On Friday 22nd August the library folk of Victoria dressed in their finest CBCA Book Week regalia and headed to the State Library of Victoria (who loaned us their Isabella Fraser Room), for the ALIAVic Book Week Soirée.
Annette Xiberras welcomed attendees to the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people of the Kulin Nation. Her welcome spoke of cultural heritage, storytelling, listening and celebrating the achievements of women.
Drinks and canapés were served, thanks to the generous sponsorship of Swinburne University of Technology and James Bennett. Then, to celebrate the 80th anniversary of CBCA Book Week, there was a costume parade for those who came dressed as book characters. Prize for best costume went to Bonnie Oliver from Northern Health Library for a costume inspired by the Jules Verne classic, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.
Photo : Book Week Soirée, fashion parade participants - prizes provided thanks to Lamont Books
Photo: VLIA 2025 winner Pru Mitchell, in a May Gibbs inspired costume, with the perpetual trophy; Photo: Bonnie Oliver, winner of best costume
The Victorian Library and Information Award (VLIA)
The Soirée was also an opportunity to celebrate the very best leadership, engagement and community connection in the Victorian library and information sector, with the presentation of the inaugural VLIA.
Congratulations to Pru Mitchell from the Australian Council for Educational Research the winner of the 2025 VLIA! The award acknowledges Pru’s career spanning volunteer work – where she has mentored students and new graduates; volunteered for Wikimedia and the Advisory Board for Teacher Librarianship at Charles Sturt University; and is sought out by others because of her knowledge, skills and experience. Pru’s volunteering has never been about advancing her career. She has done all of this because she is driven to make the world a kinder place. Pru Mitchell was presented with the VLIA perpetual trophy – which features Victoria’s state flora and fauna and was created by woodcarver Olivia O’Connor.
Congratulations were extended to the VLIA shortlisted nominees Alice Anderson (Monash Health Library), Emily Johns (City of Melbourne Libraries), and Reyn Silva - (Yarra Valley Grammar). You can read about their significant achievement here.
Photo: ALIAVic’s Emily Shumborski (dressed as Little My from the Moomin series) and Michael Barry (wearing a party hat inspired by Go, Dog. Go!) onstage with the VLIA shortlisted nominees Emily Johns, Alice Anderson, Reyn Silva and Pru Mitchell.
Thank you to the VLIA judges Nina Whittaker, Anne Girolami and Dr Mary Carroll for deliberating at length to shortlist 4 inspiring library and information professionals.
The ALIAVic Book Week Soirée was creative, entertaining, and a lot of fun!
Emily Wilson, Senior Librarian, Development & Connections