2 May 1998

Behind the scenes for Library Week in Victoria

Melbourne's four oldest and most beautiful libraries will be on full view for visitors on Monday as a highlight of Australian Library Week 1998.

The four are the Victorian Parliamentary Library, the State Library of Victoria, the Victorian Supreme Court Library and the Athenaeum Library. The Parliament and Supreme Court Libraries are not normally open to the general public at all.

On Monday, between 9:30am and 1:00pm, all areas of the four libraries will be thrown open. This will include many items not on public exhibition; book stacks, and even, in the case of the State Library, the famous dome.

All four are linked by the Melbourne City Circle tram service, which is free. Library aficionados should have no trouble in visiting each of them in the open period and entry also is free.

Australian Library Week, which is sponsored by the Australian Library and Information Association, runs from 3 May to 9 May.

Another Victorian highlight will be the announced of the ALIA awards for innovation at the annual meeting of the Association's Victorian Branch, starting at 5:30pm on Tuesday in the Village Roadshow Theatre at the State Library.

Awards are made in four categories of libraries - public, university, schools and special - for any new program or project that delivers innovative service to users.

Friday's highlight of Australian Library Week activities in Victoria will be the launch of the Public Libraries Marketing Project, funded by the State Government.