State Library of Queensland

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There is so much on offer at State Library. Explore ways to make the most of your visit before you arrive.

Level 4 at State Library is home to its heritage and extraordinary collections. In the Philip Bacon Heritage Gallery you will find the exhibition Extraordinary stories featuring a rotating selection of stories about ordinary Queenslanders whose lives were anything but. These are stories worth telling, stories worth hearing, stories worth collecting, drawn from State Library's collections to tell us more about Queensland and the lives lived here. Also on level 4, you will find the Talbot Family Treasures Wall featuring a changing selection of items from State Library's heritage collections. The John Oxley Library has collected, preserved and shared Queensland’s collective memory since 1934 and the Talbot Family Treasures Wall is where you can view items of state significance. Each item on display here reveals a remarkable story, and together, they help deepen our understanding of Queensland’s diverse lifestyle, landscape, culture and community. Free Curator's tours of both these spaces are held monthly. Join one of our specialist curators to discover the unknown stories and hidden gems of State Library's collections. Book your space now!

Join us for a free 30 minute talk highlighting some of the remarkable Queensland nurses who enlisted in the Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS) during World War I. Nurses have been part of the Australian Armed Forces since the formation of the AANS in July 1903. Every year, the Centaur Memorial Fund for Nurses holds a candlelight Vigil on the eve of Anzac Day at the Nurses’ Memorial, located in the green space at Anzac Square. This Vigil commemorates the service of nurses over the more than 120 years in which Australia has been involved in conflicts and members of the public are welcome to attend. This year, before the vigil, we will be presenting a 30 minute talk inside Anzac Square Memorial Galleries highlighting some of the 2,850 women who enlisted in the AANS during World War I and served in places such as Egypt, England, France, Gallipoli, Italy, Burma, Salonica and India, as well as in repatriation hospitals back in Australia. The talk will focus on the story of the highly decorated and respected nurse Constance Mabel Keys, who served for 5 years with the AANS in Egypt, England and France. Through her diaries and letters home you will be able to see things exactly as she experienced them. Some other notable Queensland nurses whose service will be shared include Sister Elsie Pollock from Ma Ma Creek, Sister Greta Towner from Blackall, Christense Sorenson from Sandgate and Jane McLennan from Mount Perry. Anzac Square Memorial Galleries is located at 285 Ann Street, Brisbane. Entry is through the double brass doors located beneath the Shrine of Remembrance.

During our April Family make it club families will have the opportunity to learn about augmented reality and to create an animation that comes to life on a real object using a mobile device! Families of up to four can work together to design and animate a character which will then import into Adobe Aero on The Edge iPads to virtually anchor these characters in the real world. During the 4 hours you and the family will learn all the skills you need to make your own digital treasure hunt game at home or with friends. ___ Family make it club Our Saturday meetup ‘Family Make It Club’ is dedicated to intergenerational making, supporting families and kin to make meaningful memories through a range of facilitated activities. Running during school holidays, the 'Family Make It Club’ will take groups of participants through different creative learning opportunities at The Edge, utilising State Library resources and equipment to work on group projects or to take home their as their very own creations. Groups of up to six can book in for the meetup, with the minimum age for attendance being 8 years old. All under 16s must be supervised, this meetup is aimed at adults accompanied by young people. Activities will take place at The Edge, in the window bays, due to the age restrictions in the Innovation lab, there will be supervised equipment use only for those over 16. The meetups are free to attend, however, there may be occasional costs associated with making kits and activities, and these will be advertised in advance. Who can come? Mums and Dads, aunties and uncles, grandparents. You can even organise a group from school. This series is aimed at children between 8-12. We encourage this workshop to be child-led, but all equipment will be used and supervised by their guardian. How much does it cost? Secure your group ticket for Free (limited spots available) What do you need to bring? A sketchbook, a willingness to try something and an open mind! Will my child get to use the Laser cutter/ 3D printer? All equipment must be used by an adult and the Edge team. Please contact us if you have any specific questions about the workshops.