was much better than the state library of Victoria.

I really like this place.
Despite the size and amount of people, the library is gorgeous and accommodating. It's the ideal study spot and I have to say, much better than the tiny state library in Hobart!

The most outstanding state library in Victoria located in the heart of Melbourne. A lot of books collection in this state library.

A real step back in time. The serene quietness was very calming. Interesting history and exhibition. I'm glad I took the time to check out the upper levels.

An great place to visit. All the exhibitions are free, the artwork is lovely, and you can charge your phone! I entered through Russel Street and loved the art that greets you there.
And thank you to Janet who directed me to the must-sees since my time was limited. I decided to come back instead of rushing through it all!