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Learning at the library
State Library Victoria gives every Victorian resident a free Access membership: a digital library card that opens ebooks, journals, magazines and newspapers, at home or in the Library. In the building in Melbourne there is also free wifi, public computers, and librarians you can ask for help.
This guide reads State Library Victoria’s own pages, as at October 2026. If you live in another state or territory, your own state library’s website is the place to check what it offers.
A free card for Victorians
The Library says it offers all Victorians free access to its collections, resources and expert staff. Its Free Access membership is a free digital library card for Victorian residents. Every membership, free or paid, includes these, in the Library’s order:
- reading any of 6 million titles inside the Library, for reference
- ordering digital copies of items in the collection
- ebooks, online journals, magazines and newspapers
- booking meeting rooms and creative technology studios.
Paid memberships add extras, such as early or discounted tickets to workshops and events. The Student membership is open to anyone, whether or not they are enrolled anywhere.
Learning from home
Members can use the Library’s subscription journals, databases and ebooks online for free, from home, under its terms of use. Among the most used, the Library lists collections of scholarly journal articles, a large shelf of nonfiction ebooks, and a service with around 4,000 current newspapers and magazines from 97 countries. For anyone tracing a family’s story, there are historical newspaper archives too.
Inside the building
State Library Victoria is at 328 Swanston Street, Melbourne. It opens 10 am to 6 pm every day, and closes on New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Here is where the help for learners sits.
Public computers
Information Centre, Level 225 public computers with the internet and Microsoft Office, for up to 60 minutes at a time. You need a PC and Printing Account, made at a kiosk nearby, and you can reserve a computer if they are all in use.
Free wifi
All public areasFree, fast wireless internet across all of the Library’s public areas, on the State Library Victoria network.
Ask a librarian
Redmond Barry Reading RoomA walk-up desk where staff help with research and finding information, open 10 am to 5.45 pm daily.
Assistive technology
Quad Information Centre and Redmond Barry Reading RoomTwo workstations for visitors with vision, mobility or literacy needs. Book rests, magnifying sheets and lit magnifiers are there for readers with low vision.
Library users with disability may be able to have longer on the computers where they need it; staff in the Quad Information Centre or the Redmond Barry Reading Room can help.
Ask a librarian, general reference questions
03 8664 700210 am to 5.45 pm daily, as the Library’s own page gives it.
The Library also has an Access and Inclusion Librarian, who helps visitors with disability and their carers and can refer people to other agencies.
Access and Inclusion Librarian
03 8664 7005As given on the Library’s access and inclusion page.
If you want to start a business
StartSpace is the Library’s free business support service for new and early-stage founders in Victoria. Free membership brings events, training programs, a community of other founders and a coworking space in the Library.
Your local library
State Library Victoria works with local public libraries across the state through its partnership with Public Libraries Victoria, with the aim that every Victorian can reach library collections and services.
If reading itself is the part you want help with, the reading, writing and numbers stone has the national Reading Writing Hotline.