The eleven best libraries in Melbourne

Step into the Dome Reading Room, the most extravagant room in the State Library of Victoria, and you can hear mental cogs turning: people are studying, examining old books and expanding their knowledge on anything from rare birds to architectural history. The library was established in 1856 and is a grand presence on Swanston Street with interior spaces to match. Our favourite room? It's the La Trobe Reading Room. It's a six-storey-high domed room that is magnificent to look at (and study in).

The Bunjil Place Library is located in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, nestled into the community of Narre Warren. This award-winning building is spread out over three levels and boasts a digital games area, outdoor reading garden, reading amphitheatre and an allocated youth and kids space. Come for the awe-inspiring architecture, stay for the atmosphere.

Founded in 1839, the Melbourne Athenaeum is an art and culture hub located above the Atheneum Theatre on Collins Street. The library is like a semi-secret reading room. Here, you’ll find quality new releases and classics and one of Victoria’s best crime fiction collections. As well as the enormous book collection, the library also hosts a program of events and book clubs throughout the year. There is a modest membership fee attached ($30-$99), but it’s worth it – you’ll feel like the member of a thoroughly civilised private club from yesteryear.

In the heart of the William Street's legal district is a library so beautiful it’s worth a squiz, even though you can’t borrow as a member of the public. Arcane law volumes line the walls and junior solicitors scale wooden ladders to retrieve them.

The Narrm Ngarrgu (meaning 'Melbourne knowledge' in Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung language) library is part of a $500 million development on Therry Street in the CBD, and it's the first new library in the City of Melbourne in the last decade. Three floors of the building make up the 3,100m2 library, including a dedicated children's library with unique carpet artwork designed by Aboriginal artist Maree Clark. 

Who could resist the opportunity to read out in the fresh air, surrounded by greenery, on a glorious sunny day? Bargoonga Nganjin, or ‘gather everyone’ in Woiwurrung, the language of the Wurunjuri people, was opened to the public in 2017. The North Fitzroy facility offers a modern design and multiple reading and study spaces including the first-of-its-kind, dedicated rooftop garden. Combine this with the library’s extensive range of youth and health services, events such as author talks, panel discussions, music performances, Indigenous language activities and children’s storytime sessions, and Bargoonga Nganjin is sure to fulfil its inherent goal.

This new library with waterfront views boasts more than 200,000 books on its shelves, subscriptions to daily newspapers and hundreds of magazines, as well as massive DVD, CD and eBook collections. It’s a well-rounded community hub with state-of-the-art facilities including a gallery, pro-editing suites, a recording studio, practice rooms and community spaces that can be booked for meetings. Check the website for regular free workshops, events and lunchtime concerts.

The 139-year-old Kathleen Syme building is home to an Oculus Rift – a piece of virtual reality technology that’s been programmed to enable participants to experience snow falling in a forest. Thanks to a multi-million dollar refurb, the library is also an excellent workspace with great internet access, plentiful desks, private meeting rooms, free WiFi and fab coffee from the Wild Timor Coffee Co.