How to research the history, development, architecture, collections and management of the State Library of Victoria.
There are many types of information that can be found in the Library's annual reports, including:
The first Report of the Trustees of the Public Library was in November 1858. This was the only report in the early years of the Library's history and it took the form of being estimates for the next year, 1859. The next report was for the 1870-1871 year. The Report of the Trustees of the Public Library, Museums and National Gallery of Victoria was printed in 1871, and was divided into three parts; Public Library, National Gallery and National Museum. The Library was not required by legislation to produce annual reports until this year. However the 1870-1871 report includes an overview of Library operations for the years 1854 until 1870.
Prior to 1930 see the Victorian Parliamentary Papers database:
Titles
Public Library : report of Trustees accompanying estimates for the service of the year 1859
Public Library, Museums and National Gallery (Vic.). Report of the Trustees of the Public Library, Museums and National Gallery of Victoria: with statements of income and expenditure 1870/71-1929.
After 1930, annual reports were presented to Parliament, but were not printed as Parliamentary Papers, so have not been included in the Library's bound volumes of the Victorian Parliamentary Papers.
Public Library, Museums and National Gallery (Vic.). Report of the Trustees of the Public Library, Museums and National Gallery of Victoria: with statements of income and expenditure 1870/71-1944.
Report of the Trustees of the Public Library of Victoria. 1945-1960
The first report of the Trustees of the Public Library of Victoria was for the financial year 1945-1946.
State Library of Victoria. Report of the Trustees of the State Library of Victoria . 1961-1965.
Melbourne, Vic., The Trustees, 1961-1965. YAF 027.49945 V66R
Library Council of Victoria. Annual report. [Melbourne, Vic.,], The Council, [1966]-1988. 1966 - 1971 offsite at YAF 027.49945 V66C. 1972 - 1988 at PER 027.49945 V66C
Library Council of Victoria. Report of the Library Council of Victoria and of the Council of the State Library of Victoria for the year ended 30 June ... 1989. Melbourne, Vic., The Council, [1989?] PER 027.49945 V66C
State Library of Victoria. Council. Annual report. [Melbourne, Vic.,], The Council, [1990]-1996. SF 027.49945 V66 1989-1996
Title change after 1995/1996 to: Annual report / Library Board of Victoria.
Merged with: Libraries Board of Victoria. Annual report to form: Library Board of Victoria. Annual report.
Library Board of Victoria. Annual report. [Melbourne]; State Library of Victoria, 1997-
Merger of: Libraries Board of Victoria. Annual report, and State Library of Victoria. Council. Annual report.
Library Board of Victoria. Annual report
Newspaper cuttings relating to the Public Library, Museum and National Gallery of Victoria Call Number: LTM 92 (Microfilm)
The activities of the Library prior to 1870 are recorded in the early addresses of the Trustees to the Governors at the opening of various parts of the Institution and in newspaper reports. These five reels of microfilm cover 1853 to 1948.
Address of the Trustees of the Melbourne Public Library : presented to His Excellency Sir Henry Barkly, K.C.B., Governor-in-Chief of the Colony of Victoria, on the opening of the Queen's Reading Room, on Tuesday, May 24th, 1859 [Melbourne:Trustees, 1859]
Includes details of Library's progress
