The State Library

At first glance, the State Library appears to differ little from any other old building in Melbourne. Its Neoclassical style gives it a cold hard exterior that I find daunting more than anything else. It appears heavily guarded; by the large columns greeting you upon arrival (which look like something you would expect to see in Ancient Rome rather than the Middle of Melbourne). The members of security watching over the library and its almost two million annual visitors (Torney, 2017) don't help to do away with my initial trepidation. When I arrive there on a balmy Thursday afternoon, I am immediately greeted by those camped out on the library's sprawling manicured front lawn. I am drawn to a girl sitting with her friends with a hand-rolled cigarette jammed in her mouth. It's unlit and remains that way for the duration of my time outside. Not far from the pseudo-smokers are a group of skaters who can't skate to save their lives despite what the name suggests. However, one must acknowledge their persistence as they continuously return to the same spot in the hopes of one day living up to their name.

The inside is predominately civilised, designed in 1854 by Joseph Reed. Nicknamed "the people's university", it's an inclusive space to learn and study. Almost everyone is doing this except for the odd kid who seems to find a game of "hide and seek" more exciting than studying, and really, who could blame them? The State Library is known for its role in collecting books (some two million of them). It also serves as a restoration centre for Victoria's history, collecting items deemed historically significant by the state. It was Melbourne's first exhibition building, now known as exhibition Victoria, and later the National Gallery of Victoria (State Library Victoria, 2022), proving that it is not just a one-trick pony.

The La Trobe Reading Room or, as it is known, colloquially, The Dome is beautiful yet intimidating and makes one feel like they should constantly do something productive. It is a good motivator that way.

The Dome, which first opened in 1913, houses 32,000 books. It's a community. A community of people attempting to convince each other that they are each highly productive members of society instead of students trying to meet a deadline for an assignment they should have started much earlier. It's a community of procrastinators but a community, nonetheless. The Latrobe reading room is library's golden child, which makes the more chaotic outdoor area Rosemary’s Baby.

The State Library’s interior is a striking mix of old and new. Above the stairs, the ever-admirable murals are conserved, and new stones cover the once slippery marble steps that lead visitors up from the Swanston St foyer. It is a delicate dance between the traditional and the contemporary. In 2015 it underwent a five-year redevelopment dubbed "Vision 2020" to refurbish the "Queens Hall", transforming the library to meet the current and future needs of the community. At its core, The State Library of Victoria is about community. It's a place to learn, a meeting spot for friends, a place to eat or simply a place to charge your phone. It is a welcome place for all.

It doesn't matter who you are; whether you are a student studying for a crucial test or a skater trying to land a new trick, you can be assured the state library will always have your back even when your skateboard doesn't.