We have created a series of tours to provide delegates with a behind-the-scenes look at a variety of libraries and related sites. Delegates will be able to view rare collections, or hear about the latest innovations, initiatives, trends, practices and workflows that may have practical application for their own work.

Tours will depart at various times on Tuesday 9 October from the State Library of Victoria, 328 Swanston Street Melbourne. A variety of transport options will be used. Two volunteers will lead each tour group and they will be able to help delegates purchase public transport tickets (Metcards) if required. Please refer to the detail in the summaries below.

Tours are at no additional charge for Conference delegates, however lunches, tea breaks and transportation costs are at delegates’ own expense unless otherwise specified.

Tour 1 State Library of Victoria

The major reference and research library in Victoria, the State Library of Victoria promises to inspire all delegates with its magnificently redeveloped architecture. The Library opened its doors in 1856 and currently boasts over 2 million books and serials. Delegates will tour the historic buildings and hear about the work of library technicians.

Tour duration: 1:45 pm to 4:00 pm

Tour 2 Heritage Trail

The tour will focus on the historic aspects of three of the oldest libraries in Melbourne, the State Library of Victoria, the Melbourne Athenaeum Library (est. in 1839) and the Supreme Court Library (est. 1852)

Tour duration: 8:45 am – 3:15 pm
Mode of travel: Walking and tram (Metcard required)
Tea/Lunch: Morning tea courtesy of the Melbourne Athenaeum Library - Lunch at Australia on Collins Foodcourt (delegate’s own expense)

Tour 3 Newest of the new

Delegates will visit two of the newest library sites in Melbourne. The RACV Club Library is a unique library built on the best traditions of club reading rooms, and the National Meteorological Library's new site is in the amazing redeveloped Docklands area.

Tour duration: 12:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Mode of travel: Walking and tram (Metcard required)
Lunch/Tea: No lunch stop provided – Afternoon tea courtesy of the National Meteorological Library

Tour 4 White Gloves

Visit the University of Melbourne and the State Library of Victoria for a wonderful journey into rare printed collections, followed by a visit to one of Melbourne’s leading antiquarian bookshops, Kay Craddock Antiquarian Bookseller.

Tour duration: 12:15 pm - 4:30 pm
Mode of travel: Walking and tram (Metcard required)
Lunch/Tea: No lunch stop provided – Afternoon tea at delegate’s own expense

Tour 5 Melbourne Legal

Start your fascinating tour of the legal world with a visit to the Victoria Legal Aid Library. It’s just a couple of blocks to the Federal Court of Australia Library and our final visit will be to one of Australia’s largest law firms, Blake Dawson Waldron, where we will hear about their resources and plans for their new library.

Tour duration: 8:30 am – 2:30 pm
Mode of travel: Walking and tram (Metcard required)
Lunch/Tea: Morning tea (delegate’s own expense) / Lunch at Australia on Collins Foodcourt (delegate’s own expense)

Tour 6 Medicos

It’s a short walk to these medical libraries in East Melbourne, the newly renovated Gordon Craig Library (Royal Australasian College of Surgeons), the Ronald Lowe Library (Royal Eye & Ear Hospital) and the Central Cancer Library (Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre)

Tour duration: 12:15 pm – 4:30 pm.
Mode of travel: Walking
Lunch/Tea: No lunch stop provided / Afternoon tea (delegate’s own expense)

Tour 7 Two Archives and a Library

Delegates will see behind the scenes at the Public Record Office Victoria (PROV) and then the Red Cross Research and Information Service, comprising their National Resource Centre and Archives.

Tour duration: 10:00 am – 3:45 pm
Mode of travel: Coach travel provided at no additional charge
Tea/Lunch: Lunch at delegates’ own expense in Café 99, PROV – No tea break scheduled

Tour 8 Public libraries (north)

The tour will visit two innovative public libraries, The Age Library in the Hume Global Learning Village Library Service, the Mill Park Branch of the Yarra Plenty Regional Library, plus their mobile library at the stop in the town of St Andrews.

Tour duration: 8:30 am – 4:15 pm
Mode of travel: Coach travel provided at no additional charge
Tea/Lunch: Morning tea (delegate’s own expense) - Lunch courtesy of Yarra Plenty Regional Library

Tour 9 Public libraries (south)

This afternoon of tours will look at the learning commons concept and how it has been implemented at two libraries – the Wyndham Library Service (Heaths Road) and the Hobsons Bay Libraries (Altona Meadows)

Tour duration: 12:15 pm – 4:30 pm
Mode of travel: Coach travel provided at no additional charge
Lunch/Tea: No lunch stop provided - Afternoon tea courtesy of the Hobsons Bay Libraries

Tour 10A and 10B Academic libraries

Delegates will have the chance to select their area of specialisation for these tours to both RMIT Swanston Library and William Angliss Institute of Tafe. Option 10A will focus on reader services (reference, circulation, interlibrary loans, etc.) Option B will visit technical services (collection development, acquisitions, cataloguing, processing, etc.) Please annotate the conference registration form with either Option A or B.

Tour duration:12:45 pm – 4:15 pm
Mode of travel: Free City Circle Tram
Lunch/Tea: No lunch stop provide or afternoon tea

Tour 11 School excursion

Visiting a range of school libraries covering prep to year 12, delegates will visit the unique libraries at Collingwood College, Scotch College, and Concord School.

Tour duration: 8:15 am – 4:00 pm
Mode of travel: Coach travel provided at no additional charge
Tea/Lunch: Morning tea courtesy of the Collingwood College Library – Lunch at delegate’s own expense (Victoria Gardens Shopping Centre)

Tour 12 All in the Family

A chance to see the extensive genealogical resources at the State Library of Victoria and the Genealogical Society of Victoria.

Tour duration: 8:45 am – 11:30 am
Mode of travel: Walking
Lunch/Tea: Morning tea courtesy of the Genealogical Society of Victoria

Tour 13 Pot Pourri

A fascinating group of tours visiting three different types of libraries – special, academic and public. Delegates will tour the Herbarium Library in the Royal Botanical Gardens, the Lenton Parr Library at Victorian College of the Arts and the City Library.

Tour duration: 8:15 am – 1:15 pm
Mode of travel: Walking and tram (Metcard required)

Tour 14 A museum and a gallery

The Discovery Centre is a dynamic research facility located at Melbourne Museum offering a range of opportunities for people to access Museum Victoria's vast store of information, expertise and collections. Along with a tour of Post Master Gallery at Australia Post, the delegates will have a fascinating afternoon and a chance to see two amazing collections.

Tour duration: 12:30 pm – 4:15 pm
Mode of travel: Walking
Tea/Lunch: No lunch stop - Afternoon tea courtesy of Australia Post