New items at SLV’s World of the Book exhibition

State Library Victoria’s (SLV) free World of the Book exhibition has reopened, with more than 300 additional items on display including some never-before-exhibited material.

Rare books historian and exhibition curator Anna Welch said the collection spans thousands of years of human history, from the first written texts to the digital present.

‘Some of the new items on display are recent donations and acquisitions, and we’re thrilled to be able to showcase these precious items to visitors for the first time,’ Welch said. ‘Highlights in this year’s exhibition include a display exploring the medieval art of dying, a rare South-East Asian manuscript, and surveys of writing and design by trailblazing women.’

Other exhibition highlights include never-before-exhibited scripts and props from the iconic 1975 film Picnic at Hanging Rock; a display featuring the work of three internationally renowned Australian designers; the history of iconic Melbourne publishing house Sun Books; and a concrete poetry display featuring sculptural and printed works by Australian poets.

The permanent exhibition in the Library’s Dome Galleries is open on limited days until 31 December, due to ongoing renovations at the library. For more information and to check open dates, click here.

Category: Library news