I came across an visiting international lecturer at the cafe adjacent to the Melbourne City Library and the C.A.E. who thought it was the State Library. Why doesn't Melbourne promote its beautiful State Library better? warm welcoming beautiful spaces - the Reading Room, the magnificent Dome - free exhibitions (the Persian Miniatures Exhibition is well worth a visit) and better... More

I used to go here to study all the time. But its worth a look just to go to the room with the awesome spire ceiling More

Free ! Gobsmacked by the beauty and intricacy of the books and manuscripts on view. More

Our friends held their wedding reception here. AMAZING space, beautiful architecture More

A truly beautiful building - the reading room is gorgeous (go to the upper levels for a little rest and a great view). There's always excellent exhibitions and it also functions as something of a museum, with collections of material on early Melbourne. There's also a great bookshop! More

I'm fond of books and nice buildings and here I had both ! The reading room is just amazing, with the dome and book shelves. The atmosphere was studious but people seem to enjoy their time too. You should go even just for pleasing to the eye. There are free exhibitions which is really appreciable when everything is so expensive... More

I heard the domed reading room spoken of by someone In a lift so I went to see it. There was an exhibition on at the same time of Islamic texts which was fascinating and beautifully displayed. The domed reading room itself which extends to six stories high is an absolute treasure. I didn't have time but I wanted to... More

Always a good place to hang out but now much improved by efforts to designate quiet-use areas, including the library's centrepiece, the Dome area of the library. Well done, SLV! More

A huge repository of 19C journals and newspapers. Then Melbourne was the Paris of the south and the collection reflects this. Staff are wonderdful. More